'This Abbey team is probably the most dominant team I’ve seen in our area' - Carr

Former Donegal and Four Masters star Shane Carr has called this current Abbey Vocational School senior side one of the strongest and all-round teams he has seen come out of the area in a long time. 

The Donegal Town school will face Ashbourne CS from Meath this Saturday in the All-Ireland ‘B’ final in Clones at 2pm as the AVS look to become only the third school from the county to win the Paddy Drummond Cup after St Eunan’s College and De La Salle Ballyshannon did it back in 1979 and 1980. 

But Carr will not only attend the final on Saturday as a fan, but also as a parent with his two sons Seanán and Turlough lining out in the half-forward line for the team, the former being the captain. 

“Yeah, this is a great occasion, not only for the school or the clubs, but it’s brilliant for the whole area that we have a team that have the opportunity to take home an All-Ireland title,” said the Donegal legend. 

The Abbey cruised to the McLarnon Cup in Ulster following a 2-10 to 0-8 point victory over Our Lady & St Patrick’s College, Knock, where Carr's two sons historically shared the Man of the Match award in the final. 

That was followed by a 2-17 to 1-12 semi-final victory over Dunmore two weeks ago in Kent Park. And now the school are just one win away from the biggest success in their history.  

“You just have to look at the squad, we have nine county minors in that school and only two are on the starting 15, so it just shows how strong the team is,” said Carr. 

“There’s a buzz around the area that, in a sporting context, we haven’t seen in a long time. Like, we don’t get too many chances to be in an All-Ireland final, so I hope they can get the job done this weekend.” 

Carr, who lined out for the Donegal senior team for over a decade before retiring in 2007, has been involved in underage coaching with his home club and has seen the development of these players, who he hopes will be the backbone of their clubs at senior level in years to come. 

“It’s scary stuff when you see how much these lads have developed from young children and now some are nearly adults who have already played and in two Ulster finals between club and school. 

“I can only speak from my own club’s point of view, but last year we had the boys winning championship titles in our club at U-13, U-15, and U-17, so these are great teams coming through at the minute but it’s important to recognise the system that was put in place which has made sure there is more success coming down the line. I think Four Masters has really got their house in order with that. 

“But overall, this AVS side are a well-balanced team, they’re strong, they’re skillful, they’re fast, I think it really is going to take a good team to beat them. They're just an all-round side” 

Reflecting on the school’s overall season, the former inter-county defender states that it was their dominant 14-point Ulster semi-final win over St Patrick’s Grammar in Garvaghy, that really spurred the players on to believe they were good enough to go the whole way. 

“I think if you look at their Ulster semi-final up in Garvaghy, that was as good a performance I’ve seen from a team in a long time, they were just so strong,” said Carr  

“Now I would say, they probably haven’t reached them heights since then, but at least they know they can produce a performance like that, or that it’s in their locker anyway.   

“I’m not afraid to say that this is probably the most dominant team that I’ve ever seen in our area. Like a number of these players have played in two Ulster club finals already, which has rarely happened before. 

“Like I played on a very good school side back in my day that got to a county final, which we lost. So, we were always good enough to compete in the Donegal area, but when you moved onto Ulster, it was always a different story, and we were unfortunately never good enough, these boys are good enough.” 

With all roads leading to Clones this Saturday it’s not time for the final minutes of preparation for Jamie Brennan and Stuart McFadden’s players. Carr acknowledges that it will be natural for the players to be carrying nerves into the final but admits there may be more nervousness among the parents. 

“In terms of nerves, I’m not sure about the rest of the squad but my two lads anyway are looking forward to it. There’s naturally going to be nerves but the best thing you can do is try to keep yourself as busy as you can in the days leading up to it. 

“No question, it’s more nervous watching as a parent. When you’re a player, you can ease yourself into the game and try and get on the ball. When you’re a parent, you have to just sit back and let it happen . . . or try to do that anyway,” joked Carr.