By Michael McMullan

CROSS and Passion captain Liam Glackin is excited about this week’s Mageean Cup finalbut there is a focus in how he talks.

After booking another Mageean Cup final spot, there is a buzz around the school but it’s too long since their last title. 2019. That’s way too long.

Cross and Passion lost last year’s final against St Killian’s and defeat is always a potent sauce.

“We’re hoping for a better result,” Glackin outlined clearly ahead of a repeat of last year’s decider. “We felt like we’ve left something behind us last time, 48 weeks ago, so it should make for a good occasion.”

Even before September came into view the squad were beginning to take aim at the Ulster Schools’ flagship hurling competition.

“It’s too long, we think anyway, too long coming,” Glackin said of the five-year gap. “I was a second year and we won the McNamee against these boys, so we’re hoping to do the same (in the Mageean Cup) five years later.”

He can recall looking on as a young second year pupil as the Cross and Passion seniors took home the big prize.

“That’s the main reason, a very main reason why a lot of us boys picked CPC over other schools,” Glackin said.

“That’s why we wanted to come here and hurl, and to see them win it was inspiring for us to go and win it now.”

Cross and Passion lost to St Killian’s in first year before winning the McNamee, Leonard and Forresters Cups on the way up the school. Now it’s the big one.

“We play against these boys, week in and week out,” Glackin said of St Killian’s. “Every other Sunday, we’re playing against them at club level. We know what they’re like, and they know us, so we’re not unfamiliar with each other.”

Friendships will be parked. There will be respect but there is only one cup up for grabs.

The Cross and Passion team have training three times a week under their management team of Joe Cassidy, Dominic Bradley, Oran Kearney and Conor O’Mullan. Dominic McKinley and Gergory O’Kane have been in taking sessions.

In terms of the group stages, Glackin put them into context. Cross and Passion won all three games to finish top but there wasn’t much value placed on them. Nobody would be knocked out and teams weren’t always at full strength.

“They were just a shadow boxing match really. I wouldn’t be reading into any of the results too deeply.

“Against Maghera, in the semi-final. we were all ramped up, ready to go, and went and got the job done.

“Now it’s the same two teams (as last year’s final) and we’ll be hoping for a different outcome.”