FonaCAB St Pauls Ulster Minor Tournament
St Pauls v Mayobridge, (1pm throw-in at Shaws Road)
By Kevin Herron
St Pauls minor manager Damien Duffy is happy that his side have been able to plan accordingly for their eagerly awaited return to the FonaCAB Ulster Minor Football Tournament.
The hosts- who bridged a 30-year gap- with victory over Aghagallon in October- were due to face the Tyrone Champions in the prelim last weekend.
The Tyrone Championship was held up due to an appeal and subsequently it was confirmed that it wouldn’t proceed this year, meaning that St Pauls will advance to a quarter-final meeting with Down Champions, Mayobridge.
There is a huge sense of excitement around the Shaws Road club for Saturdays quarter-final clash and Duffy is pleased that the lingering uncertainty is now behind them.
“We were always focusing on playing in the preliminary round” Duffy insists.
“But we couldn’t plan anything else until we got official word from Tyrone. We know very little about Mayobridge, but we are aware that they will be a serious outfit to come out the Down Championship”.
Despite clinching their first Antrim Minor Championship with victory over Aghagallon in October, the realisation of their achievement didn’t kick in until the night of the launch in the City Hall at the end of the Month.
“The night of the of the draw made it that wee bit extra special- knowing that we’re part of it” acknowledged Duffy.
“Prestigious as it is, we always go up each year on the pitch and you are looking at different teams and to have St Pauls Minor team now involved in it after 30-years it hit home the night of the draw and because of the people involved. It’s going to be an honour for us being the team and being the squad from St Pauls that are going to be participating in the actual tournament itself”.
Duffy was aged 14 the last time St Pauls featured in their tournament back in 1993 and has vague memories of that team- coached by Brian Coyle.
“I was only maybe 14 myself, I just remember that I think St Pauls were beaten in final after a replay” Duffy recalled.
“Even back then it was great to see a St Pauls team participating in it. Not that I have much memories of it but I know that Brian Coyle was taking the team. Brian Coyle coached me as a youngster. It is always good to have a St Pauls team participating in our own tournament. It’s just a pity that it has been 30-years, but we hope to give a good account of ourselves and put on a good show for the club itself and a lot of fans who are going to be out on the day. One person that we will dearly miss is Joe McCartan who passed away earlier on this year, he would have enjoyed seeing this St Pauls team participating in the tournament”.