On Friday 24th September St Mary’s CBGS celebrated the greatest sporting week in the school’s history by hosting a reunion for their 1971 All-Ireland Hogan cup football team and their All -Ireland winning O’Keefe hurling team.
The event was held in the fabulous surrounds of the new Hinch Distillery in Carryduff. Unfortunately due to Covid regulations, this was a difficult event to organise and numbers were restricted. However, the lunch attended by alumni and guests including Ciaran McCavana, Antrim County Chairman, was a huge success.
St Mary’s Principal, Mrs Siobhan Kelly, addressed the two St Mary’s teams and members of their Hogan Cup final opponents from Coláiste Iosagáin, who had travelled from Cork and Kerry to attend the anniversary event. Mrs Kelly reflected on the significant role gaelic games have always played in the sporting life of St Mary’s and Ulster Schools and the importance of celebrating our success.
The St Mary’s Hogan Cup winning of team of 1971 at Friday’s 50th anniversary dinner in the Hinch Distillery. back row, L-R, Stephen Prenter ,Peter Crummey, John McKiernan ,Paul McKiernan ,Phil Shephard , Sean Sands ,Tom Breslin Front Row Conor Smith, Paul Haughey, Canice Ward, Gerry McHugh, Pat Armstrong, Gerry Cullen, Siobhan Devlin (St Mary’s CBGS principal). 
The St Mary’s Hogan and O’Keefe Cup winning of teams of 1971 are joined by members of the Colaiste Isoagain team they beat in the Hogan Cup final at Friday’s 50th anniversary dinner in the Hinch Distillery. Included St Mary’s CBGS principal Siobhan Kelly
Jimmy Smith, former Armagh captain and Ulster Schools Chairman, was the MC for the event, and interviewed members of the St Mary’s and Coláiste Iosagáin teams. Seamus McAleenan, who is currently writing a history of the Mageean Cup, talked about the great 1971 team from St Mary’s, the first Mageean Cup winners to go on and win the All Ireland O’Keefe Cup. Gerry McHugh, captain of the Hogan Cup team, recalled anecdotes of the team, their coaches and supporters, on their journey to Croke Park. He paid a special tribute to the Christian Brothers who coached the two winning St Mary’s teams – Br Nolan, Br O’Mahony (“Spike”) and Br McGreevy (“The Boot”). There was a special mention for the indomitable character Paddy McGinley from St Mary’s, who sadly passed away in 2011 shortly after the 40th anniversary dinner.
Chairman of Ulster Schools GAA Jimmy Smith 
Michael Morris, International Sales Director for Hinch Distillery welcomes everyone to the venue. Michael is a fomer pupil of St Mary’s. 
Paddy Linden Ulster schools 
Professor Dermot Diamond. 
Pat Armstrong 
Stephen Prenter 
St Mary’s principal Siobhan Kelly 
The man who made it all happen Hugh McGettigan
The relaxed atmosphere of the event gave all the players the opportunity to catch up, reminisce and forge friendships with team mates and opponents.
St Mary’s Hogan Cup Winners- Kevin O’Loan, Gerry Cullen, Paul McKiernan, Conor Smith, Gerry Mc Hugh (Captain), Sean Sands, John McKiernan, Pat Armstrong, Frank Toman, Phil Sheppard, Paul Growcott, Ciaran Donnelly, Canice Ward, Paul Haughey, Kevin Boylan, Stephen Prenter, Paddy O’Neill, Tom Breslin, Peter Crummey, J McGowan
St Mary’s O’Keefe Cup Winners – Noel Carlin, Peter Crummey, Paul McKiernan, Tom Breslin, John McKiernan, Stephen Prenter, Ciaran Donnelly (Captain), Canice Ward, Gerry McHugh, Paul Growcott, Pat Armstrong, Sean Sands, Paul Drain, Dermot Diamond, Brian Gormley, Phil Sheppard, Paddy McGinley, paddy O’Neill.
Members of the Hogan cup finalist Colaiste Isoagain Back row John O’Connor , John R Fitzgerald, Connie O’Connor Front row Br P.Carlin, Seamus O’Sullivan,(Colaiste Isoagain captain.) Gerry McHugh (st Mary’s captain, Siobhan Kelly (St Mary’s Principal 
Friends for life Pat Armstrong , Gerry McHugh , John O’Connor John McKiernan , Seamus Sullivan 
The family of the late Paddy McGinley who attended the 5oth anniversary dinner 
behind every good man…………….. 
Stephen Prenter chats with old friends 
Conor Smith ,John McKiernan , Gerry McHugh Paul McKiernan , John Lismore, Gerry Cullen and Peter Crummey 
Gerry McHugh 
The man who made it all happen Hugh McGettigan 
Hugh McGettigan with Antrim county chairman Ciaran McCavanna and committee member Niall Murphy 
Paddy Linden and Niall Murphy 
St Mary’s captain Gerry McHugh and his Colaiste Iosagain counterpart Seamus O’Sullivan 
Paul Growcott who scored 0-12 in the 1971 O’Keefe cup final 
Ann and Sean Sands enjoying the lunch at Hinch distillery
