Ulster Colleges

[bogball88]

Embarrassing from BBCSNI from start to finish here.

Maybe its the move from St Patricks day for the MacRory cup but whole BBC presentation and build up was poor.  Having been so good in the past at previewing and covering the final, how and why has the ball been dropped. This used to be a live TV event..

The team lineouts displayed over a soccer graphic has become a favourite of mine as of late 

[Estimator]

though that is no guarantee as it was interesting to hear that particular Omagh year group won nothing the whole way through their school journey until now

Maghera won D'alton, Corn Na Nog and Rannafast in this particular year group. Omagh were beat in the CNN final by Maghera. Believe it was Cavan and Macartans that lost in the other respective finals.

Think Dungannon and Omagh MacRory finals could become more frequent in the next couple of years (if they don't take the other out) as they have dominated further down the schools competitions.

[bannside]

Tyrone schools football at an all time high. Must be serious work going on in clubs, then schools pick up the mantle in year 8.

Holy Trinity & St Joseph's Donaghmore both stepping up in recent years too...

Only show in town amongst the bushes...fair play.

[LeoMc]

Tyrone schools football at an all time high. Must be serious work going on in clubs, then schools pick up the mantle in year 8.

Holy Trinity & St Joseph's Donaghmore both stepping up in recent years too...

Only show in town amongst the bushes...fair play.

The Dean managed a Markey cup last year and were competing in grade 1 on down the years reaching the Dalton (?) final.
Holy Cross Strabane also reached a Markey cup final this year.
St Ciarans Ballygawley seems to have slipped off the radar.

[Duine Inteacht Eile]

Tyrone schools football at an all time high. Must be serious work going on in clubs, then schools pick up the mantle in year 8.

Holy Trinity & St Joseph's Donaghmore both stepping up in recent years too...

Only show in town amongst the bushes...fair play.

Undoubtedly. Though it's important not to forget the influences these lads are experiencing in their homes, where a Gaelic Games culture is being instilled into them and where succeeding on the Gaelic football field is highly valued.
It's often overlooked but without it, the clubs and schools can find themselves behind the black ball before they begin. It is the vital cog.

[Walter Cronc]

Do Trillick players now go to Omagh? Was there not a history of them going to Enniskillen? Think the Donnelly's n Brennan's went there?

If so is this something Tyrone GAA are pushing. Keeping players within the county? St Pius' doesn't seem to attract loughshore players like it once used to. All seem to go to Holy Trinity now.

[trailer]

Do Trillick players now go to Omagh? Was there not a history of them going to Enniskillen? Think the Donnelly's n Brennan's went there?

If so is this something Tyrone GAA are pushing. Keeping players within the county? St Pius' doesn't seem to attract loughshore players like it once used to. All seem to go to Holy Trinity now.

Dunno if it that sort of conscious decision at 11 years old. Schools can go through popularity cycles. I know where I live it fluctuates between SPAD and Armagh. Certainly Omagh winning back to back MacRory will have done them no harm in attracting children interested in football.
Someone said it above it is the parents who start the love of the game. But Schools and Clubs are doing fantastic work bringing them on.

[Estimator]

Catchment areas for secondary schools are an interesting one. St Pats Maghera have a huge catchment, but there are plenty of other secondary schools within that area. You've the likes of Ballinascreen, Dungiven, Clady/Kilrea and Magherafelt all with their own schools and no need for a transfer test.

From my own parish, there would've traditionally been an even split between Maghera and Magherafelt (from those that did the transfer), but that has changed dramatically and the numbers heading to Maghera have been in and around single figures over the last 3/4 years. With an increase in the Convent numbers.

They are also under pressure from the likes of Gaelcholáiste Dhoire, who are probably taking a good few students who would have went to Maghera.

Also I never thought I'd see a day where St Mary's in Magherafelt, would have had Slaughtneil and Glen players in the same starting line up for MacRory match.

[the onion bag]

Do Trillick players now go to Omagh? Was there not a history of them going to Enniskillen? Think the Donnelly's n Brennan's went there?

If so is this something Tyrone GAA are pushing. Keeping players within the county? St Pius' doesn't seem to attract loughshore players like it once used to. All seem to go to Holy Trinity now.

Dunno if it that sort of conscious decision at 11 years old. Schools can go through popularity cycles. I know where I live it fluctuates between SPAD and Armagh. Certainly Omagh winning back to back MacRory will have done them no harm in attracting children interested in football.
Someone said it above it is the parents who start the love of the game. But Schools and Clubs are doing fantastic work bringing them on.

Trillick seems to be a case of families having a preference for certain schools. I think the Corry lads on last year's Tyrone minor panel this year went to Enniskillen like their fathers.

[Aaron Boone]

Omagh's catchment area has been pretty constant over the generations, but it hasn't been diminished in the last 20 years by the newer/ambitious/rival schools.

It's a big school but not huge like St Columb's Derry.

St Michael's Enniskillen has equally wide catchment.

[TwoUpTwoDown]

Omagh's catchment area has been pretty constant over the generations, but it hasn't been diminished in the last 20 years by the newer/ambitious/rival schools.

It's a big school but not huge like St Columb's Derry.

St Michael's Enniskillen has equally wide catchment.

CBS feels like its getting smaller if anything? The last two panels have had nobody from Errigal Ciaran etc. While during the noughties I remember a lot of players from that area. Ronan McRroy and Peter Harte captained them in finals. I think Harte's team had 6 or 7 Errigal lads. Where are they going? St Ciarán's haven't been tearing up any trees in the period in-between.

[trueblue1234]

I've a girl going through the transfer this year and from talking to parents and the schools, both the convent and the CBS are struggling to hit their intake numbers. Both are 50 / 50 wrt academic selection vs criteria. Sacred Heart seems to be pulling in more and more. May just be a couple of years were numbers have dipped but seems more than a few parents are preferring the mixed school environment.

[bogball88]

Omagh's catchment area has been pretty constant over the generations, but it hasn't been diminished in the last 20 years by the newer/ambitious/rival schools.

It's a big school but not huge like St Columb's Derry.

St Michael's Enniskillen has equally wide catchment.

CBS feels like its getting smaller if anything? The last two panels have had nobody from Errigal Ciaran etc. While during the noughties I remember a lot of players from that area. Ronan McRroy and Peter Harte captained them in finals. I think Harte's team had 6 or 7 Errigal lads. Where are they going? St Ciarán's haven't been tearing up any trees in the period in-between.

I think he moved from St Ciarans in 6th year

[marty34]

Tyrone schools football at an all time high. Must be serious work going on in clubs, then schools pick up the mantle in year 8.

Holy Trinity & St Joseph's Donaghmore both stepping up in recent years too...

Only show in town amongst the bushes...fair play.

Undoubtedly. Though it's important not to forget the influences these lads are experiencing in their homes, where a Gaelic Games culture is being instilled into them and where succeeding on the Gaelic football field is highly valued.
It's often overlooked but without it, the clubs and schools can find themselves behind the black ball before they begin. It is the vital cog.

Very true.

Starts in the family, then primary school.

Secondary schools can only work with what's coming through their doors in first year.

[statto]

Omagh's catchment area has been pretty constant over the generations, but it hasn't been diminished in the last 20 years by the newer/ambitious/rival schools.

It's a big school but not huge like St Columb's Derry.

St Michael's Enniskillen has equally wide catchment.

CBS feels like its getting smaller if anything? The last two panels have had nobody from Errigal Ciaran etc. While during the noughties I remember a lot of players from that area. Ronan McRroy and Peter Harte captained them in finals. I think Harte's team had 6 or 7 Errigal lads. Where are they going? St Ciarán's haven't been tearing up any trees in the period in-between.

McNulty said they had 86 at trials then cut it to 45 initially so must be doing ok.