Ulster Colleges

[naka]

Ah lads, come on.

Colleges football was the most enjoyable and competitive football I ever played.

Different strokes for different folks I suppose.

Thats the difference, great for the 40 lads involved, dross to watch. I think far too much emphasis placed on it anyway and instead of developing players with the skills of the game they are more interested developing winning teams, so the can add a McRory to their coaching Cv for the managerial gravy train around Ulster.

There's a fair amount of bollocks talked on this forum but that takes the biscuit. Pure and utter nonsense.

Don't think it is to be fair. Some very average coaches, who have a very average knowledge of the game involved in teams.
But whatever, congratulations to St Ronan's.

Its an inconvinient truth for too many who think it is the be all and end all. Dont worry the same is happening in Rugby, massive percentage never even go on to play for their clubs.

Preparing lads for the biggest game of their lives at 17/18.

Fking balls
Schools football was brilliant, made friends for life and still have a great affiliation with my alma mater,
Still have the craic with guys from other schools I met during my time, from st marys cbs,maghera, college etc
Indeed few years ago took son to abbey St. Paul's Match and was chatting to guys from home who all had gone to St. Paul's and were a lot younger than me
One of them says hopefully get stuck into these abbey bastards, I chuckled and said yip was thinking the same only I want the abbey to get stuck into the St. Paul's bastards.
He hadn't realised I was an abbey boy.
For me schools football most enjoyable experience I had on the pitch.
Although that was easy cos cross killeavy etc used to hammer us regularly at under age so it was no fun

[BennyHarp]

Anyone who holds a grudge against MacRory football, I would propose, is most likely falling over beneath the weight of the chips on their shoulders. A professional axe grinder looking here, there, anywhere for a target.

It's a truly wonderful competition. It means the absolute world to those involved in it. It provides a viable athletic aspiration for thousands of younger pupils; and for more than a few it is sole reason why they will work for and pass GCSEs. It creates warmth and nostalgia, and by sheer force of nature brings alumni closer to their old school, and old school friends.

If you begrudge the MacRory Cup, I would genuinely hate to spend a day inside your head. It must be horrible in there.

+1 I loved every minute of my time playing MacRory (even though we took a hefty beating from Maghera in my final year) and still love watching football at that level today. My school winning the competition for the first time ever when I was in first year is one of my favourite sporting memories and made me determined to play in the competition. Like Naka said, it was great for making friends for life not only from your own team but from other schools too. Friendships that continued into Uni and beyond. I'd say in the past few pages we can easily enough spot the lads who didn't make their MacRory panels.

[general_lee]

Possibly as it will give students more of a chance of going to University and entice them to stay on for  A-Levels, previously the majority of students from St Brigids would have went into trades/ quit education at 16, very few would have went to St Pats.  The amount of quality players form the Armagh area who miss out on McRory football because their education isn't t up to scratch is shocking. 

Not saying they will be automatically be contesting McRory cups year in year out, but you would expect the standard to be raised now the the catch net of available players available has been widened.   

Lurgan suffered this for years, St Paul's JHS produced some brilliant teams over the years but only going up to 5th year meant you'd a a load that went on to tech, trades etc with the rest going on to do A Levels at St Michael's. Likewise it remains to be seen if St Ronans will consistently be competing in the McRory, but you'd like to think the potential has certainly increased.

[imtommygunn]

The macrory is a fantastic competition. The only thing that pains me about it is that no antrim schools are in it!

Great grounding for football in later years.

[general_lee]

The macrory is a fantastic competition. The only thing that pains me about it is that no antrim schools are in it!

Great grounding for football in later years.

Was st Mary's CBGS not in it?

[imtommygunn]

They have been in it every now and then but not in a while.

They haven't been winning, or challenging , for mclarnon from what i have seen so it would be a step too far.

[imtommygunn]

I stand corrected...

I didn't realise they were in it!

[naka]

The macrory is a fantastic competition. The only thing that pains me about it is that no antrim schools are in it!

Great grounding for football in later years.

Was st Mary's CBGS not in it?

Winners in 1986 I believe

[Targetman]

Mac Rory football really is the pinnacle of these lads school days often to the detriment of their studies, its becoming increasingly difficult to win with more genuine contenders this past few years, I've seen a few games in this years competition and thoroughly impressed with the standard on offer

[bennydorano]

MacRory football is fantastic, over 25 years since I left St Pats Armagh and I was fooking gutted when St Ronan's chinned us with a stoppage time goal in the semi. It was always serious stuff, I remember Br Ennis having us in training for the Rannafast  Cup in mid August before school was  back from Summer holidays.

[The Gs Man]

My wee lad, first year in St.Ronan's, is running about hoarse after Monday, on cloud 9, can't wait to get to his club training, is rhyming off all the names of the MacRory team, and is already talking about playing MacRory himself in 6 or 7 years.

Think there's a bit of magic left in the competition yet.

[Walter Cronc]

Anyone who holds a grudge against MacRory football, I would propose, is most likely falling over beneath the weight of the chips on their shoulders. A professional axe grinder looking here, there, anywhere for a target.

It's a truly wonderful competition. It means the absolute world to those involved in it. It provides a viable athletic aspiration for thousands of younger pupils; and for more than a few it is sole reason why they will work for and pass GCSEs. It creates warmth and nostalgia, and by sheer force of nature brings alumni closer to their old school, and old school friends.

If you begrudge the MacRory Cup, I would genuinely hate to spend a day inside your head. It must be horrible in there.

+1 I loved every minute of my time playing MacRory (even though we took a hefty beating from Maghera in my final year) and still love watching football at that level today. My school winning the competition for the first time ever when I was in first year is one of my favourite sporting memories and made me determined to play in the competition. Like Naka said, it was great for making friends for life not only from your own team but from other schools too. Friendships that continued into Uni and beyond. I'd say in the past few pages we can easily enough spot the lads who didn't make their MacRory panels.

Sure jeez Benny they still talk about how you made the MacRory panel years later!!

[Minder]

They have been in it every now and then but not in a while.

They haven't been winning, or challenging , for mclarnon from what i have seen so it would be a step too far.

I thought they were in it a few years ago

[BennyHarp]

Anyone who holds a grudge against MacRory football, I would propose, is most likely falling over beneath the weight of the chips on their shoulders. A professional axe grinder looking here, there, anywhere for a target.

It's a truly wonderful competition. It means the absolute world to those involved in it. It provides a viable athletic aspiration for thousands of younger pupils; and for more than a few it is sole reason why they will work for and pass GCSEs. It creates warmth and nostalgia, and by sheer force of nature brings alumni closer to their old school, and old school friends.

If you begrudge the MacRory Cup, I would genuinely hate to spend a day inside your head. It must be horrible in there.

+1 I loved every minute of my time playing MacRory (even though we took a hefty beating from Maghera in my final year) and still love watching football at that level today. My school winning the competition for the first time ever when I was in first year is one of my favourite sporting memories and made me determined to play in the competition. Like Naka said, it was great for making friends for life not only from your own team but from other schools too. Friendships that continued into Uni and beyond. I'd say in the past few pages we can easily enough spot the lads who didn't make their MacRory panels.

Sure jeez Benny they still talk about how you made the MacRory panel years later!!

No doubt. I believe there's a plaque and everything in the new build. You're right though, its all down to bad management and bad coaching Walt - sure, you roasted lads who made the MacRory panel in a club game a few weeks later?

[ardchieftain]

MacRory football is fantastic, over 25 years since I left St Pats Armagh and I was fooking gutted when St Ronan's chinned us with a stoppage time goal in the semi. It was always serious stuff, I remember Br Ennis having us in training for the Rannafast  Cup in mid August before school was  back from Summer holidays.

I should know you Benny, seems you were at school the same time as me.

I played club and schools football from primary school onwards and thought i was fit enough. Mcrory training came as a shock, the fitness work was brutal but when i stuck at it i soon realised what fit was. My point is that colleges football can be the making of some lads.