Danske Bank Irish News Cup Final preview
Coláiste Feirste v De La Salle, Downpatrick. Tuesday 31st January, 11am, Falls Park
By Kevin Herron
Coláiste Feirste are hoping they can claim their first ever Danske Bank Irish News Cup success when they take on De La Salle, Downpatrick in the final tomorrow morning (11am throw-in).
The Irish-medium school from the Falls Road are being coached by Sarsfields Ciaran Doherty and Antrim and St John’s star Paddy McBride.
Doherty was full of praise for the squad that consists of Year 9 and 10 pupils and spoke of their aspiration to compete at McLarnon or MacRory level in a few years’ time.
“It’s huge for the school after getting our new sporting complex, that something has come through” Doherty explained.
“These lads wouldn’t be looked at as one of the most quality or potential based teams in the school, but for me- they’ve been a dream to coach. They listen, they take everything in, they just play serious football, they play with a massive heart, and they fight for each other on the pitch. It’s every man fighting for their team and for the cause – they are just the nicest bunch.
“Most coaches that we would come against would come up after the game and say, that was a fantastic game and they’re a fantastic group of lads. The togetherness has been outstanding. We had the An Sportlann built, and I dare say that people are wondering what has come from that?
“We’re starting to see teams come through, we’ve a really good Year 8 team coming through and we’ve more kids getting attracted our school, which is great because as a coach myself I think that Antrim really lack in schools, and we don’t have enough teams playing at the highest level.
“I’m hoping that Paddy [McBride] and myself could maybe take a team to the McLarnon or maybe take a team to the MacRory- that would be the dream. That would be our team to work together and with these kids- their drive and ambition is fantastic. They are just so level-headed and nice. It’s a joy to coach them and every game we’ve had so far has just been amazing. We’ve used a lot of second years as well and the relationship between the second and third years has been fantastic. It is like a club atmosphere in a school and it would be huge to win it”.
Doherty insists that victory would be dedicated to Irish-language activist Diarmuid O’Tuama- who sadly passed away at the beginning of January. Diamuid’s son Seamus worked in Coláiste Feirste and Doherty credits him for playing a major part in sports at the school.
“It would be great to win it for Diarmuid O’Tuama” Doherty insisted.
“He just passed away a few weeks ago and I would definitely dedicate it himself and his son Seamus- who worked in the school and would have added to a lot of the success in the sport in school through the years. It would be testament to him and I text Seamus after we got to the final and said that I was thinking about him and the family when we got there.
Seamus father laid the foundations at the Bunscoil and that started us and got us to where we are now”.
The Sarsfields native also spoke of the delight of working alongside Antrim star Paddy McBride and their dream to take the team further.
“Paddy and myself actually spoke today of how much of a dream it would be to coach a MacRory team” he revealed.
“Not even to win a MacRory but to coach a Coaliste Feirste team in MacRory would be epic. It would be amazing and that would definitely be an aspiration to do it with Paddy would be amazing. The man is a legend, it’s great working with him and that is his goal too. He’s won a lot with club and played at County level and his experience and to be able to have that on the side-line is something else”.
Coláiste Feirste and De La Salle met in the opening game of the campaign and although Doherty recalled his side overturning an 11 and 9 point deficit- he is expecting a tough ask tomorrow morning.
“We actually played them in the first game of the year, and they were beating us by 9 and 11 at two different points of the game” recalled Doherty.
“We made a change and put one of our half-backs into full-forward and that kind of turned the tie. We were 9 down at half-time and 11 down and came back and beat them. it was at our home pitch, and I think that our home support really, really helped that.
“I know that going in, it is going to be a real, real tall ask. I was in contact with the Downpatrick manager, and she is a lovely girl, and she can’t wait for the game. We’re both excited for the game, it’s a strange feeling. It’s not like club and there is no real pressure as such. We’re going in just to watch 3rd years play ball at a high level.
“We have our third-year kids coming over to watch the game, they can walk over- which is handy. Downpatrick are going to bring a few year groups themselves. There should be a great atmosphere at the game and they’re as excited as we are. It’s the first time that we have got to the Irish News Cup Final, it would be great to write a wee bit of history, bring the cup down to the school and hopefully that will inspire the next few generations and we can use it for Open Day”.
Coláiste Feirste were one of many teams to compete in the Antrim Cup run by Gaelfast in September and Doherty credited Gaelfast and Antrim for running the competition- which he believes greatly assisted their campaign.
“I’d like to thank Gaelfast for the Belfast Cup, which definitely had a major effect in us getting here” Doherty explained.
“It was the perfect pre-season for these kids, and I really thank the lads at Gaelfast because this has been the perfect set-up to get where we are. I don’t think we would have got to where we are because it’s hard to get out for trainings and challenge games. Considering we had that week-in, week-out and we were playing three games a time. It was the perfect preparation.
“Hopefully it is a great tournament going forward, I must thank Gaelfast and Antrim for organising it because it was run top-notch. We got a few All-Star awards- which was brilliant and the whole thing was fantastic and compliments to them for helping us along the way to where we are now”.