Masita Paddy Buggy Cup semi-final (All-Ireland PPS hurling)
Saturday 2nd March 2pm at Dowdallshill, Dundalk:
St Killian’s Garron Tower v Portumna CS
St Killian’s College Garron Tower take a step into the unknown on Saturday when they compete in the Paddy Buggy Cup for the first time. Standing in their way to an All Ireland final appearance are formidable opponents, Portumna Community School from Galway, winners of the Connacht title.
It is thirty years since a team from the Tower lined out in an All Ireland semi-final, and that appearance was basically by default. Back then St Pat’s Maghera were the Mageean Cup winners and decided to try their luck in the A section, the Croke Cup. Garron Tower, having been runners up in the Mageean final to St Pat’s were chosen to represent Ulster in the O’Keefe Cup.
Thirty years before that the Tower were the first Ulster team to play in an All Ireland semi-final when, as first winners of the new Mageean Cup, they faced St Peters of Wexford at Croke Park. Playing in Croke Park at that time made the boys of ’64 local legends, none more so than Eneas Black from Glenariffe, who sadly passed away just a few weeks ago.
Just more than a week after Eneas Black’s passing a new group of legends were born when the St Killian’s Senior Hurlers bridged a sixty year gap by winning the Mageean Cup. In the final they got the better of north Antrim rivals Cross & Passion College, at the Dub Arena at QUB, the ‘Tower’ just edging through in a nervy final against their Ballycastle rivals.
Saturday’s opponents Portumna will be formidable opponents and St Killian’s will have to be at their best to if they are to progress. However the Ulster champions have a wealth of talent in their ranks and are capable of progressing to the final.
The same team that captured the Mageean Cup on January 3rd have been named for Saturday with Thomas McLaughlin guarding the goals, with Colla Ward Cailin Devlin and John Scullion making up the full back line. Charlie McAuley should pivot the half back line with Austin Birt and Niall Magee on the flanks behind the midfield pairing of Calum McIlwaine and Callagh Mooney.
Cormac McKeown, Joseph McLaughlin and Orrin O’Connor will form a potent half forward line with Peadar McDonnell, Oran McCambridge and Niall Hynds up front.
The Tower have a strong bench, some of whom will no doubt see action at some stage, though the luckless Cathan Graham is ruled out because of a bad shoulder injury.
Portumna have been scoring freely during their Connacht campaign, hitting 3-12 in the final win over Holy Rosary, Montbellew just a couple of weeks ago, the goals coming from right half forward Callum Keane, corner forwrd Conor Kennedy and full forward Colin Treacy.
St Brigid’s Park, Dundalk is the venue for the game, a venue well known to Antrim fans of a certain vintage, for it there in August 1987 that the Saffrons played a now famous All Ireland Senior semi-final against Kilkenny. Although the Cats got through in the end that day Antrim pushed them all the way, and led midway through the second half, until a Harry Ryan inspired comeback got Kilkenny through.
One thing for sure it will be considerably colder tomorrow than it was that famous day 37 years ago, but if the action on the field is as enjoyable, the journey will be worthwhile