Claudy's St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s, Claudy aiming for Nagle Cup glory

​St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s College, Claudy will be out to upset the odds and bring home an Ulster title when they meet favourites St. Joseph’s, Coalisland in the Danske Bank U15.5 Nagle Cup final in Cookstown on Friday morning.

The Caludy lads have been excellent throughout a superb run to the decider, a run that saw them emerge from a tough qualifying section thanks to impressive Group B victories over St. Mary’s H.S, Limavady (3-03 to 1-02), Deele College (5-05 to 1-02) and St Patrick’s College, Dungiven (3-06 to 1-03).

Those results brought the Derry school to a quarter-final against Lismore College (Craigavon), a tie the Claudy lads navigated in style with a 4-08 to 1-08 win before stepping it up once more with a brilliant 3-13 to 1-07 semi-final victory over Edmund Rice College from Glengormley.

It means St Patrick’s & St Brigid’s are on the edge of provincial glory but with their toughest test still in front of them against a team who has beaten them twice over the last two years.

Principal, Mr. Philip McCullagh, acknowledged it's going to be a huge test for managers Conall White and Joseph Ball and their players but praised the effort and commitment of all involved in what has already been a memorable championship run.

"We know we will go into Friday’s final as underdogs," explained Mr McCullagh, "They are a good team with really strong runners and are physically strong in the middle sector. They have quick forwards who have caused us problems in the past. They are fortunate to be blessed with good management with a lot of experience in former Tyrone player, Ronan O’Neill.

"Our panel understand that others don’t consider them favourites going into this final, so they're hoping to tear up the script. They believe victory is possible based on their gritty, unyielding spirit.

"They want this to be a day to be remembered in front of their many travelling supporters. The panel carry the hopes of St. Patrick’s & St. Brigid’s College. The panel have already made the school feel proud and on Friday they’ve the opportunity to be provincial winners. The community is behind them with every whistle."

And there's every reason for optimism with no shortage of talent on a St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's panel that includes Derry U16 panellist and playmaker Darragh O'Connor and U15 panellist, full forward Sean Hargan.

That duo will be key alongside full-back Joe Peoples and centre-half Eoghan O'Connor in a Claudy squad blessed with talent in every line. The Claudy squad is made up of players from local clubs Claudy, Foreglen, Craigbane, Ardmore, Slaughtmanus and Banagher with almost half the 31-strong panel still in Year 10.

St. Patrick's & St Brigid's: Jarlath Mc Taggart, Peirce Devine, Joe Peoples (VC), Ryan O’Hara, Aidan McKeever, Eoghan O’Connor, Caolan Loughery, Daithi O’Doherty, Shea McCloskey, Cahan Dalton Murphy, Darragh O’Connor (C), Kai Hume, Paddy Donaghy, Sean Hargan, Cathal Peoples, Kyle Peoples, Liam Gillespie, Orran McGivern, Oisin McTaggart, Corey Turley, Charlie Donaghy, Corren Cleary, Aidan Mallon, Fintan Proctor, James McLaughlin, Jack McLaughlin, Ruairi O’Hara, Danny Cleary, Ioseff Welch, Peadar O’Doherty, Ronan McCloskey Hargan

Friday's final has a 1pm throw-in at Fr. Rocks in Cookstown.