By Michael McMullan

CORMAC Óg McCloskey has a different outlook on sport than most teenagers. On the surface, he can’t describe the feeling around school with the fanaticism a final brings.

When football is well up the queue of reasons he trekked up and down the Glenshane every day, to and from school, for seven years, 18 months on the sidelines with injury is a sizeable missing chunk of football.

A double stress fracture of his back was one thing. The timing could not have been worse. Bang in the middle of MacRory Cup and Derry minor time.

Now, he’s through the other side and hoping to bring a Hogan Cup medal back to Drum for the first time since cousins Eoighin and Niall Farren 30 years ago.

“You can’t describe it,” McCloskey said of the feeling after becoming a MacRory Cup winner. “It’s what you’re aspiring for the whole way up. To see it come true, it’s just crazy.”

He remembers watching how MacRory football under the Owenbeg floodlights felt. A packed stand. He wanted a bit of that. And here he is.

When Turlough McHugh’s goal turned their quarter-final against St Mary’s, Magherafelt, it was McCloskey who stood over the stoppage time free to win the game. A glance at the posts. An intake of breath and over it went.

“I wouldn’t like to see what would’ve happened if I missed that,” he laughed. “I don’t know if I could’ve shown my face at school.”

When the MacRory final came, he lamped over points to fuel the Maghera comeback and his goal was a vital change of momentum against Mercy Mounthawk. After two seasons in the injury wilderness, he’s now a key man. And loving the closeness a school team brings.

“We’re all very friendly with each other,” McCloskey said. “We’ve developed it over the years. It’s class when you’re with your friends.

“That’s probably the biggest prize of winning every game, getting another two weeks to train with each other again and just being each other’s company.”

When you’ve been out for 18 months, two weeks must seem like an eternity. From September 2022, there were setbacks and scans and frustration.

It wasn’t his hip flexors. A CT scan revealed a double stress fracture. It was a tough road back, strengthening and getting used to running again.

By the time last February came, it was impossible to break into the Derry minor 15.

“You think you might get two years (of MacRory) out of it, then it was just taken away from me in a flash,” he said.

“There were a lot of setbacks. I was getting different scans, maybe getting good news in the one scan, in the next scan there was a setback.

“I am just enjoying football and that was probably the big thing you take from it. You try not to take things for granted anymore.”

St Patrick’s were fancied to go all the way last year but took their eye off the ball and St Mary’s, Magherafelt took full advantage. That’s why this year’s quarter-final was crucial. More than a game. It gave Maghera the confidence they could go all the way.

The last few week’s have been magical around the school. Between football and camogie, there is talk of little else.

Then there is the Croke Park factor. McCloskey recalls playing a bit of Go Games for Drum on a club u-12 trip.

Going into a final, there is the conundrum of balancing excitement with keeping the eyes locked on the task in hand. Their management will give them the steer they need.

“I’ve probably learned it from missing the football as well,” McCloskey explained. “You’re trying to just enjoy the whole experience because you may never get to play in Croke Park again. You don’t want to get too serious; you want to take in the atmosphere and all as well.”

A different outlook, one of someone making up for lost time.