By Niall Gartland

RUAIRI McCullagh is one of six starting members of last year’s MacRory Cup team still lining out for Omagh CBS, but it’s fair to say that the lads who completed their time at the school are still playing their part in their own way.

The talented Loughmacrory forward says there have been plenty of well-wishes as the Kevlin Road school bids to complete a historic back-to-back in the centenary year of the prestigious competition.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s date with destiny against St Patrick’s Academy, McCullagh enthused: “We have had a few video messages from Eoin McElholm and Conor Owens.

“They were sent to the managers and they played them to us.

“I would have a good connection with a lot of the boys from last year, I would still be chatting to loads of them.

“Getting best wishes from them all helps, it all adds up, just to give you that extra bit of confidence, knowing that you have their support and that they’re backing you all the way.”

Loughmacrory have made significant in-roads at all levels in recent years and McCullagh is one of four St Teresa’s lads on the Omagh CBS panel.

He said: “We’ve big Eoin Donaghy in the middle, his brother Enda and Michael McNamee as well, and obviously last year we had Eoin McElholm, so it’s great for the club.

“The club is going in the right direction at the minute, and I think that’s just a testament to the coaching that we’re getting at the minute.

“We have so many good coaches, with a good link right up from primary school right up to senior level.

“On a personal level, I’m hoping to break into the senior team this year, and I have great coaches around me, and great people to help me do that.”

From the outside looking in, the Brothers have played some great stuff en route to the final, even if they didn’t have it all their own way in the knock-out rounds. McCullagh believes there’s still significant room for improvement and hopes it all comes together on the big day.

“I think we have a lot to prove, because I don’t think we have done ourselves any justice yet, playing as a unit, and I just hope can really bind together and show people what we can do against Dungannon in the final.”