Danske Bank Mageean Cup final 2019
St Mary’s last Mageean Cup win came in 2016 when they beat St Killian’s College Garron Tower in the final at the Dub. The St Mary’s team had known nothing but success since the day they walked through the doors of the Glen Road college as fresh faced first years, winning every competition in their year group as the progressed through the school and they capped it all off with a convincing win over St Killian’s with a runaway 3-16 to 0-6 victory. However the game will be remembered not just for the hurling, but for a miraculous recovery by team member Odhrán McKenna who just eight months before hand was fighting for his life after being involved in a serious road accident. Although Odhran had still a long way to go in his recovery he was named in the squad and when was introuduced as a subtitute late in the game. When his twin brother CJ, who had played a major part in the win, ran to greet his sibling at the final whistle there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. He was only on the pitch for a couple of minutes at the end but the 2016 Mageen Cup decider will always be rememberd as ODHRÁN’S FINAL
This is how Belfast Live reported the game at the time
Belfast schoolboy Odhrán McKenna has defied the odds and the medical professionals to lift the Mageean Cup despite almost losing his life in a serious RTC just eight months ago.
On Wednesday evening, St Mary’s CBS beat St Killian’s Garron Tower 3-16 to 0-6 in the decider, signalling the start of very emotional scenes as Odhran and twin brother CJ, the team’s joint captains, lifted the coveted cup.
Odhrán, a member of the St John’s club in west Belfast , was injured on the Killead Road in Crumlin when it is believed the teenager’s car left the road and hit a tree. At the time his family said he was “fighting his biggest battle ever at the minute”.
His family were told he had a serious head injury which could leave him dead or disabled, however eight days later he was sitting up in bed and 10 weeks after that he was back out training again.
Following the Mageean Cup win, the ‘miracle’ teen reflected on what has been a rollercoaster year.
“It’s hard to take everything in,” said Odhrán. “It hasn’t been the best year of my life, there have been a lot of ups and downs but I took the bulls by the horns and to come away with a win like that is unreal.
“I was back training 10 weeks after my accident and the first time was a bit scary because the doctors didn’t give me a definitive yes or no as to whether I should play again or not.
“Dr Caldwell, my recovery consultant, gave me a ‘back to play’ programme so I worked on it although it was my club manager Gerard Shannon who pushed me and kept motivating me and it is down to him that I was able to lift the Mageean Cup with CJ.”
As the final whistle blew brother CJ ran to Odhrán to signal the start of a very special family celebration.
“We were doing it for the big man,” said CJ. “We thought we had lost him but he’s here, he’s a soldier, a Gael and Gaels are warriors.
Following his accident and after eight days fighting for his life in an induced coma, Odhrán woke up thinking he was in Switzerland.
“I thought I was on a skiing holiday,” added the 18-year old Co Antrim GAA star. “It’s all been surreal. To be here and win the Mageean Cup is beyond a dream.
As Odhrán puts his horrific accident behind him and looks to the future and the All Ireland’s in the spring, he paid tribute to his GAA family, his twin brother CJ and parents Sonia and Michael.
He said: “When I was in Intensive Care the 30 lads from the squad sat in a corner of the waiting room with CJ. You don’t often get that with a school team, they were more like a family and their support has been something else on this journey.
“My Mum works in ICU in the Royal and on the Friday of the accident she saw me when I was brought it. It was extremely emotional for her on Wednesday night to be able to see me play and to captain the side with CJ to the win.
“CJ in particular has been unreal throughout this. Words can’t describe what he means to me. He was there during the dark nights when I struggled to sleep and he got me through the tough times.
“Lifting the Mageean Cup has left us all overjoyed, full of pride and extremely emotional, however, now it is time to park it, keep my feet on the ground and look forward to the future.”
