EIGHT goals in two games points to an Our Lady’s, Castleblayney side that are in a rich vein of form heading into Friday’s MacLarnon Cup final against Patrician, Carickmacross.

The stars of the MacLarnon team are leading the way during a fantastic time for football in the school, as coach Michael Kieran describes.

“The school has been going very well at the minute. We’ve had the senior girls in the Ulster A final, the girls u-16s are in an Ulster A final again next week. We’ve the u-16 boys in a Rannafast semi-final, so just every team is doing well.

“It’s not all the MacLarnon boys, every team is going well at the minute, including the u-14 boys as well. It’s just a buzz for everyone, everyone just rowing in behind each other, it’s a great atmosphere in general.

“We’ve done well this year just focusing on every game as it comes, just focusing on every game at a time, and it’s been working well for us. So, we’re just going to train hard for the next week and hopefully we’ll get the job done.”

Castleblayney last won the MacLarnon Cup in 2015 and getting another run in the competition this season has a major boost.

“It’s massive for the team. Football’s a big thing in our school, a lot of teams are doing very well this year and football is going really, really well.

“It’s just the culture in the school, everyone rows in. You’ll have students in first, second year, boys, girls, everyone asks you about the MacLarnon team.

“Everyone asking you about different football teams.

“It’s just a great thing in the school. The whole atmosphere in school, teachers and pupils all get on and row in behind each other. It’s a big enough deal, it’s great to be in one.”

The Monaghan men put three goals past Magherafelt in the quarter-final before hitting a further five in the last-four meeting with Downpatrick.

While Kieran has been delighted with the attacking side of their game, he’s been pleased with how his side has performed throughout the competition.

“I’d be quite happy with our attack, just our general play. Our defence is quite strong as well, it’s just the way we set up we like to play an attractive brand of football and hopefully we’ll have an entertaining game on Friday evening.”

It won’t be the first meeting with Patrician Carrickmacross as the two teams crossed paths during the group stages.

While the result may have no bearing on what happens this weekend, Kieran insists his side has taken something from every game.

“A lot of boys would actually know more about each other from club level. It adds a bit of healthy competition to it, and it’ll lead to a better atmosphere in the stadium on Friday evening.

“We’d take something from every one of our games and we’ll try to learn something from it. Hopefully we’ll train hard this week, and we can take advantages of our learnings in that game.”