Abbey Vocational School look to make MacLarnon Cup history this Sunday in Armagh

Abbey Vocational School team manager Stuart McFadden has praised his side for their work and commitment throughout the season which as a result has brought the school to their first ever MacLarnon Cup final this Sunday, at the Athletic Grounds, against Knock of Belfast.

The Donegal Town school cruised into the final of the Ulster B final with a dominant win over St Patrick’s in Garvaghy on a scoreline of 2-14 to 0-6 points last week. 

The local area has been riding a successful wave at this age group at minor level in Four Masters, with the U-17 boys capturing the Ulster minor club title on New Year’s Day last month. 

And with a mix of St Naul’s and Naomh Bríd talent added to the mix, the team hopes to go one further by creating history in winning their first MacLarnon Cup. 

Donegal colleges have taken home the Ulster Cup on 11 occasions with the county last winning it in 2014.

On Sunday, Abbey VS hope to add their name to the trophy and become the fourth Donegal college to secure the title.

“The boys have done everything we’ve asked of them over the last number of games,” said Gaoth Dobhair native McFadden who is joint manager with Donegal star Jamie Brennan. 

"I think the biggest thing from our own point of view was that we controlled all the games we’ve been involved in and never took their foot off the gas.

“The easy thing about managing this team is that the players lead themselves, we don’t have to do a lot for them. They’re coming in fresh from the clubs. All of them around the local area are doing mighty work and we couldn’t be prouder of them. 

“I think in the semi-final, it was close to a perfect performance but there were things we knew we needed to work on and fix for the final. It’s never 100 per cent perfect. There are always small things within the group you need to work on and get better at every day you go out. Fair play to the lads because they’re taking our advice on board and they’re doing that.” 

Yet even with history beckoning, the secondary school teacher is not allowing his side to get too far ahead of themselves just yet. 

“It’s not sunk in the fact that we do have our own piece of history by getting to a MacLarnon Cup final. All we can do this weekend is go out and try and give the best performance that we can.

“There’s no big fuss really. It's just another game of football to us, it’s one more game. We’ll go out and play and hopefully at the end we can say we’ve won an Ulster final.” 

Abbey Vocational School panel for MacLarnon Cup final: Seanán Carr (Captain), Daniel McGinty, Terrence McGovern, Leo McGowan, Caolan Sweeney, Callum McCrea, David Monaghan, Tiarnan McBride, Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, Oisin Mogan, Conor McCahill, Aaron McGroary, Conor Meehan, Donal Gallagher, Lewis McCaughan, Oisin Brogan, Patrick Gormley, Oisin Doherty, Johnathan O’Driscoll, Theo Colhoun, Callum Dunnion, Daniel McIntyre, Kevin Rose, Oisin Óg Gallagher, Alan McHugh, Callum McCafferty, Lee McNamee.