Buzz is back again at St Pat's

Cathal Sheridan Cian Donohoe sport@anglocelt.ie As the club season comes to a close and county finals are played, there is only one thing left for the students of St Patrick's College Cavan to think about - college football! With some players having to overcome the misery that surrounds the loss of the championship and others on a high after another successful year, there are high hopes for both the Herald Cup squad and the MacRory panel. In recent years, one of the most famous footballing schools in Ulster has failed to recreate the glory days of their predecessors. However, this year with the recruitment of county star Nicholas Walsh, Tyrone man Peter Donnelly (who is employed as a full-time GAA coach with Cavan county board), Fermanagh native Shaun Doherty and with the assistance of Fr Kevin Fay and school teacher, Raymond Hogan, the school should put up a big test to other Ulster teams. The Herald Cup team (Under 16 and a half) have already started their campaign in impressive fashion. Having beaten Virgina College in a challenge game, they headed off to play Ballyshannon. With big name players such as Cavan Gaels pair Stephen Murray and Paul Graham along with Killygarry man Conor Connolly all absent through illness, the pressure was on other players to raise their game. After an evenly contested match St Pats were unlucky to lose by a narrow two-point margin. With a point to prove, they headed off a week for the next round. Having tasted defeat many times over the past few years, this group of players were desperate to get a win under their belt, and they did just that with a fine performance and a 15-point victory. On Monday week last they again went to face the difficult task of playing Belfast opposition. With a place in the quarter-final at stake, St Pat's desperately needed a win. With great performances from Paul Graham, Cornafean's Joe Masterson and Crosserlough forward Dara McVeety, along with many others, St Pat's ran out comfortable winners, on a 1-19 to 1-4 scoreline. With this impressive start to the school season, there are big boots to fill for the MacRory team. However with county minor stars such as Killian 'Gunner' Brady, Enda O' Reilly and Shane Reilly, to name a few, they are no newcomers to the big stage. Under the watchful eye of coaches Peter Donnelly and Shaun Doherty, the McRory team will be hoping for similar success to that of their younger schoolmates. With the college eager to repeat past success, it should prove an interesting year for both teams in their respective categories, and who knows, there might just be a star of the future right around the corner.