All Ireland Schools B Championship

St Louis v Colaiste Naomh Cormac at Darvar – Throw-in 12-30

St Louis Ballymena face a stern challenge when they take on Leinster champions Colaiste Naomh Cormac in Sunday’s Paddy Buggy Cup semi-final at Darvar, Co Louth. St Louis manager Conor ‘Gooch’ Gillan is well aware of the task facing the Mageean Cup holders but is delighted to report that the team has a clean bill of health going into Sunday’s game. However he sounded a cautious note about the quality of their opponents, pointing out that Colaiste Naomh Cormac had seven players on the combined Offaly schools team that made history a few weeks ago by winning the Leinster Senior A title, a feat that saw them overcome the famous St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny in the decider at Nowlan Park. Many of the team were members of the Offaly county team who were narrowly beaten by Tipperary in last season’s All Ireland Minor final, the most noteworthy name Adam Screeney, I highly talented hurler who shot to fame last year during Offaly’s great run.

St Louis bridged a seven year gap in December when they won their first Mageean title since since 2015, beating north Antrim rivals Garron Tower in the final at the Dub. Goals from Aodhan McGarry and Ronan McCollum at either end of the game proved decisive in a close contest. St Louis will need to reproduce that form, and add a bit more if they are to trouble the Offaly side, but they have worked hard in the build up with challenge games against Antrim U20s, Carlow U20s and St Mary’s Magherafelt and will be confident they can cause an upset