These are the days you dream about - Aaron McGrory

When Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town won the All-Ireland Colleges B title in St Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Saturday, Aaron McGrory was one of four Naomh Brid players who featured on the panel.

McGrory was joined by Donal Gallagher in the starting line-up while Patrick Gormley was a second half substitute while Callum McCafferty was also part of the panel.

When put to him that being called an All-Ireland champion had a nice ring to it, he replied: "Unbelievable. I can't believe it. These are the days you dream about coming up to watch Donegal in Ulster finals (in Clones). All you dream about is playing on this pitch and go up and lifting the cup yourself, it's hard to believe.”

McGrory lined out at full-forward and didn’t take long to make his mark, setting up Abbey’s second point for Conor McCahill and then scoring the 5th and 9th points of a spectacular first half which saw the Donegal Town side leading by seven points at the break.

And for any forward, finding the range with your first effort is very important.

"It was a good confidence boost. It was good to get on the scoresheet early and get a run at it.”

The second point from McGrory came four minutes from the break, taking a pass from Conor Meehan and slicing it with the outside of his right like a rocket from 35 yards.

"I know, it was a bit ambitious, but it came off anyway,” was McGrory’s take on it.
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/gaa/1445332/its-such-an-honour-to-captain-this-team-seanan-carr.html

He has really enjoyed his time in the full-forward line, working alongside Conor McCahill.

"He's a pleasure to play with inside, him and Conor Meehan. You couldn't ask for two better men. The way we worked with each other, coming off the loop, it was just a joy to watch and a joy to play with them as well.”

One of the many Leaving Cert students on the panel, McGrory says it was a great way to end his school football days. And the win means that most of the panel have three Ulster medals and one All-Ireland schools medal.

"We won the U13½ in our first year and in the second year we won the U-14½. I can't believe we have finished it off now in our last ever school game, winning an All-Ireland in Clones and taking home an All-Ireland trophy to the school,” said McGrory.

And it has happened in their final year at school. "It is a lovely way to finish it off.”

As for the rest of the panel with players from Naomh Brid, St Naul’s and Four Masters, he says there will now always be a bond.

"We've definitely made friends for life. And it's great the way the three clubs can come together and we can play so well together as well," said McGrory.
https://www.donegallive.ie/story-telling/gaa/1445521/in-pictures-all-ireland-champions-abbey-vocational-school-welcomed-home.html