By Niall Gartland

PATRICIAN High captain Mark Hanratty doesn’t take the responsibility lightly.

The Inniskeen clubman, who plans to study Law at university, knows that there’s much more to the role than just donning the captain’s armband and coming up for the toss in big games like Sunday’s MacLarnon Cup showdown against the Dean Maguirc.

For him, everything is about the betterment of the team – even if a few home-truths need to be told every so often, and that sense of holding each other to account is one of the defining characteristics of this Patrician set-up, who are bidding to win the MacLarnon Cup title they last won in 2016.

He said: “It takes a learning curve to be captain, just have to help when you can and sometimes the lads don’t like you but they have to put up with that because it’s about the team!

“It’s the same with the management, our principal Mr [Sean] Rafferty is our main coach and he brings serious perspective from a coaching perspective. He’s been involved in numerous MacLarnon finals down the years, he keeps us steady heading into games and gives us a buck up when we need it.”

Also involved on the managerial side of things are the two Dylans – Corduff duo Dylan McEnaney and Dylan Finnegan, the second of whom was part of the aforementioned 2016 MacLarnon-winning team.

“They’re both active players so that’s refreshing. They’re also both ex-Patrician footballers so they’re able to convey their passion for the badge as well, as they’ve been in the same situations as well. Mr Finnegan has a MacLarnon Cup so hopefully history will repeat itself.”

Patrician High bring plenty of experience of playing at the top levels of school’s football. They haven’t been far away at all at MacRory level even, and Hanratty was part of the set-up that lost last year’s quarter-final against St Patrick’s, Dungannon after a dramatic penalty shoot-out. This particular crop have operated at ‘B’ level and they’re thrilled to be part of the final.

“We’re really excited, it’s our biggest achievement as a group together so we’re buzzing for the game. We’ve had some good runs in the MacRory in recent years, there’s a lot of good young lads coming through and that bodes well for our clubs and Monaghan in future years as well hopefully.”

Hanratty has also learnt a lot at club level under Inniskeen’s present management team spearheaded by John McEntee and Tony Kernan.

“We’re definitely knocking on the door, Oisín McConville brought us to a semi-final and now John McEntee and Tony Kernan are over us – more Crossmaglen lads.

“I’ve two brothers on the starting team – Shane and Christopher – and I was part of the senior team last year for the first time and I really learnt a lot from John and Tony, so it’s exciting times for the club.”