ST Pat’s Maghera joint-manager Paul Hughes is bitterly disappointed that the MacRory Cup final won’t be played this year – but accepts that public health overrides all other factors.

Following an emergency meeting of Ulster Schools on Monday evening, it was announced that St Pat’s and St Colman’s will share the MacRory Cup, while St Pius X Magherafelt and Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock will share the MacLarnon.

Hughes knew in his heart of hearts that such an announcement was imminent after new restrictions were put in place last week to combat a surge in Covid-19 cases, but it’s still a bitter pill to swallow for players who may never again get the chance to compete for the prestigious school’s trophy.

Hughes said: “Seamus Woods and Ulster Schools had worked extremely hard to get the final played, but as soon as the restrictions were tightened last week, we said to the lads in Year 14 ‘look, it’s going to be very difficult in these circumstances to play the game.’ Sean Marty Lockhart and I were seriously disappointed for the boys. I remember at the start of lockdown when we told the lads that GAA activity was called off, that I’ve never been in such a quiet room. It was a shocking let down for them at that stage.

“I have to say in fairness to them there’s been a quiet acceptance of the decision, it’s the sensible decision to make so we have to support it.”

Even the experts among us struggle to predict how the next year is going to pan out, but it would seem that restrictions of some form will be in place until a successful vaccine is found. Hughes desperately hopes that MacRory Cup football will take place in 2021.

“Hopefully the lads still at the school will get another crack at it. We all know what MacRory means to cubs. It’s a special competition and they’re playing with their friends. They’ve been together for seven years in school and have been part of all the bus journeys, all the joys, all the disappointments.”

Had it gone ahead, it would’ve been a clash to savour; St Colman’s Newry top the overall leaderboard with 20 titles while St Pat’s have 16 (included in those tallies is this year’s competition). Hughes recalls some of the famous battles between the schools in the years gone by.

“I’m unfortunately old enough to remember the three finals of 1988, it took three games to separate us.

“Then in 1989 was one of the most incredible finals ever, with St Pat’s winning 4-10 to 4-9. James McCartan scored three goals and three points and still ended up on the losing side. Games like that elevated MacRory Football to what it is today.”

And on that note the Derrytresk native is concerned that school’s football could be sidelined by the powers-that-be at Croke Park.

Under the original proposals of the GAA’s fixtures calendar task force, schools were scheduled to finish up by the fifth weekend of the year, but a split-season scenario has grabbed the imagination of the public and may allow for the MacRory Cup final to take place on its traditional St Patrick’s Day slot.

“Unfortunately at Croke Park level there seems to be a desire to compress school’s football into a tighter window, and in truth that disrespects every primary and secondary school who have invested time and effort into GAA over the years.

“I’ve said it many times to Seamus Woods – Ulster Schools run an exemplary set of fixtures and the absolute efficiency with which everything is run is incredible. For anyone to take that away would be an awful slight on the schools.”

By Niall Gartland