Ronan Maher creates little bit of Pettigo GAA history

It’s not often that GAA history is created but Donegal’s Ulster Minor League win on Saturday last may have done so.

Donegal defeated Derry in the final in Maghera and Pettigo’s 15-year-old Ronan Maher was a second half substitute and became the first player from the club to win an Ulster minor medal.

Maher won’t be 16 until July and will qualify for the Donegal minors again next year. There have been a number of players from the Border club who have played in Ulster finals including Gary Snowe and Pat McCrea in the Ulster U-21 final of 1981, losing to Monaghan, while the legendary PJ Flood was on the Donegal minor team beaten by Armagh in 1957.

Ironically Flood was playing minor for Meath the previous year when Donegal made the breakthrough in Ulster, winning the minor title of 1956. And even more ironic, Meath went on to win the Leinster title in 1957.
 Ronan Maher pictured with Eoghan and Donal Gallagher after the final

There have been other significant milestones for Pettigo players with Sean McVeigh at midfield on a Donegal team that won the Ted Webb Cup in 1999, while the aforementioned Pat McCrea was a non-playing member of the Donegal senior winning Ulster team of 1983.

But young Ronan Maher, a TY student at Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, can claim the unique distinction of having a first Ulster medal won on the field.

Maher had only returned from a groin injury a week earlier, performing well when Donegal played Sligo in the final group game, and he was very happy after playing his part in the win on Saturday last.

“It was great to get a run out in the final. There is a great bunch of players and it is a really enjoyable place to play,” says Maher, who was part of the Coláiste Cholmcille team that lost the Markey Cup final this year.

Maher plays his football at half-back and loves the freedom it gives him.

“I would play most of my football at half-back and you get plenty of opportunities to attack from there.”

Shane Callaghan points the way for Donegal minors to Ulster title

Young Naomh Columba centre-half-forward was to the fore as his side took the title on Saturday last

He is one of 10 U-16s involved with the minor panel and he says he will return to the U-16 panel once the involvement with the minors is complete. But for now he is hoping that his time with the minor panel is extended well into the summer with the championship starting on April 19.

He will not be eligible to play adult football with Pettigo for two more years but will be hoping to team up with his older brother, Sean, then.

At present he plays his club football with Naomh Brid, where he will be joined by three fellow minor county panellists - Donal and Eoghan Gallagher and Oisin Brogan.

His sister Brianna has also represented Donegal at underage level.

The Maher family didn’t have much time to celebrate Saturday’s win as they were off to Dublin on Sunday for the league finals.

“We went to league finals with dad and my two cousins to watch the Division 1 and 2 finals. It was a good experience and it is always good to get to Croke Park. The games weren’t as good as we were expecting but were still good to watch.”

A Manchester United fan, Ronan also plays soccer when he has time, at the moment with Donegal Town FC and he also had a spell with Copany Rovers at U-12 level.

Being a TY student, Maher is really enjoying his time with the county set up, as he doesn’t have the usual workload. 

“Oh yeah, it is easier, and I have no homework to do when I come back from training,” he says.