2017

:00:19. > :00:49.Afternoon. It is March 17, 2017. Happy St Patrick's Day. Welcome to

:00:50. > :00:55.Armagh. Welcome to the Danske Bank MacRory Cup final. The teams have

:00:56. > :01:00.arrived. St Mary's Magherafelt first in the hand first off the bus. Will

:01:01. > :01:05.it be a first for them this afternoon? They have the game faces

:01:06. > :01:14.on. They know they are in the big one hand on the cusp of history. And

:01:15. > :01:17.then St Colman's of Newry. A Crossmaglen man captaining them this

:01:18. > :01:30.afternoon. Rian O'Neill. There he is. He is very much in the zone.

:01:31. > :01:35.They have come out in their numbers on St Patrick's Day. Selfies

:01:36. > :01:39.all-round. And they are all after the big one. To my immediate left,

:01:40. > :01:47.the Masterchef and blaster footballer. It is a big day for all

:01:48. > :01:53.concerned? It is a big day. It is a great day for the grassroots of the

:01:54. > :01:58.association. St Patrick's Day has always been synonymous with clubs

:01:59. > :02:01.and the grassroots. There will be a lot of young lads who will find

:02:02. > :02:08.their feet today. We are looking forward to it. What are you

:02:09. > :02:13.expecting today? I've saw them both in the semifinals. Really looking

:02:14. > :02:17.forward to it. We had a one-sided match last year. Today will be

:02:18. > :02:25.tighter. Great players on show. The teams are ready. First out it is St

:02:26. > :02:33.Mary's of Magherafelt. Here comes the big -- great big crew. They

:02:34. > :02:42.appeared first in the final in 1996, then back in 2003. Up goes the roar.

:02:43. > :02:46.Led out by Declan Cassidy. What a day for them. Can they win it.

:02:47. > :02:56.Thomas Niblock has been to the convent.

:02:57. > :03:02.To understand the future, you have to learn from the past. For St

:03:03. > :03:10.Mary's it has been two finals, two defeats, both to St Patrick's

:03:11. > :03:20.Magherafelt. However, a recent wind change has brought St Mary's to

:03:21. > :03:23.life. Part-time free taker. With the semifinal replay level, a

:03:24. > :03:27.last-minute free and a last-minute free taker changed the footballing

:03:28. > :03:34.landscape in South Derry for this year at least. I decided I would

:03:35. > :03:38.kick it. I knew it was a pressure kick but I decided to put my mind

:03:39. > :03:45.blank and take it like any other free. I knew it was a serious kick.

:03:46. > :03:55.But I was glad to see it go over. True happiness. I couldn't believe

:03:56. > :03:58.it. I couldn't believe it. Get the ball is moving through the

:03:59. > :04:03.hands. The Devlin link is an important one.

:04:04. > :04:12.Ronan is the first GAA coordinator to be employed by a school. His

:04:13. > :04:18.brother died in 2015, a superbly talented footballer with a real

:04:19. > :04:28.connection to this current squad. When Aaron was training to be a

:04:29. > :04:34.physio. He volunteered his own time. The play-off game, quarterfinal,

:04:35. > :04:40.against Armagh. I thought it was a real nice night. To me it was bigger

:04:41. > :04:45.than the game. We spoke about Aaron before the game. I think even the

:04:46. > :04:51.mention of his name gave our boys a little bit extra. He was a great

:04:52. > :04:54.player himself. It was great to have someone like him with us. He will be

:04:55. > :05:08.with us on Friday. And now St Colman's, the most

:05:09. > :05:15.successful school in the history of the MacRory Cup. 27 final

:05:16. > :05:22.appearance. They are going for a 20th title. Today marks a much

:05:23. > :05:26.storeyed occasion for the McIlroy family. The closing of a circle

:05:27. > :05:28.which was first opened way back in 1949.

:05:29. > :05:50.Here is Thomas again. Today St Colman's College are going

:05:51. > :05:55.for a record 20th MacRory Cup. Their first was back in 1949, followed by

:05:56. > :06:01.another a year later. PJ McIlroy was in blue and white. This week he

:06:02. > :06:15.presented the current manager with a gift. Two MacRory Cup medals which

:06:16. > :06:19.we won in 1949 and 1950. I thought I would let you see them, let the boys

:06:20. > :06:29.see them. It gives them a bit of incentive. If it gives them 5% more,

:06:30. > :06:37.that is all you want. It wasn't just MacRory Cups PJ won back-to-back. He

:06:38. > :06:43.was backed -- part of the Down team that won the all Ireland titles in

:06:44. > :06:53.1960 and 1961. Today his grandson plays for St Colman's. He brought

:06:54. > :06:57.his grandson back to the college. Which was the most special? The

:06:58. > :07:03.first one. The second was a bonus, really. That is the second year.

:07:04. > :07:14.1950. There was a wind blowing straight down the field. We scored

:07:15. > :07:27.11 points to nil. They scored 14 points before we replied. In the

:07:28. > :07:36.second half we scored 13 points. One point in our favour. It was scary

:07:37. > :07:46.stuff. You came here just after the war,

:07:47. > :07:53.didn't you? Yes, 1946. It was a fairly robust dean at the time. I

:07:54. > :07:57.don't ever remember getting on the wrong side of him, but if you did,

:07:58. > :08:09.God help you. There are some of them still around!

:08:10. > :08:16.PJ McIlroy still looking fit as a flea. What would it mean to win it?

:08:17. > :08:25.Let's here from the respective captains. Rian O'Neill and Declan

:08:26. > :08:34.Cassidy. Declan Cassidy, St Mary's. Ever

:08:35. > :08:37.since I joined this team in fifth year that is really all I have

:08:38. > :08:42.thought about, lifting the MacRory Cup, every free period, every class

:08:43. > :08:46.you're in. Whenever you are bored, you are thinking about football. Now

:08:47. > :08:50.we are in the final, 90% of my thoughts is on this matter. 16

:08:51. > :08:56.minutes away from possibly the biggest achievement of my life. My

:08:57. > :09:05.name is Rian O'Neill. St Colman's college Newry. It would mean

:09:06. > :09:09.everything to me. That is the main reason I came to the school. To get

:09:10. > :09:13.your name on the college wall. That is all you want to do when you come

:09:14. > :09:15.into the college. It would mean the world not just to me but all the

:09:16. > :09:40.lads to win on the 17th. We are nothing if not balanced here.

:09:41. > :09:47.We have brought you two old boys for the price of one. Thomas Niblock and

:09:48. > :09:53.Eunan McConville, formerly of St Mary's and formerly of St Colman's.

:09:54. > :10:03.Given euro chasing a 20th title today, have you been keeping the

:10:04. > :10:09.peace? So far, so good. For the college, football runs through it. I

:10:10. > :10:14.bumped into three former colleges stars, three guys that all have

:10:15. > :10:21.MacRory Cup medals. That is just taking a dander down the sideline.

:10:22. > :10:28.Thomas, you played MacRory Cup for Magherafelt against St Colman's

:10:29. > :10:32.and...? St Colman's won. It is unbelievable how much of effect a

:10:33. > :10:37.competition like this on you. I remember people asking me if it was

:10:38. > :10:40.more important to get A-levels or MacRory Cup. I said MacRory Cup was

:10:41. > :10:44.more important. There is nothing more important in their lives than

:10:45. > :10:50.winning today. It may seem like a game of football, but it is a

:10:51. > :10:59.massive -- it has a massive effect at 16, 17. Do a quick handshake.

:11:00. > :11:03.Handshakes all round. There are the respective principles of the

:11:04. > :11:11.schools. Cormac Murphy Neill St Colman's. And Deirdre Gillespie of

:11:12. > :11:19.St Mary's Magherafelt. They know each other very well. Let's bring

:11:20. > :11:24.the boys in. Roisin and Orion. It's almost showtime. How will it go? It

:11:25. > :11:29.is fair to say that both of these schools are poles apart as far as

:11:30. > :11:34.the tradition goes. St Colman's going for a 20th title, St Mary's

:11:35. > :11:38.for their first. If you had seen these teams before Christmas, you

:11:39. > :11:42.wouldn't have expected them to be in the final. They have improved in

:11:43. > :11:47.every single game since then. Both semifinals were tight. I expected to

:11:48. > :11:53.be tied. I think we are in for a treat. -- tight. St Colman's of the

:11:54. > :11:57.tradition but St Mary's have the hunger, a little bit like the only

:11:58. > :12:03.goal winning an all Ireland title? I don't know about that! I'm looking

:12:04. > :12:08.forward to today. Conditions may have a bearing on it. The young lads

:12:09. > :12:15.will just go out and play and enjoy the occasion. There is a great

:12:16. > :12:20.crowd, great atmosphere. One late change for St Colman's, the

:12:21. > :12:27.goalkeeper. A more established goalkeeper has gone in. Mike Nugent

:12:28. > :12:30.picked up and injury earlier in the year. He hasn't struggling to get

:12:31. > :12:34.back. He is back in there. The young lad who went in has done really well

:12:35. > :12:40.but he wasn't an established keeper. St Colman's will be glad to have

:12:41. > :12:45.Michael Nugent back today. How big a role well supporters play? For these

:12:46. > :12:51.young men this is arguably the biggest day of their short careers.

:12:52. > :12:55.When you run out on the pitch at first, I'm taken away by it. The

:12:56. > :12:59.noise is unbelievable. When they run out on the pitch they will take it

:13:00. > :13:03.all in. They will be taking it all in. When the ball is thrown in, they

:13:04. > :13:12.will be ready to go. Thank you very much. It is most showtime. The 2017

:13:13. > :13:17.Danske Bank MacRory Cup final, St Mary's of Magherafelt taking on St

:13:18. > :13:24.Colman's of Newry. Your commentary team, John Rafferty alongside Thomas

:13:25. > :13:30.Niblock. Thank you. We're ready for action in

:13:31. > :13:36.the 2017 Danske Bank MacRory Cup. We cannot wait. Odhran Lynch for

:13:37. > :13:42.Magherafelt between the sticks. Saved a penalty in the semifinal. At

:13:43. > :13:49.the edge of the square is the important person, Tiernan McAteer.

:13:50. > :13:55.He scored a last minute, 40 metre free kick in the semifinal. He is

:13:56. > :14:02.their top scorer. He is one to watch for St Colman's. As for Newry

:14:03. > :14:08.college, one late change. Goalkeeper Michael Nugent comes in for Mark

:14:09. > :14:10.Magill. He is between the sticks. A strong defence and a strong

:14:11. > :14:18.half-backs line. Particularly Branniff. The one to watch, Rian

:14:19. > :14:25.O'Neill, the captain. He is a prolific scorer. His Crossmaglen

:14:26. > :14:31.team-mate, Jean McConville, at the edge of the square. There is Rian

:14:32. > :14:35.O'Neill. Special player, special talent. He has alerted the interest

:14:36. > :14:40.of Australian rules clubs. A quick word from John Rafferty. You know

:14:41. > :14:43.about these boys. You are a former St Colman's student and you played

:14:44. > :14:52.against St Mary's. We just pause for the anthem.

:14:53. > :15:59.Colman 's Nicola Holloway chilly Hoy, -- Nicolette Hoy, from County

:16:00. > :16:09.Armagh. What a job Martin McNally has from County Monaghan. The

:16:10. > :16:18.referee the 2016 McRory Cup final. Plays senior football for his glove.

:16:19. > :16:22.Here is the bond brothers, the St Mary's team, last-minute

:16:23. > :16:26.preparations, delivering the speech. Declan Cassidy, that flamboyant red

:16:27. > :16:32.hair, pushing everybody, getting them sites to the teeth, ready for

:16:33. > :16:36.battle. If a picture could tell a thousand words, that would be Declan

:16:37. > :16:40.Cassidy absolutely pumped. Looks as if there are tears coming out of his

:16:41. > :16:46.eyes. That is what it means, John Rafferty? A massive day for these

:16:47. > :16:54.youngsters. People have to realise, they are youngsters. You are looking

:16:55. > :17:07.back two, three generations, families who have succeeded in

:17:08. > :17:17.McRory Cup. You have McEnroe, playing for Colman's. What we are

:17:18. > :17:23.set for, is a cracking game of football. The ball is thrown in, we

:17:24. > :17:46.are in the final of the 2017 McRory Cup. Nobody game near him, polls it

:17:47. > :17:52.inside, Finn McIlroy. Intelligent ball so the half forward line. Here

:17:53. > :17:58.is the number 12, McDonnell, still going for the shot. Not going to

:17:59. > :18:07.curl in enough. What an opportunity for St Colman's. Great opportunity,

:18:08. > :18:11.to be brutally honest. Young McIlroy had the young fellow on his

:18:12. > :18:18.shoulder. You have to acknowledge the bravery of the defence. This has

:18:19. > :18:27.been a hallmark of St Mary's, brave and talented. Superb blocking by

:18:28. > :18:38.Conor McCluskey. Cassidy decides to go forward, opts to go backwards.

:18:39. > :18:44.Just getting into the same Colman 's half. The ball has gone loose, but

:18:45. > :19:06.Magherafelt win it. Matthew under severe pressure. A strong boy

:19:07. > :19:12.at halfback, that has been a seam of same

:19:13. > :19:28.-- a theme of St Colman's. We have the options. Matthew McCreesh.

:19:29. > :19:39.Giving it away. Good tackle, that time by Verity. -- Doherty. It is

:19:40. > :19:48.hell for leather with Saint Commons. Very measured, very controlled. This

:19:49. > :19:55.Magherafelt team are very assured with the ball in their hands.

:19:56. > :20:01.Devlin has been brought in as a coordinator in the school, for Gayla

:20:02. > :20:13.games, the first time the college has gone down that route. A signal

:20:14. > :20:18.of intent. And never wide for Newry. The Board of Governors and principal

:20:19. > :20:26.in the continent, I hope you don't mind me still calling them a

:20:27. > :20:28.convent. Most people do. They deserve real encouragement are

:20:29. > :20:33.putting their money where their mouth is, when it comes to

:20:34. > :20:40.increasing the possibilities for the youngsters. They have a passionate

:20:41. > :20:46.man, passionate Londonderry man, passionate convent man. The first

:20:47. > :20:53.run at it, in the McRory Cup final. Opportunity to get the scores up and

:20:54. > :20:57.running, 30s poor. Most unlike him. Hitting that with the left boot.

:20:58. > :21:02.Superb Gaelic footballer. Someone with a talent of that, you would

:21:03. > :21:08.expect him to pop it over the bar. He is Jim's young fella, as soon as

:21:09. > :21:15.he gets one, to get settled, the sooner the better. He will get on

:21:16. > :21:23.with it. He comes from great start. St Mary's winning the breaking ball.

:21:24. > :21:32.Straight into the welcoming hands of Mark Braniff. Switches the play,

:21:33. > :21:37.tries to get it into the full forward. Wonderful defence by

:21:38. > :21:42.McCluskey. He got that knock a few minutes ago. Trying to get the ball

:21:43. > :21:48.up, he was soccer styling it down the sideline. Brilliant defence. I

:21:49. > :21:53.will tell you one thing, Magherafelt have come forward twice, not getting

:21:54. > :21:58.anything out of it. There is a resolute defence. Not fouling, not

:21:59. > :22:02.cynical, honest and hard-working. That will be hard for Saint Commons

:22:03. > :22:08.to breakdown. Kelly bursting his way through. Trying to play it inside.

:22:09. > :22:15.Adam Conway does well to secure possession. Leans back, plenty of

:22:16. > :22:22.height, just lacking direction. A bitter composure required. They are

:22:23. > :22:24.only children, at 17, they think when they get the laces, the world

:22:25. > :22:41.is their oyster. This will take 1050 -- 10-50 minutes for them to settle.

:22:42. > :22:46.What an implements Kevin Brady has made since coming into the college,

:22:47. > :22:54.around five years ago. It is a misdirected pass, sideline ball.

:22:55. > :23:06.No score, six minutes gone, does that surprise you? I am a bit

:23:07. > :23:15.surprised. Two cracking forwards. That is a wonderful point, absolute

:23:16. > :23:20.superb. Long pass inside, first time we have seen the talented Kevin

:23:21. > :23:27.small. Hands above his head, pluck it out the sky, controls, sweeping

:23:28. > :23:32.onto right foot. A sign of a competitively classy player. He gave

:23:33. > :23:37.his opponent a little touch afterwards to let him know it is in

:23:38. > :23:45.the ascendancy. We have the mark from the kick outs, but fetching it

:23:46. > :23:53.on the edge of the square is a real talent. Cassidy, and another man on

:23:54. > :24:02.the left-hand side, Connelly on the left-hand side. Surely a foul. Just

:24:03. > :24:08.as either 21. Well won in the end by Liam Quinn. Without a doubt, he

:24:09. > :24:13.played centre half, forward in both semifinals. Very effective.

:24:14. > :24:22.Extremely effective player. Runs off the astute. Clever kicking the ball

:24:23. > :24:27.into him. Definitely was a free. Daniel Bradley, just 16 years of

:24:28. > :24:32.age. Playing centre forward today, showing no pressure whatsoever. The

:24:33. > :24:39.Magherafelt crew displaying their voice. They have a little run, this

:24:40. > :24:43.is their chance. Settle the nerves, putting a bit of pressure onto St

:24:44. > :24:50.Colman's. To get their first score on the board. Takes the one player,

:24:51. > :24:57.goes down, gives possession a break in those bright orange boots of Adam

:24:58. > :25:02.Connelly. Difficult to miss. Another man in coloured boots is the

:25:03. > :25:05.captain. St Mary's trying to move forward in every opportunity. When

:25:06. > :25:12.it is bottled up, no problem going backwards. Lovely toe tappers that

:25:13. > :25:20.St Mary's bringing this game to Magherafelt. Fantastic defence, all

:25:21. > :25:27.of a sudden the break on. Players coming through unmarked. Options

:25:28. > :25:33.right or left. Foul. That is not the worst thing that could have happened

:25:34. > :25:39.for Magherafelt. Two players down the right-hand side unmarked. Ten

:25:40. > :25:43.and 13 running from deep. O'Neill is the most consistent kicker in the

:25:44. > :25:55.competition. This will get same Colman is started. -- get St

:25:56. > :26:01.Colman's started. They are traditionally known as a great ball

:26:02. > :26:10.for kick passing. Great strike to get them started. Unbelievable

:26:11. > :26:18.confidence. I was speaking to his mother and grandmother on the way to

:26:19. > :26:25.the ground. Two very nervous women. Is not what you associate with that

:26:26. > :26:29.man. His whole family are steeped in GAA, they have it running through

:26:30. > :26:36.their veins. Also ice water when it comes to free kicks. St Mary's going

:26:37. > :26:42.to try and win it, they do that. Cassidy tackled from behind, does

:26:43. > :26:46.well to hold onto the ball. Tries to spit it out. Into the hands of a

:26:47. > :26:55.white jersey. Great play, can they get the score. Quinn going for the

:26:56. > :27:01.shot, hitting it over the bar. The score of the game. Young Quinn

:27:02. > :27:10.proving to be a handful in there. He gets ball popped in front of him, he

:27:11. > :27:18.would do damage. Michael Nugent with the kick out. Absolutely perfect. As

:27:19. > :27:29.well to pick out a St Colman's player. Trying to take them on

:27:30. > :27:36.again. Still maintaining possession. A chip off the block, that boy. Jim

:27:37. > :27:42.was good at the twisting and turning. They do not get the free

:27:43. > :27:49.this time, going for the shot, deflected, it will be a 45 for St

:27:50. > :27:57.Colman's Newry. That man has plenty to think about. He is a great

:27:58. > :28:04.player, St Colman's through and through. Canon Stevenson welcomed

:28:05. > :28:09.him back into the front of the school, and said welcome home. I

:28:10. > :28:17.could remember lifting him as a lad, two years behind me in school. Same

:28:18. > :28:21.Colman 's ad Croke Park in a final. He is St Colman's through and

:28:22. > :28:25.through. Despite all the bits and pieces said about him, he keeps

:28:26. > :28:30.coming back year after year. Looking for his third title as a coach,

:28:31. > :28:40.lifting him into the upper echelons of McRory Cup managers. Back-to-back

:28:41. > :28:44.McRory cups. That is phenomenal. There are intercounty players who

:28:45. > :28:51.would struggle to do that. Intercounty three players who would

:28:52. > :29:00.struggle that. Kicking it up the hill into the breeze. A bad foul.

:29:01. > :29:15.O'Neill straightaway over to the referee. This could be problems. Get

:29:16. > :29:24.the yellow card. A heavy challenge. More awkward, no malice, a big man

:29:25. > :29:38.in the middle of the field. He has to be very careful. McCann picking

:29:39. > :29:44.up the yellow card. Murphy coming forward. Why is Cassidy. Goes one

:29:45. > :29:50.way, then the next. Trying to find some help. Fiennes

:29:51. > :30:00.-- he finds Doherty. Lovely touch into Daniel Bradley. Dropping short.

:30:01. > :30:06.Same Colman 's come away with it. Comfortable are collected in the end

:30:07. > :30:14.by McCarthy, the full-back. St Colman's trying to build from the

:30:15. > :30:17.fence. Open enough game? You have to acknowledge, we have 13 men behind

:30:18. > :30:22.the ball, when they get the ball, they want to go forward. None of

:30:23. > :30:28.this site is side carry on. Awkward bounce, chance of a goal. Coming off

:30:29. > :30:34.one of the same Colman 's players. Must've taken a deflection off Kevin

:30:35. > :30:42.small. Harmless Paul Lim, causing havoc into the square. This could

:30:43. > :30:48.have been a goal. Young Small, small by name, not small by nature, a big,

:30:49. > :30:50.able fellow. He will cause a lot of bother, if he gets more support, or

:30:51. > :31:04.better bulls. St Colman's on the attack. This is

:31:05. > :31:10.bad news first St Mary's. Off the crossbar and over the bar. A superb

:31:11. > :31:17.point from Jack McCartan. That was absolutely class. The link play was

:31:18. > :31:23.once again Rian O'Neill. Three points apiece. You can see St

:31:24. > :31:27.Colman's growing into the game. Quality passes. Jack McCartan gets

:31:28. > :31:37.it. I remember his uncle, Jim, captaining St Colman's. That is what

:31:38. > :31:41.they are all about there, quality kick passing and honesty in their

:31:42. > :31:47.play. St Colman's on the attack yet again. All the players so

:31:48. > :31:51.comfortable on the ball. Dangerous ball into the square. Brilliantly

:31:52. > :32:05.won on the edge of the square from Matthew Loughran.

:32:06. > :32:17.A two man full forward line to aim at. Kevin Small is at the edge of

:32:18. > :32:23.the square. Tries to get enough bend in it. It drops into the hands of

:32:24. > :32:29.Michael Nugent. A couple of balls he has had to pick up. The confidence

:32:30. > :32:36.of Kevin Small is heartening for the convent. They are happy putting the

:32:37. > :32:43.ball into him. He has young Quinn beside him. They are both capable of

:32:44. > :32:49.kicking scores. Another ball dropped short into the hands of the

:32:50. > :32:54.goalkeeper. That is three balls dropped short. St Mary's need to

:32:55. > :33:03.make these opportunities count. This is the time when they have to keep

:33:04. > :33:06.the scoreboard ticking. Here comes Young McConville. Jean McConville

:33:07. > :33:23.did well. -- Jean McConville. Lovely spin and turn from Aaron

:33:24. > :33:28.Gribben. Potted over the bar. Right foot, left foot, that is incredible.

:33:29. > :33:34.That is the marginal difference between the teams at the minute.

:33:35. > :33:43.Three into the keeper's hands. Three lively forwards. Gribbin kicked a

:33:44. > :33:46.lovely score. The tradition is coming into these fellows. They know

:33:47. > :33:54.how to play when it comes to MacRory Cup final day. Magherafelt on the

:33:55. > :33:59.attack again. Brilliantly won by Liam Quinn. Trying to take on his

:34:00. > :34:05.man. It doesn't have the direction. Another opportunity wasted. A

:34:06. > :34:13.scratch of the head. The managers have things to think about. It is

:34:14. > :34:17.hard work down there! It is easier up here than it is down there. At

:34:18. > :34:24.the end of the day convent are doing everything right but they don't have

:34:25. > :34:34.the scores on the board yet. Kevin Brady directing operations. St

:34:35. > :34:38.Colman's starting to exert their dominance in this game now, perhaps.

:34:39. > :34:40.They are only one point ahead. They are winning all of the breaking ball

:34:41. > :34:55.in the middle of the field. Aaron Gribben did well to picket up.

:34:56. > :35:04.Lovely dummy. Just dropped it. The referee has brought it back for the

:35:05. > :35:06.initial foul. A free kick. You have to acknowledge Martin McNally, 17

:35:07. > :35:15.minutes into the game and we haven't mentioned him. He is completely

:35:16. > :35:18.anonymous. If the convent foul anywhere inside of the goal, you

:35:19. > :35:25.would imagine that St Colman's will punish them. Good refereeing. Two

:35:26. > :35:36.from two. Trying to make it three from three. Off the deck.

:35:37. > :35:38.Old-fashioned. Punched away. Magherafelt win the ball. It is a

:35:39. > :36:02.free kick. Cassidy... Moving his way through.

:36:03. > :36:08.Trying to play it inside. Brilliantly won in the end by Peter

:36:09. > :36:16.Fegan. St Colman's yet again on the break. Matthew McCreesh. Trying to

:36:17. > :36:23.take on his man. He does. Gives it to Jack McCartan. Ride on the

:36:24. > :36:30.sideline. Weaving his way through. -- right. Another free kick. That

:36:31. > :36:36.speaks volumes for itself, that one move along. Fegan was doing great

:36:37. > :36:45.defending in his own square. Son of Paul Fegan. He knocks the ball to

:36:46. > :36:51.Matthew McRee show, whose father one a MacRory Cup. He knocked the ball

:36:52. > :36:55.onto Jack McCartan. The McCartans are synonymous with MacRory Cup

:36:56. > :36:56.success. This is the tradition oozing through the school at the

:36:57. > :37:09.present time. The ball goes wide. An opportunity

:37:10. > :37:14.goes begging. A single score between the sides. Ten minutes until the

:37:15. > :37:23.break. The convent will be happy enough with where there are. If they

:37:24. > :37:27.can just get a few more scores. They will be confident that they are

:37:28. > :37:42.competitive and they have a half chance. A diagonal pass from

:37:43. > :37:46.Cassidy. It has gone out of play. The linesman is not sure which way

:37:47. > :37:54.it has gone. It has gone to St Mary's. The linesman a wee bit late

:37:55. > :38:07.with the decision but I think he got it right. St Colman's, way with it.

:38:08. > :38:15.It would be a free out. The win was a massive factor during the McLarnon

:38:16. > :38:20.game. We will see highlights at half-time. We'll St Mary's be

:38:21. > :38:27.disappointed where they are at now taking that into perspective due I

:38:28. > :38:38.definitely think a few shots that dropped short... Those four shots

:38:39. > :38:44.dropped short, they could come back to haunt St Mary's in the second

:38:45. > :38:50.half. Liam Quinn goes to the sideline. St Mary's come away with

:38:51. > :39:05.it. Long ball into the full-forward line.

:39:06. > :39:22.McIlroy snatches it back. St Mary's on the charge yet again. Doherty.

:39:23. > :39:30.The incoming challenge was strong but he did well. Declan Cassidy.

:39:31. > :39:41.Trying to find some help. Cormac Murphy. Eamon Kelly weaving his way

:39:42. > :39:46.through the defence. Good play. It has opened up. Just a little too

:39:47. > :39:51.far. The goalkeeper comes away with it. The referee has given a free

:39:52. > :39:59.out. It looks as if it was the St Colman's player who found the

:40:00. > :40:01.goalkeeper. Now, now Thomas, you are supposed to be impartial! I would

:40:02. > :40:07.say the referee made the right decision. Nugent secured the first

:40:08. > :40:15.touch and add the feed knocked from under him. We are not going to fall

:40:16. > :40:18.out! Not yet anyway! I was in both colleges during the week. I asked

:40:19. > :40:23.the players to describe their managers in three words. A creative

:40:24. > :40:31.genius, three inspirationals. And these are the words students used

:40:32. > :40:36.for Kevin Brady. He has made a real big impact. He has the respect of

:40:37. > :40:40.the players. Kevin was a very skilful player for Antrim. If he had

:40:41. > :40:48.been playing with other counties he may have had more plaudits. He won a

:40:49. > :40:51.Sigurdsson cop. He was well respected as being an excellent

:40:52. > :41:00.footballer all through his county career. -- Sigurosson cup.

:41:01. > :41:09.It wouldn't surprise me if he ends at the end of this move, McIlroy.

:41:10. > :41:15.What a battle McCluskey and McConville are having today. A good

:41:16. > :41:24.intelligent pass to Jack McCartan. Conor O'Neill. O'Neill buries the

:41:25. > :41:33.shoulder. It was out. It has gone wide. Both coaches need to be

:41:34. > :41:36.acknowledged for the discipline in the tackling. There is no cynical

:41:37. > :41:43.pulling and dragging. They are moving their feet. They are tackling

:41:44. > :41:49.the ball. Fair play to both coaches. St Mary's haven't scored for 15

:41:50. > :41:51.minutes. It is a long time. They need to get a score just to get

:41:52. > :42:16.saddle. -- settled. The two number fives. McErlain dips

:42:17. > :42:24.the shoulder. Gives it to Conor Devlin. -- Conall Devlin. In comes

:42:25. > :42:36.the kick. It is over. That is a great score. A county minor,

:42:37. > :42:43.confident, kicks a great score. That settles the confidence. That breaks

:42:44. > :42:49.the 15 minutes. The battle between McIlroy and Cassidy is terrific. So

:42:50. > :42:53.clean. And tactically so important. I have no doubt we will be talking

:42:54. > :43:00.about those players for many years to come across. Sean Kelly tackled

:43:01. > :43:09.by Rian O'Neill. The referee doesn't blow. An opportunity for St

:43:10. > :43:16.Colman's. It goes wide. That is most unlike them. Young Gribben was

:43:17. > :43:20.outside him. He might have had the better shot. I have been

:43:21. > :43:29.particularly impressed by Jack McCartan. In many teams wing have

:43:30. > :43:35.forwards do not get any benefit. -- half. Jack McCartan has worked his

:43:36. > :43:44.socks off. Three words to describe that man, Carl Murray. Ruthless,

:43:45. > :43:48.loves the GAA. Don't drop it short. I spent last Thursday in the school.

:43:49. > :43:55.I asked the players to put on their boots so we could get a nice shot of

:43:56. > :43:59.them coming out. I thought he would take their head off my shoulders! I

:44:00. > :44:02.could give you three words to describe him as well but we would

:44:03. > :44:11.have to put it on after nine o'clock. Kevin Small pops it over

:44:12. > :44:15.the bar. His second point today. A point that Magherafelt badly needed.

:44:16. > :44:22.17 minutes without a score until the last two. Popped it over. Kevin

:44:23. > :44:28.Small is having a very good game. If there is a wee bit of space in the

:44:29. > :44:34.second half and the ball drops, Kevin Small will have a big

:44:35. > :44:47.influence on the game. Brilliant catch by Ryan Garvey. Tasty return

:44:48. > :44:55.pass. The referee blows for a foul. Some of the basic skills today are

:44:56. > :45:01.absolutely excellent. Rian O'Neill tried to give it inside. That was

:45:02. > :45:09.well done by MacDonald. He was under pressure. Outside of the boot. Look

:45:10. > :45:23.at that. It will be a free out. That was some pass by Rian O'Neill.

:45:24. > :45:37.Cassidy is still going, his third year laying McRory Cup double. Shot

:45:38. > :45:43.from distance. Wonderful score. Superb point, three on the bounce.

:45:44. > :45:50.Young Cassidy doing very well. Slipping away from Young Roma.

:45:51. > :46:10.Could not get the pressure on him. -- young McIlroy. They tried to keep

:46:11. > :46:14.it in play. Amazing you don't score in 15 minutes, and you can hit that

:46:15. > :46:21.little purple patch. If you let your opponent play at this level, you

:46:22. > :46:32.will be punished. High ball into the square, it will be free in. Kevin

:46:33. > :46:39.small causing big problems. Does not matter which way it goes, the lad is

:46:40. > :46:45.giving away a physicality to Young's more-macro. The sweeper is not

:46:46. > :46:52.blocking the ball in front of him. He has to be marking in front, which

:46:53. > :47:03.he cannot do. It is popped over the bar. Second point, he says it is an

:47:04. > :47:12.honour to be trained by the great Jim McKeever. Second point today.

:47:13. > :47:19.Three points between the side, as we approach our time. McIlroy

:47:20. > :47:34.surrounded by three jerseys. Good tackling. The convent is making hay

:47:35. > :47:41.while the sun shines. Sean O'Neill told me either side of our times

:47:42. > :47:48.when you make the impact. It is Matthew McCreesh. Captain of his

:47:49. > :47:54.club, said it is the biggest honour in his football career. That could

:47:55. > :48:00.change over the next 45, 50 minutes. Real chance of a goal. Opportunity

:48:01. > :48:07.to score, great save from the goalkeeper. The danger is still not

:48:08. > :48:13.clear. The shot comes in, Gribbin knocking it over the bar. A poor

:48:14. > :48:25.decision from McDonnell, he had him free at the far post. Great save,

:48:26. > :48:33.keeping the convent in it. Great save from Lynch. Fantastic. He saved

:48:34. > :48:39.a penalty against Saint Paul's. Straight down the field in the

:48:40. > :48:44.attack. What a score, Liam Quinn has made a massive impact. So sharp. The

:48:45. > :48:48.minute the ball left his boot, you could see his right hand in the air,

:48:49. > :48:56.celebrating before it even crossed the crossbar. Loving the

:48:57. > :48:58.decision-making processes. The ball was flicked on. Created the

:48:59. > :49:04.opportunity at the top end of the field. McDonnell was my decision to

:49:05. > :49:15.go for the ball when a man is inside him. Tiny decisions can make the

:49:16. > :49:19.difference in a game like this. Fascinating battle. Both men giving

:49:20. > :50:03.it absolutely everything here. Braneff looked in trouble. Good

:50:04. > :50:10.refereeing again. Same Colman 's have closed the gap again, two

:50:11. > :50:18.points. Colman were in the ascendancy. Back to one kick here,

:50:19. > :50:22.we're in for a cracking second half. What a half of football we have had.

:50:23. > :50:30.Same Colman is making their way through into the tunnel. A team talk

:50:31. > :50:53.inspired by the two McRory Cup medals given to them. Half-time

:50:54. > :51:00.score here... We will be off later in the day to the south of Belfast

:51:01. > :51:12.for the colleges rugby. The schools cup final that between RBI and IBA.

:51:13. > :51:16.Threaten to be a good game, exemplary game of football. It has

:51:17. > :51:36.been tense, both teams very evenly matched. Both forward lanes

:51:37. > :51:40.struggling. Lynch has been arguably Magherafelt's most important player,

:51:41. > :51:46.with his kicking. The atmosphere has been absolutely brilliant. Let's go

:51:47. > :51:54.right back to the start, very early opportunity, McIlroy on his way

:51:55. > :52:02.through. Brilliant block. Brilliant block. Huge start. If same Colman 's

:52:03. > :52:12.get a goal, that gives your teams that a list. -- St Colman's. If they

:52:13. > :52:20.win the game, they may look back on that. Took seven minutes for the

:52:21. > :52:29.first score. Kevin small. He has been a threat all day. Able to

:52:30. > :52:36.turning to get over the bar. St Colman's getting to grips

:52:37. > :52:46.with them. That he is a big man for college football credibility mark.

:52:47. > :52:51.No shortage of quality it out there. Liam Quinn exemplifies that.

:52:52. > :52:58.Capacity to get the ball and the score. Exceptional, kicking a point

:52:59. > :53:04.of his right and left foot. Great to see people from the kick-off, second

:53:05. > :53:09.point going at his man, turns back. Kicking off his left foot. The

:53:10. > :53:14.second one is unbelievable. Taking his man on over the bar from 35

:53:15. > :53:19.yards. A bit of a Breeze St Mary's where playing with, could make a

:53:20. > :53:25.difference. Your nephew, I do want you to be impartial or partial, he

:53:26. > :53:31.took no notice of it. His capacity from the free taking. It dragged

:53:32. > :53:36.same Colman 's back into bed. I don't want to be lauding him too

:53:37. > :53:43.much, I will have to listen to it. He has been as important player from

:53:44. > :53:51.dead balls. Very accurate. I have another nephew playing in there,

:53:52. > :53:56.McConville. From both sides, the way they have gone at the game, very

:53:57. > :53:59.manly stuff. No laying down off-the-ball, no Mignolet stuff.

:54:00. > :54:06.They have come here to get on with it. You know me and referees. He has

:54:07. > :54:18.done a good job. Letting it flow, that is why it is such an

:54:19. > :54:25.entertaining game. John Rafferty maxing lyrical, Jack McCartan very

:54:26. > :54:31.prominent. Playing well, couple of great attacks. Crossbar, should've

:54:32. > :54:35.kept it on deck. The teams are taking the ball, running into the

:54:36. > :54:40.fence. They are going for putting everything behind it. That could end

:54:41. > :54:46.up in the net. Having a great match. A lot of players are out there. No

:54:47. > :54:49.nerves, going out and playing great football. St Mary's had a couple of

:54:50. > :55:04.goal chances. That was same -- St Colman's third goal chance.

:55:05. > :55:11.You have mentioned the main man, Lynch having in outstanding game. As

:55:12. > :55:14.standing committee kicks the ball like intercounty senior goalkeeper.

:55:15. > :55:22.Picking his man. Another facet to his game. Brilliant save with the

:55:23. > :55:28.foot. Just before half-time. A goal for St Colman's would have been

:55:29. > :55:34.massive. It is two points going to be enough of the league it is hard.

:55:35. > :55:40.The breezes coming down. It is hard to know. Such a great game. St

:55:41. > :55:48.Mary's have kicked a bootable. Saint Commons could start kicking Mork in

:55:49. > :55:55.this half. -- St Colman's could start kicking the ball in this half.

:55:56. > :56:01.All the big names in attendance. I think you have found a few of them.

:56:02. > :56:04.Still two points in the game. Conditions are not great, but

:56:05. > :56:11.free-flowing football. Two men you might know. Let's start with you,

:56:12. > :56:16.you are former college man. I will not remind you about the McRory Cup

:56:17. > :56:25.final 30 years ago. So far, very tight. St Colman's started well.

:56:26. > :56:31.Magherafelt full value for their lead. Two points down, against a

:56:32. > :56:37.very strong breeze. St Colman's playing well. O'Neill is the big

:56:38. > :56:50.player. Looking for a better second half. Magherafelt very much

:56:51. > :56:54.in the game. The twin threat of Quinn and Small, they look real

:56:55. > :57:01.handful for the St Colman's the fence. I agree with Benny, a strong

:57:02. > :57:09.breeze, blowing straight down the pitch. I would have to say, second

:57:10. > :57:15.half will definitely favour St Colman's. This is a family day out.

:57:16. > :57:23.Your son is on the panel, your son won man of the match. This is what

:57:24. > :57:30.it is about. Already, speaking to people who have won McRory Cups and

:57:31. > :57:35.loss, all about people going through. Fantastic day, a lot of

:57:36. > :57:39.these lads when they come to school in the first year, it is their

:57:40. > :57:43.sporting goal on Saint Patrick stay, to play any McRory Cup or the

:57:44. > :57:47.McLaren cup. They don't know they will get to represent the county

:57:48. > :57:55.later on. This is the pinnacle for many of them. Fantastic occasion. I

:57:56. > :58:00.hope Benny's lad gets on. He plays outfield, and he is a mild-mannered

:58:01. > :58:05.modest chap. Hopefully he will get a run out and a winners medal. Two

:58:06. > :58:11.points in the game. I still have the school tie on. Act to mark. I have

:58:12. > :58:18.to say both Peter and Benny in science year. I think we know why

:58:19. > :58:26.Peter was in science year. McLaren cup the first match on, it was a

:58:27. > :58:41.cracker of the game. History was made. Here is our reporter.

:58:42. > :58:53.James Wilson found the net. Saint Ciaran's College reduced the lead.

:58:54. > :59:04.From O'Donnell. Cassell Blaney hit back with two fine schools. Not

:59:05. > :59:13.prepared to let their opponents pull away, two points through Connelly.

:59:14. > :59:20.Saint Ciaran's took the lead for the first time in the game eight minutes

:59:21. > :59:23.later. The men from Monaghan hitting back with their second goal of the

:59:24. > :59:35.game. David Connolly with the finish. Courtney got a point. Both

:59:36. > :59:44.sides exchanging points before the break. Wilson putting over a three

:59:45. > :00:02.point. Saint -- Saint Ciaran's college. They

:00:03. > :00:11.refuse to ease up on the pressure. Another score. Wilson leaven

:00:12. > :00:45.at that. It will be a free out. That was some pass by Rian O'Neill.

:00:46. > :00:55.Were you expecting such a tight game? We knew the players they had

:00:56. > :01:03.were outstanding. A big day out for your school. How much does this

:01:04. > :01:09.mean? It is the 50th year. The first time being in the McLarnon cup

:01:10. > :01:19.final. You can hear the cheering. It is an unreal experience.

:01:20. > :01:25.We are back at the MacRory Cup final. We have the principles here.

:01:26. > :01:32.This is a big day for the skills? It is. A fabulous day. A dream come

:01:33. > :01:37.trip. 1100 pupils, nearly 200 staff. It has been tremendous the last

:01:38. > :01:42.couple of weeks. We are delighted to be here on St Patrick's Day. I'm

:01:43. > :01:50.trying to remain impartial. This is a huge thing? It is a wonderful,

:01:51. > :01:54.wonderful occasion. The spirit of the colleges here. We have got

:01:55. > :01:59.wonderful support from our own pupils, past pupils. The whole

:02:00. > :02:04.school community. We are enjoying the whole experience. It is what the

:02:05. > :02:12.spirit of the St Colman's is all about, MacRory Cup final on the 17th

:02:13. > :02:16.of March. A wonderful occasion. St Colman's going for 20 titles. St

:02:17. > :02:22.Mary's trying to seek their maiden one.

:02:23. > :02:31.Thank you to the respective principles. -- principals. Let me

:02:32. > :02:35.take you to the McLarnon. Some outstanding performances. Could it

:02:36. > :02:42.be an omen for the day, first time winners of the McLarnon? Is two

:02:43. > :02:47.points enough of a lead? The only thing I would say about Magherafelt

:02:48. > :02:50.playing against the wind in the second half, I don't think they will

:02:51. > :02:54.be perturbed. They play a running game. They have a lot of runners

:02:55. > :02:58.coming from the full-back line. They have a good outlet boulder Declan

:02:59. > :03:04.Cassidy. I don't think they will be too perturbed. You would expect a

:03:05. > :03:08.wee bit more from St Colman's. From what I've seen so far, Magherafelt

:03:09. > :03:18.look very balanced. They have so much threat up front. The slightly

:03:19. > :03:24.less talked about guys have stepped up. That is what you find on days

:03:25. > :03:27.like this. To be fair to St Mary's, they have been very much on top

:03:28. > :03:37.towards the middle sector of the game. You look at St Colman's, their

:03:38. > :03:43.goal threat has probably been a little sharper. You would expect a

:03:44. > :03:49.goal might be decisive in the second half? Yes. I think we will get a

:03:50. > :03:54.goal. There have been enough chances. I think it will be a huge

:03:55. > :04:02.score the weather gets it. A goal gives a team such a lift. -- whoever

:04:03. > :04:07.gets it. Who gets it is the million-dollar question. Who is the

:04:08. > :04:11.more pressure on? St Colman's aiming to become the first team to win it

:04:12. > :04:22.20 times. Is there more pressure on St Mary's just to get over the line?

:04:23. > :04:29.How difficult is it? It is really difficult. When you haven't been

:04:30. > :04:33.there before, it's to push on and get over the line. There is pressure

:04:34. > :04:39.on both teams. A lot of the talk has been about St Colman's. St Colman's

:04:40. > :04:43.to collect the 20th title. St Mary's Magherafelt have been buoyed by

:04:44. > :04:49.that. They have used the first 30 minutes to prove the point. Thanks

:04:50. > :04:56.for the meantime. John Rafferty is alongside Thomas Niblock.

:04:57. > :04:59.The 2017 MacRory Cup final. Perfect timing. The ball is thrown in.

:05:00. > :05:17.Magherafelt with possession. Dragged down. A free in. What can we

:05:18. > :05:27.expect in the second half? I fancy it could be young Cassidy's half.

:05:28. > :05:32.Playing against the breeze suits him. I thought McIlroy had a good 20

:05:33. > :05:44.minutes on him. He struggled a wee bit in the next ten. Fairly direct

:05:45. > :05:47.ball into the lively full forward line for St Colman's could be the

:05:48. > :05:53.key for them getting the scores to win the game. Three St Colman's

:05:54. > :06:00.players surrounding McErlain. They protest their innocence but a free

:06:01. > :06:03.kick has been given. The referee has brought it forward. That is the

:06:04. > :06:10.first show of ill discipline from St Colman's. This is closer. It is most

:06:11. > :06:15.unlike a St Colman's team to be in discipline. Cathal Murray is a

:06:16. > :06:25.strict disciplinarian. He expects the highest standards. That is why I

:06:26. > :06:36.commended him for the first half. Cormac Murphy on the attack. Still

:06:37. > :06:41.going. St Mary's have the opening score of the second half. A great

:06:42. > :06:44.score from Adam Connolly. He wants to be a civil engineer when he

:06:45. > :06:52.leaves school. He was navigating his way through that defence. That was

:06:53. > :06:55.an important score. St Colman's would have won the first score of

:06:56. > :06:58.the second half. The convent building on the momentum of the last

:06:59. > :07:03.five minutes of the first hour. St Colman's will want to get a score to

:07:04. > :07:14.get steady. A great score from young Connolly. Great tackle from Liam

:07:15. > :07:21.Quinn. Coming back to defend at every possible opportunity. St

:07:22. > :07:30.Colman's have it though. Aaron Gribben finds Rian O'Neill. Will it

:07:31. > :07:37.curl in it doesn't. It goes wide. A bit ambitious. He has kicked them

:07:38. > :07:42.the whole way through the competition. He gave a display of

:07:43. > :07:50.kicking against St Ronan's in the semifinal that was second to none.

:07:51. > :07:59.The display he gave was second to none. A sideline ball for St

:08:00. > :08:01.Colman's. Taken quickly. Great tackle from behind. It has opened

:08:02. > :08:19.up. Kelly still going. Diagonal pass.

:08:20. > :08:25.Kevin Small tried to grab it and he was grabbed from behind. Free in.

:08:26. > :08:29.That is very clever football. The convent are building on their

:08:30. > :08:37.momentum. They are taking their time. Kevin Small is creating a

:08:38. > :08:43.handful of himself at the edge of the square for the convent. A free

:08:44. > :08:49.into St Mary's. Daniel Bradley will be the man to take it. He has scored

:08:50. > :08:53.five points in both semifinal games against St Paul's. He has scored

:08:54. > :08:59.another today. That is his third this afternoon. So straightaway we

:09:00. > :09:10.have a replacement for St Colman's. The man coming on is Owen Burrows.

:09:11. > :09:17.-- Byrne. He has lightning pace. I would imagine the convent has done

:09:18. > :09:30.its homework on him. Matthew McCreesh making way. The referee has

:09:31. > :09:39.called them back. It will be a free kick to St Colman's. Again, Martin

:09:40. > :09:44.McNally is having a very good game. It is one thing keeping up with the

:09:45. > :09:47.play and getting in the road of it. Cathal Murray is not happy because

:09:48. > :09:57.he is not giving a free kick. He is going to hop the ball. St Colman's

:09:58. > :10:06.have it. Battling for every single snap of possession. Those last 20

:10:07. > :10:10.seconds epitomised two teams putting everything on the line to win every

:10:11. > :10:15.single ball. It is a snapshot of the whole game, the way the convent are

:10:16. > :10:19.scrapping for everything. The convent always renowned for having

:10:20. > :10:26.ability. Ronan Devlin has put a hunger into these boys. St Colman's

:10:27. > :10:32.a wee bit out of it. They need to shake themselves. St Mary's have

:10:33. > :10:41.scored seven times either side of half-time. St Colman's have scored

:10:42. > :10:46.twice. The five minutes before and after half time very much in the

:10:47. > :10:52.hands of the convent. That shot went wide. I would say that is the first

:10:53. > :10:58.mistake that lad has made today. He is having a horse of a game for the

:10:59. > :11:02.convent. They look more likely to get these course to win the game.

:11:03. > :11:04.They are creeping ahead. St Colman's not on the pace. They will need to

:11:05. > :11:20.get on it soon. St Mary's still have possession.

:11:21. > :11:31.Cormac Murphy. He gives it to Liam Quinn. Trying to play it forward. He

:11:32. > :11:48.was taken out of it. Play on. Kevin Small... He putted over the bar. A

:11:49. > :11:56.great score. -- put it. That is a black card, no question. Nobody saw

:11:57. > :12:07.it. McDonald gets away with it. -- McDonnell. All of a sudden there is

:12:08. > :12:15.daylight between the teams. Confidence has grown in the

:12:16. > :12:26.conference -- convent. They are in a great position. That was a shot from

:12:27. > :12:32.Aaron Gribben. Let's look at it again. Here is Kevin Small. Both

:12:33. > :12:39.feet, both hands, decision making on the ball. Not afraid to go for it.

:12:40. > :12:44.That is commendable. Look at that angle. That is unbelievable. To get

:12:45. > :12:47.the power and direction. The goalkeeper and narrowing the angle.

:12:48. > :12:53.A forward hanging off the back of him as he was doing it. A lot of

:12:54. > :12:57.young fellows would try to force it down the keeper's throat and into

:12:58. > :13:04.the net. He knows a point is a good score. It puts them a wee bit

:13:05. > :13:06.further ahead. The convent are in control and St Colman's are

:13:07. > :13:18.struggling to get back into the game. Ross Carr has come on. And he

:13:19. > :13:22.is indeed the son of the former Down player, Ross Carr. They have a

:13:23. > :13:33.little bit of work to do. They trailed by five points. -- Trail.

:13:34. > :13:43.Here comes McCluskey. The only college all-star on the field.

:13:44. > :13:51.Cassidy took it at pace. Kevin Small tried to win it. St Colman's do just

:13:52. > :13:57.about enough. You can see the threat there. St Mary's are growing in

:13:58. > :14:02.confidence. The longer they stay in front, the more confident they will

:14:03. > :14:06.be. Aaron Gribben trying to take on his man. Trying to create that

:14:07. > :14:10.little bit of space. It is not a point. It goes wide. It would be a

:14:11. > :14:17.goal kick to St Mary's. A shake of the head. Aaron Gribben. Cathal

:14:18. > :14:22.Murray understands that St Colman's needs to put a little bit of urgency

:14:23. > :14:30.into their game. They have a lot to do in very little time. They need a

:14:31. > :14:36.score to get themselves saddle. McIlroy... Here is the cornerback

:14:37. > :14:42.Chris Killen. That is a big point for St Colman's. That is an

:14:43. > :14:48.inspirational score. That is what you are Class A by is a big score.

:14:49. > :14:53.-- classify. Some of the smaller names are getting more into the game

:14:54. > :15:04.for St Colman's but their big guns are not firing on all cylinders. The

:15:05. > :15:09.convent are well worth their lead. Declan Cassidy... Two big players

:15:10. > :15:15.going for it. Cassidy made it. He went himself and he knocked it over

:15:16. > :15:20.the bar. Making perhaps the wise choice. He did have Kevin Small at

:15:21. > :15:27.the back post. A point is a great score up that hill. When you are

:15:28. > :15:35.called a Cassidy coming from Bellaghy, it is a queer start. If he

:15:36. > :15:45.gets space, he will punish St Colman's. A good score.

:15:46. > :16:03.Chance of a goal. It saved by the keeper. Shot of the right boot,

:16:04. > :16:12.goalkeeper with a big hand, Lynch having a massive game. Young Lynch

:16:13. > :16:20.with three outstanding saves for the convent. He has kept them well in

:16:21. > :16:25.contention, to near enough the end of the third quarter of the game.

:16:26. > :16:29.Four points between the sides. Nobody at home with the long ball.

:16:30. > :16:42.Wasted opportunity. Another goal kick. Conversation between Garvey

:16:43. > :16:48.and O'Neill. Disappointed he was not presented with the opportunity. The

:16:49. > :16:58.fellow you want taking the shots. Goal kick did not go quite as

:16:59. > :17:02.intended. St Colman's have it. Unable to get the score. Real

:17:03. > :17:09.opportunity. Blocked. Out for the 45. The cutback, on their head. That

:17:10. > :17:16.might have been his first touch. They went direct, he was going to

:17:17. > :17:21.make them foul him, stepped back, Gaydon offenders a chance. Great

:17:22. > :17:30.blog. You have to acknowledge the blocks and the saves that the

:17:31. > :17:38.convent have made. Devlin with the block, he set up the free in the

:17:39. > :17:43.semifinal. This one goes to the right, going wide. That will be the

:17:44. > :17:53.opportunity, St Mary's smelling blood. This is starting to slip away

:17:54. > :17:56.from St Colman's, they will have to pull together, or one of their

:17:57. > :18:01.players with a flash of brilliance to get them back in the game. The

:18:02. > :18:10.convent, if they get a sniff of the win, they will go for the throat.

:18:11. > :18:14.McAteer, coming on, said winning the McRory Cup will be the proud is

:18:15. > :18:23.moment of his life. McCann making way. The kick out is straight again.

:18:24. > :18:28.He is like a rugby player hitting the conversion. Declan Cassidy with

:18:29. > :18:32.two men in front of him, managing to get up and pull away from both of

:18:33. > :18:41.them. Kevin small allowing it to go past him. Gives him time and space

:18:42. > :18:48.to pick it up. Small, still going. The referee looking at it. Deciding

:18:49. > :18:58.there is no foul. Liam Quinn, that is a fantastic ball to Kelly. He is

:18:59. > :19:02.foul. What about that for a pass. Going one way, rare you see a pass

:19:03. > :19:10.like that in Gaelic football. Great passage of play. That might be in

:19:11. > :19:15.coaching videos later in the year. The ball knocked into space.

:19:16. > :19:22.Possession retained until the man comes off the shoulder. McElroy had

:19:23. > :19:28.no other option other than prevent the goal-scoring chance. Daniel

:19:29. > :19:31.Bradley said during the week that Kevin Brady, the manager knows his

:19:32. > :19:43.stuff when it comes to Gaelic football. He puts that man on the

:19:44. > :19:48.frees. It is the wing half forward, the halfback, Kelly, going three. Is

:19:49. > :20:02.that a yellow card? It is untidy, uncomfortable. A man that is grown

:20:03. > :20:09.and grown in confidence. McAlinden. McAteer getting his first meaningful

:20:10. > :20:13.touch since coming on as substitute. They are content to go backwards,

:20:14. > :20:19.acres of space on the right hand side. Kelly running it is space.

:20:20. > :20:25.Tackled, his opponent comes away with it. Trying to get out of their

:20:26. > :20:30.own half, they have possession. Three St Mary's players running

:20:31. > :20:38.after O'Neill. Goes for the shot himself. Great score. That is some

:20:39. > :20:46.score, if you take it from the tackle but young Garvey made, all

:20:47. > :20:58.the way up to the man on the end of the chance. Superb kick. He said the

:20:59. > :21:06.main reason he decided to go to St Colman's Newry was to win the McRory

:21:07. > :21:10.Cup. Four points between the sides. Connelly picking up possession.

:21:11. > :21:16.Again they turned defence into attack. Brilliantly won by Liam

:21:17. > :21:25.Quinn. In his last year at St Mary's. Daniel Bradley, trying to

:21:26. > :21:30.find Kevin Small, overcooked, it goes wide. Lovely composure about

:21:31. > :21:36.the way that Magherafelt are playing. Decisions on the ball, full

:21:37. > :21:45.of running. Doing the basics well, in the ascendancy if they can keep

:21:46. > :21:52.it going. McElroy, people will not realise he's English, born in

:21:53. > :22:01.London. Very much a Newry player today. St Colman's scoring

:22:02. > :22:11.sporadically. You expect Magherafelt to score every time. I was very

:22:12. > :22:19.fortunate to be taught by both men there. The Kit Kat to be taken by

:22:20. > :22:49.Lynch. His dad was a former dairy letter. --

:22:50. > :22:59.Derry class, love, lazy style into the ball. A slight dummy shimmy.

:23:00. > :23:06.What we're looking at is a man of the match performance. Kevin Small.

:23:07. > :23:12.He has kicked amazing scores the range of scores he has given,

:23:13. > :23:39.absolutely top drawer. Read says it is a free end. The referee has had a

:23:40. > :24:12.superb game. They have been through this before,

:24:13. > :24:18.Magherafelt, St Colman's will have recent experience. St Colman's have

:24:19. > :24:27.had it easy so far, all of the games. Two man tackle. Referee

:24:28. > :24:31.giving a free in. These St Colman's player, particularly Ryan Garvey

:24:32. > :24:38.stressing it should have been a penalty. Initial tackle outside the

:24:39. > :24:48.square. I have to say, it was 13.1 metres away from the goal. That was

:24:49. > :24:58.close. Colman's starting to grow with confidence.

:24:59. > :25:19.Another important school. -- score. St Mary's building from the back,

:25:20. > :25:23.yet again they lead by three points. Given possession away. Here comes St

:25:24. > :25:33.Colman's. Looking dangerous on every single opportunity. Wonderful blog.

:25:34. > :25:43.O'Neill, under pressure, gives it to his colleague. That will goes wide.

:25:44. > :25:47.Two or three chances, you would have expected them to tap over the bar.

:25:48. > :25:55.The only thing is they are creating chances. There could still be a goal

:25:56. > :26:06.there. Into the last ten minutes. Pressure on both teams. St Mary's

:26:07. > :26:14.Magherafelt have only been here twice in finals. To date is St

:26:15. > :26:26.Colman's 27 final. History to be made in 10-12 winners. Another

:26:27. > :26:29.opportunity going left. -- minutes. If they had popped over those

:26:30. > :26:34.opportunities, they would be a single point between the sides. He

:26:35. > :26:39.knows it, he wants more urgency at that players. They are creating

:26:40. > :26:45.chances, but they have to leave them on the scoreboard. Lynch, kicking

:26:46. > :26:50.the ball high into the middle of the field. St Mary's winning that one,

:26:51. > :26:58.that is important. Daniel Bradley, inside. Murphy, still going, will he

:26:59. > :27:06.take the point? Driven down from behind. A free from the 13. The

:27:07. > :27:12.battery going to his notebook. There could be trouble here. The referee

:27:13. > :27:18.giving a black card. There can be no real complaints. Chris Killen. The

:27:19. > :27:27.lad will be disappointed to get a black card. He has kicked a good

:27:28. > :27:31.point to claw St Colman's back. If he had got past him, it would have

:27:32. > :27:37.been a goal, and game over. Sometimes you have to put the team

:27:38. > :27:41.first. That is an important score. Four points different from three

:27:42. > :27:49.points. You now have two Clear kicks. One of them has to be a goal.

:27:50. > :28:01.Saint Commons want to get themselves together here. -- St Colman's.

:28:02. > :28:09.They are on the attack again. O'Neill barging his way through. The

:28:10. > :28:12.shop does not go over. The umpires look at each other, it does. A real

:28:13. > :28:19.Rolls-Royce. IFT -- I have to hand it to Saint

:28:20. > :28:52.Commons are not going their way. St Colman's only attack. This will

:28:53. > :28:58.go right to the very end. How they were able to pick up a player from

:28:59. > :29:11.that angle, I will never understand. Two men going for it. The referee

:29:12. > :29:14.giving the free from the 13. We don't have the benefit of a replay.

:29:15. > :29:20.Martin McNally does not have the benefit. It looks very close. The

:29:21. > :29:29.lad was pulled to the ground. O'Neill knocking it over. He has

:29:30. > :29:39.scored one goal and 21 points in the last three games. His fifth point.

:29:40. > :29:43.That is tight. The convent are living on their luck at the present

:29:44. > :29:54.time. The initial was contact. The pull-down was in the square. If this

:29:55. > :29:57.goes down to the wire, they will not be too happy with that. You are

:29:58. > :30:02.absolutely right. That should have been a penalty. St Mary's on the

:30:03. > :30:14.attack. The referee says play on. What a pointless -- what a point.

:30:15. > :30:20.The convent are keeping ahead. They have been here before in the last

:30:21. > :30:24.two games. They are used to it now. Still so much time to go. Just under

:30:25. > :30:31.five minutes of normal time. Three points between the sides.

:30:32. > :30:43.McAteer has made a difference since coming on. There were three

:30:44. > :30:49.different players surrounding Rian O'Neill. He could still get a shot

:30:50. > :30:58.off. St Colman's still have possession. Matthew Loughran wins

:30:59. > :31:03.it. The man who got the block at the start of the game. Space at a

:31:04. > :31:12.premium. St Mary's when the free kick. St Mary's out growing in

:31:13. > :31:16.confidence. O'Neill did well to win that ball. It is slipping away from

:31:17. > :31:24.St Colman's. It will take a big moment to turn this game in their

:31:25. > :31:33.favour. Liam Quinn broke his ankle against Fermanagh macro. All of a

:31:34. > :31:41.sudden St Mary's have possession. St Colman's have few defenders. It is

:31:42. > :31:51.now saying comment on the attack. The ball into the square... Picked

:31:52. > :31:56.off the ground at the second time of asking by Conall Devlin. He is

:31:57. > :32:03.having a horse of a game. Look at that. People talk about transition

:32:04. > :32:10.from defence into attack. Young Devlin is putting on a show of that

:32:11. > :32:15.particular skill. Such pressure. It is hard to imagine these young men

:32:16. > :32:26.are 16 and 17 years old. We're looking at a great game but they

:32:27. > :32:30.are, they are only children. St Colman's are persistent and looking

:32:31. > :32:34.further a goal chance when they have enough opportunities to keep the

:32:35. > :32:53.scoreboard ticking with a point at a time. Cormac Murphy... The referee

:32:54. > :32:57.has given a free end. McIlroy is incensed by that decision.

:32:58. > :33:06.Absolutely raging with the referee. He needs to keep quiet. Don't give

:33:07. > :33:12.away ground! There was the tackle. At this stage, puts the arm in,

:33:13. > :33:16.doesn't put the -- bring the arm out. The referee has prodded forward

:33:17. > :33:24.to the 21 metre line in front of the goals. Again it is back to four

:33:25. > :33:32.points. This is the insurance one if this lad can landed. They say

:33:33. > :33:35.pressure is for tyres. There hasn't been a problem for St Mary's when it

:33:36. > :33:45.comes to free taking. And just as I say it... A point would be a good

:33:46. > :33:51.score. The shot eventually comes and eventually goes over the bar. The

:33:52. > :33:58.convent both on the field and in the stands and up in the commentary box,

:33:59. > :34:04.they sensed the victory. A middle-aged man, sorry, a young man

:34:05. > :34:12.getting excited! Margaret, Ring out the Dhif erasure! -- bring out the

:34:13. > :34:25.defibrillator! Margaret is the producer, a county Down woman.

:34:26. > :34:37.St Mary's come away with it. The convent from Magherafelt. On the

:34:38. > :34:44.cliff edge of history. 17 points to 13. Four points between the teams.

:34:45. > :34:48.There are going to be four minutes of additional time. Four points

:34:49. > :34:59.between the sides. St Mary's on the go again. Young Quinn, look up. He

:35:00. > :35:07.gets nothing from it! An opportunity like that can really sink things.

:35:08. > :35:14.The only thing with Magherafelt, every substitution is 30 seconds or

:35:15. > :35:22.a minute. Four minutes could end up five. That would give St Colman's

:35:23. > :35:30.the opportunity to get something. Another substitution. Jamie McCowan

:35:31. > :35:33.is coming on. -- Jamie McCowan. Adam Connolly makes his way off. Connolly

:35:34. > :35:39.said it would be the proudest achievement of his life if he were

:35:40. > :35:44.to win the MacRory Cup today. He takes the handshakes from his

:35:45. > :35:48.colleagues. There is still plenty to do in this game. St Mary's come away

:35:49. > :35:56.with it. It is Matthew Rogers, the substitute. Kevin Small, another

:35:57. > :36:07.Creggan man. There is the point. That is it. The MacRory Cup seems

:36:08. > :36:11.destined to be going to south Derry. It is not the first time you've said

:36:12. > :36:18.that, Thomas. The only differences it is going somewhere else in South

:36:19. > :36:26.Derry. There is a real genuine, tangible need for it. And it is game

:36:27. > :36:32.over. Magherafelt finishing this game extremely strongly. You can see

:36:33. > :36:37.the players. The substitutes. Dying to get on the field of play. Dying

:36:38. > :36:42.to start the celebrations. There is still time remaining. The kick out

:36:43. > :36:56.was all the way out. A free kick to St Colman's. I am delighted for

:36:57. > :37:01.Kevin Brady and the coaching staff. Union Conway is in there, the

:37:02. > :37:11.bursar. It is always good to get the bursar on your site! They are making

:37:12. > :37:16.history here. It is a free kick. There are two balls. Sean Kelly

:37:17. > :37:21.wasn't going to make that easy for a quick 45 to be taken. They have no

:37:22. > :37:26.option but to drop it into the square. Unbelievably, there is six

:37:27. > :37:36.points between the teams. This is going to be a Hail Mary job but they

:37:37. > :37:43.will not get six scores. Rian O'Neill drags down. The referee says

:37:44. > :37:48.no. He is surrounded by players. It looks almost like a scrum. The

:37:49. > :37:54.referee blows the whistle. History is made. St Mary's Magherafelt have

:37:55. > :38:01.won the 2017 MacRory Cup! They have been the best team on the day.

:38:02. > :38:07.Straightaway onto the field of play. Wonderful scenes on the pitch.

:38:08. > :38:13.Absolutely superb. The players are going absolutely bananas. I think

:38:14. > :38:22.the principle is out there to get the players back in so they don't

:38:23. > :38:25.tramp the grass! She is wearing high-heeled shoes! She won't mind.

:38:26. > :38:35.There is the principal, Deirdre Gillespie. There is a man who had a

:38:36. > :38:43.massive impact. Conall Devlin. I asked him to tell me something I

:38:44. > :38:47.didn't know about him. He said, I am Batman. Look what it means. Success

:38:48. > :38:52.for the first time on the biggest stage in college football. St Mary's

:38:53. > :38:57.Magherafelt have done it. Congratulations. Congratulations.

:38:58. > :39:05.I'm St Patrick's Day teenagers get a lot of bad press for their conduct.

:39:06. > :39:10.But there are boys and girls on the field at the present time and they

:39:11. > :39:16.are a credit to their school. Rian O'Neill, such disappointment. You

:39:17. > :39:21.can see the pain etched on every single player for St Colman's. It

:39:22. > :39:24.was such a close game right to the very end. They had a penalty showed

:39:25. > :39:28.that no doubt Karl Murray will look at at the end of this game. What it

:39:29. > :39:36.is St Mary's who have won the MacRory Cup. There is Conor

:39:37. > :39:39.McCluskey. An all-star. There is a very disappointed St Colman's

:39:40. > :39:45.player. Superb scenes. People might not understand when it comes back

:39:46. > :39:50.home, this is the biggest thing in their lives at this stage. You have

:39:51. > :39:58.to acknowledge something you said. Look at young Cassidy hogging the

:39:59. > :40:02.keeper. Three brilliant saves. If ever a man's phase could tell a

:40:03. > :40:09.story of what it means to win a MacRory Cup, there it is. Absolutely

:40:10. > :40:12.brilliant. Look at that emotion. Raw energy coming from every pore.

:40:13. > :40:21.Absolutely amazing scenes at the Athletic Grounds. -- the Atleti

:40:22. > :40:34.grounds. We have the man of the match. Let's go pitch side. Conor

:40:35. > :40:39.Cassidy... You have just went and won a MacRory Cup. How does it feel?

:40:40. > :40:50.Indescribable. The best feeling of my life. Yes! This is the first time

:40:51. > :40:55.for your school. What does it mean for this group of players? This is

:40:56. > :41:01.everything. The first MacRory Cup ever. Nothing will ever compare to

:41:02. > :41:06.this. Nothing will ever compare. Your school has gone close twice. It

:41:07. > :41:15.has lost twice. View our winners today. I couldn't be happier. This

:41:16. > :41:22.is the least we deserve, the effort and work we put in this year. With

:41:23. > :41:27.regards to the match today, St Colman's came in with a huge

:41:28. > :41:33.pedigree. Obviously you had to overcome that. And you really went

:41:34. > :41:49.for it? Well... CHEERING.

:41:50. > :41:58.Declan Cassidy, a proud captain. A history making captain. Man of the

:41:59. > :42:02.match chosen by Martin McConnell. Oisin and Ryan Micky Yule alongside

:42:03. > :42:08.me. He was outstanding. You could have made a good case for Kevin

:42:09. > :42:13.Small as well. Let's take a closer look at Cassidy. A day of history?

:42:14. > :42:18.An unbelievable day for St Mary's Magherafelt. We should say at this

:42:19. > :42:22.stage they really deserved it. He was pivotal to everything that

:42:23. > :42:26.happened. It was a brilliant outlet. A strong runner with the ball. He is

:42:27. > :42:34.able to get a score when they needed. He was a captain, he was a

:42:35. > :42:39.leader. One of the best players on the

:42:40. > :42:42.field. Kevin Small, you could also argue that he could have got man of

:42:43. > :42:47.the match. Richly deserved for Declan Cassidy.

:42:48. > :42:52.We are looking at the men who have made history. And alongside me here

:42:53. > :42:57.in the stands is the man who has guided them to history, as you look

:42:58. > :43:03.at those boys. Your boys, Kevin. What does this day, this hour, this

:43:04. > :43:08.moment mean? We didn't want to think about it too much beforehand. Your

:43:09. > :43:13.mind can skip to what the celebrations would be like. I tried

:43:14. > :43:19.not to let that happen. Now that it has, we are delighted, over the

:43:20. > :43:24.moon. In 1970 Seven St Patrick's made the breakthrough and went on to

:43:25. > :43:33.do brilliant things. We saw what it means to your team. However you done

:43:34. > :43:39.it? I don't know. We have been in two finals before, I suppose. This

:43:40. > :43:42.year I saw something different. They had great skill levels, great

:43:43. > :43:50.potential. As time went on, we saw that this team was onto something.

:43:51. > :43:55.We worked with them, Ron and Devlin and John, the whole backroom team.

:43:56. > :44:03.We have done a great job. It is such an emotional day. Ronan's brother no

:44:04. > :44:09.longer with us. But these guys imbued by his spirit? Definitely. He

:44:10. > :44:18.was with the team a few years ago. He did physio. Just having him

:44:19. > :44:22.there, we had a match earlier in the competition and it was very

:44:23. > :44:28.poignant. I am delighted for him and everyone. Let me take you back to

:44:29. > :44:33.2017, March 17, two points ahead at half-time. Did you think it would be

:44:34. > :44:40.enough? We weren't sure. We'll knew they would put big Rian O'Neill into

:44:41. > :44:45.full-forward and he caused us a lot of bother. Perhaps they were a bit

:44:46. > :44:49.unlucky. St Colman's are a great team, it was a great match. I'm sure

:44:50. > :44:54.it was very exciting for the neutral. I would like to pay tribute

:44:55. > :44:59.to St Colman's and to Karl Murray. Let's here from the top woman, the

:45:00. > :45:04.principal. The very proud principle. She said four years ago when she got

:45:05. > :45:10.the job she was going to win the MacRory Cup.

:45:11. > :45:16.MacRory Cup winners 2017. Deirdre Gillespie, we can see what this

:45:17. > :45:20.means. -- means. Fantastic. It is a dream come true. We have wanted this

:45:21. > :45:24.for a long time. Third time lucky. Complete credit to these boys and

:45:25. > :45:25.the coaching team. The whole staff, the whole community.

:45:26. > :45:37.A dream come true. It was a very tight game. You kept

:45:38. > :45:42.your noses in front. You played fantastically? I asked them this

:45:43. > :45:45.morning before they left to play with pride and passion and they

:45:46. > :45:48.didn't let me down. We are delighted. We will be celebrating

:45:49. > :45:50.for a week. The presentation is about to happen.

:45:51. > :46:02.Go on ahead. There you have heard it from the

:46:03. > :46:06.players, from the principal. There is a man getting man of the match.

:46:07. > :46:11.It is well worthy. A worthy recipient. We are going to be

:46:12. > :46:17.talking about him in years to come. He is a talent to go on and Playford

:46:18. > :46:20.Derry. Big happy smiling faces. The man of the match award will not mean

:46:21. > :46:28.as much do that young man as the next little piece of silverware. A

:46:29. > :46:33.wonderful achievement. They have won three McLarnon cups. They have never

:46:34. > :46:40.won MacRory Cup. They have lost two finals. They never scored in the

:46:41. > :46:42.second half the last time there were in a MacRory Cup final.

:46:43. > :47:46.Here is Jimmy Smith. I would like to thank our sponsors

:47:47. > :47:53.for the wonderful sponsorship of the competition throughout the year. But

:47:54. > :48:01.today is about the McRory Cup. There can only be one winner going on the

:48:02. > :48:03.McCrory Cup, and for the footballers of St Mary's Magherafelt, a

:48:04. > :48:08.wonderful history in the day of their school. There can be any one

:48:09. > :48:15.team to win it for the first time, that honour goes to these men on my

:48:16. > :48:24.left. Our behalf of Ulster Schools, I would like to congratulate them on

:48:25. > :48:29.their historic victory. I would like to thank all the teachers in our

:48:30. > :48:35.schools, who have looked after our teams throughout the 70 competitions

:48:36. > :48:40.this year. All 134 schools whose teachers gave up their time to look

:48:41. > :48:45.after our young players, and to produce the men we have seen here

:48:46. > :48:50.today. I would like to congratulate the teachers in charge of the St

:48:51. > :49:01.Mary's team can Kevin Brady and his men. I would now like to presents

:49:02. > :49:03.the McRory Cup to the captain from St Mary's Magherafelt. Declan

:49:04. > :50:01.Cassidy of St Mary's Magherafelt. I am delighted to except in the

:50:02. > :50:04.recap on the heart of my school. I would like to thank everybody

:50:05. > :50:10.helping us on the journey to this historic victory. Ulster Schools GAA

:50:11. > :50:14.for organising the McRory Cup competition. The standard of Gaelic

:50:15. > :50:20.football has never been higher. I would like to thank St Colman's for

:50:21. > :50:28.such a sporting game. I would like to acknowledge the match officials,

:50:29. > :50:35.who turned out. I would like to thank the match officials, who turn

:50:36. > :50:40.out in rain, hail or snow, they would be no matches without it. I

:50:41. > :50:46.would like to thank our sponsors, for putting your name behind us, all

:50:47. > :50:49.the great gear. Closer to home, I would like to thank our McRory Cup

:50:50. > :50:58.management team for all the advice and guidance. Mr Brady, and the

:50:59. > :51:08.team. It has been their day. It has been the day of days for young Mr

:51:09. > :51:14.Cassidy, and is history making cohort. They are McRory Cup

:51:15. > :51:20.champions of the year 2017. Shane and Ryan still alongside me. You

:51:21. > :51:25.cannot help but marvel at the sites. First-time winners, something unique

:51:26. > :51:28.and special. Something unique and special, not only first-time

:51:29. > :51:32.winners, but with an atmosphere such as D-Day, the game played in great

:51:33. > :51:36.spirits. St Mary's Magherafelt get away with huge credit. They played

:51:37. > :51:39.the game in the way it should be played. In Declan Cassidy they have

:51:40. > :51:44.a leader, somebody able to step up to the mark. A lot of other players

:51:45. > :51:51.throughout the field who can do that. From this occasion, St Mary's

:51:52. > :51:55.Magherafelt deserving victory. Much to admire, much to mull over and

:51:56. > :52:01.debate. We will get to the nitty-gritty in a moment. First,

:52:02. > :52:07.Kevin Small, must have been a contender for man of the match. He

:52:08. > :52:12.had a huge match. He would be pushing for a man of the match.

:52:13. > :52:16.Winning his own ball. People watching the game, you have to be

:52:17. > :52:21.fit to bring your own ball. Kicking off the right or left peg. Great to

:52:22. > :52:29.watch. Huge match, big scores at vital times. As a young man, a

:52:30. > :52:35.teenager, this is the day you dream. But it's all coming together. You

:52:36. > :52:38.asking about pressure, he would stand up and perform, he was one of

:52:39. > :52:44.the players the field who stood up and perform. Even the little flick

:52:45. > :52:46.point he got towards the end of the game, that was magnificent. Arguably

:52:47. > :52:53.this is the best goal, his best scoring game. Absolutely brilliant.

:52:54. > :52:57.It is just natural. He does not think of anything else. In

:52:58. > :53:06.modern-day football, not too many of these boys hanging around this if

:53:07. > :53:13.Derry can get him fit and raring to go to prices in the future. St

:53:14. > :53:17.Colman's came back into it, Chris Killen igniting them, taking a point

:53:18. > :53:27.well. Also black Cardiff. Should the black card have been given? I don't

:53:28. > :53:32.know. Great score, the cornerback coming off the pitch. Does not even

:53:33. > :53:36.think about it. On the black card, I don't think it should have been

:53:37. > :53:41.given. Does not mean to pull him down. Hard to interpret the black

:53:42. > :53:47.card. Does not really dragged into ground. At this stage, the game

:53:48. > :53:54.turned, St Colman's took off the sweeper, putting on a forward. They

:53:55. > :53:58.were pushing out on Lynch's kick outs, having success. Opportunities

:53:59. > :54:03.to get back in the game. That Magherafelt always got the extra

:54:04. > :54:08.point, Poore points in front. Keeping the three, four point gap.

:54:09. > :54:15.Stating the obvious, in their keeper, outstanding, a man in the

:54:16. > :54:19.form of his life today. He did a phenomenal match. Could have been in

:54:20. > :54:25.contention for man of the match. Huge moment in the game. His kicking

:54:26. > :54:32.was outstanding today. Magherafelt controlled the game until the last

:54:33. > :54:36.ten - 15 minutes. This saves speak for themselves. Out of this world.

:54:37. > :54:43.12 is right, wonders left. Phenomenal game of RAM. Pulling off

:54:44. > :54:47.a save or two like this, you grow, and feel like you are unbeatable.

:54:48. > :54:52.Very commanding under the high ball. At the end of the game, when it was

:54:53. > :54:58.raining forward. He was causing them a lot of bull. Looked as if he had

:54:59. > :55:01.the composer today. Out on the field, relying on your goalkeeper to

:55:02. > :55:08.have the composure, exuding around the rest of the team. Second half,

:55:09. > :55:17.two penalty queries. Take a look at both of them. Should there have been

:55:18. > :55:21.penalties? I think he starts the foul outside the box, good decision

:55:22. > :55:27.by the referee. Just getting him there. Good decision. I don't know

:55:28. > :55:33.whether you agree. Think that was probably the right decision. This

:55:34. > :55:37.one here. I know he has his hands on him in the air. The actual foul

:55:38. > :55:46.committed literally five yards from the girls. Should have been about

:55:47. > :55:52.it. -- from the goals. On decisions like that, games are decided. No

:55:53. > :55:56.disrespect to St Colman's, regardless, even if they had stuck

:55:57. > :56:00.that one in the net, St Mary's looked like they have the capacity

:56:01. > :56:06.to get forward, and score. Something more balanced about them. You need

:56:07. > :56:12.the luck in trouble. Little decisions going with Magherafelt,

:56:13. > :56:14.you always need a bit of luck. A lesson to be learned, never praise

:56:15. > :56:22.the referee at half-time. He did well enough. The penalties where

:56:23. > :56:31.-- where titles. It has been enjoyable. It has been a day of

:56:32. > :56:38.firsts. Could we have a day of firsts at Croke Park? A first for

:56:39. > :56:43.Derry, Tyrone. A bumper day, have you enjoyed it? Enjoyed it. This is

:56:44. > :56:48.what college football is all about. Two brilliant games. Very high

:56:49. > :56:55.standard. Very competitive, football played the way should be played.

:56:56. > :57:00.Brian, for these young man, first win, Jimmy Smith handing over the

:57:01. > :57:07.cup, in 67, 50 years ago, they went on to win at Hogan. Looking at what

:57:08. > :57:12.it still means, do these guys have it within them to push on, making an

:57:13. > :57:25.impact at all island level? Definitely, a great side. -- all

:57:26. > :57:28.Ireland level. They have a great keeper. It is a great competition,

:57:29. > :57:33.one of the best competitions in the GAA. Thoroughly enjoy coming here,

:57:34. > :57:38.last year as well. Great atmosphere, everything about it great to see.

:57:39. > :57:48.Fede for fathers and sons. We have found a family down there. -- a day

:57:49. > :57:53.for fathers. Kevin, we have to start with you. What does it feel like? It

:57:54. > :57:59.is unreal, never happened before in the school. How did the match gave

:58:00. > :58:06.for you? It was tough the first hour. We had the wind, we knew the

:58:07. > :58:12.game plan was running off-the-ball. We are fit team. We wanted to stick

:58:13. > :58:17.that in the second half. We pulled away, winning the second half by

:58:18. > :58:23.more than move won the first. Kevin, what does it feel like, as a parent,

:58:24. > :58:27.to watch your son winning that? Very proud to see St Mary's winning for

:58:28. > :58:31.the first time. They put a lot of work into that. Well done to Cormack

:58:32. > :58:37.and all the boys. They played brilliant. Well done to all the

:58:38. > :58:42.boys. Plenty of celebrations, no doubt to come in Macca felt.

:58:43. > :58:52.My thanks to the entire BBC Sporting. That includes you two. The

:58:53. > :59:00.clock is counting down. Very shortly after the Belfast in the company of

:59:01. > :59:02.my colleague Gavin Andrews. We will leave you with the enduring images

:59:03. > :00:14.of the day. Congratulations to St Mary's on

:00:15. > :00:21.their MacRory Cup success. But now the focus switches to rugby and the

:00:22. > :00:28.141st schools cup final. RBAI against Methodist College.

:00:29. > :00:34.Schoolboys have dreamt of being here on the 17th of March. As a rugby

:00:35. > :00:38.players you don't get too many chances to realise that dream. It

:00:39. > :00:45.comes around once or twice in a lifetime, if you are lucky. And

:00:46. > :00:56.after a year's hard work... On and off the pitch. It is all about

:00:57. > :01:07.taking it in. Living in the moment. Scoring a try. It is all about the

:01:08. > :01:14.winning. And creating memories that last a lifetime. It is the biggest

:01:15. > :01:18.day in schoolboy rugby in Ulster. Methody and RBAI have made the short

:01:19. > :01:23.trip to the Kingsbarns Stadium. Despite the weather, it will be

:01:24. > :01:27.rocking for the next two and a half hours. -- Kingspan Stadium. The fans

:01:28. > :01:35.are making a fair bit of noise. The selfies are on show. Flags and

:01:36. > :01:39.scarves at the ready. That afternoon. It is that time

:01:40. > :01:46.again. St Patrick's Day wouldn't be the same without the schools cup

:01:47. > :01:54.final. Alongside me, two men from different eras with plenty of

:01:55. > :02:00.experience. Ian Humphreys and an Ulster and Ireland great, Willie

:02:01. > :02:07.Anderson. The weather has been OK. It is holding out so far. Fantastic.

:02:08. > :02:13.It has just tried a up for us. Hopefully we will have a great game

:02:14. > :02:19.of rugby. Willie, one of those great days in the sporting calendar? It is

:02:20. > :02:27.fantastic. In 1967I saw my first final. It really is exciting. I

:02:28. > :02:33.think it is a fabulous exhibition for the end of the year of schoolboy

:02:34. > :02:42.rugby. A different vintage beside you. Ian, memories of 1989?

:02:43. > :02:47.Obviously mixed emotions. Two finals but two losses. As you look back on

:02:48. > :02:52.a career, those are two of the highlights, playing with the makes

:02:53. > :02:57.you came through school with. Shame about the results. How much does it

:02:58. > :03:04.come down to coping with the occasion? Massively so. It is a big

:03:05. > :03:11.pitch. Bigger than schoolboys are used to. It can be quite heavy. And

:03:12. > :03:21.it is on TV. A huge occasion. I hope the nerves do not get the better of

:03:22. > :03:27.them. As per usual, it is RBAI and Methody again? Absolutely, they

:03:28. > :03:30.always seem to come through. Methody are the dark horses. They have done

:03:31. > :03:37.it the hard way. Winning in Armagh. Getting through. Everybody felt it

:03:38. > :03:45.was going to be Ballymena in the final. That's the way it goes.

:03:46. > :03:49.Methody will be strong. Let's meet the teams. Let's here from Methody,

:03:50. > :03:54.back in the final for the first time since 2014. Instead aiming for three

:03:55. > :04:02.wins in a row. Both teams happy to take on their closest rivals.

:04:03. > :04:06.It's massive. If you are going to ask any Methody people who'd they'd

:04:07. > :04:12.want to finish their schoolboy career against in the final, it

:04:13. > :04:20.would be RBAI. It is always a big game. It doesn't get much bigger

:04:21. > :04:24.than playing Methody in a final. RBAI have in the form team this

:04:25. > :04:31.season. I'm sure they won't enjoy playing us in the final. Massive

:04:32. > :04:36.rivalry. Different atmosphere when they face each other. But ultimately

:04:37. > :04:44.a lot of respect between the schools. It is a big rivalry but it

:04:45. > :04:50.is one everybody enjoys. The boys play hard on the pitch. They know

:04:51. > :04:51.each other so well off the pitch. There is a healthy respect between

:04:52. > :05:11.the schools. You put that behind you when you get

:05:12. > :05:14.on the pitch. We have played them through junior school. It is always

:05:15. > :05:32.a great match. If you're lucky enough to get one

:05:33. > :05:36.final, but I have been very lucky because this is my third. To lead at

:05:37. > :05:41.the boys on St Patrick's Day day will be a massive honour. Watching

:05:42. > :05:47.young men out there putting their best skills against the other top

:05:48. > :05:53.team in the province. It is great. You get the atmosphere of all the

:05:54. > :05:59.pupils and past peoples coming back. They have a real affiliation to

:06:00. > :06:02.their school. Such a great celebration of schoolboy rugby. It

:06:03. > :06:09.is a real privilege to be part of it. I haven't seen a group from

:06:10. > :06:13.Christmas time on who moved on as well as these guys have. I want them

:06:14. > :06:18.to do the best on the day and get what deserve. Obviously it would be

:06:19. > :06:26.sweeter from their end if they beat Methody to win three in a row. It

:06:27. > :06:33.will be sweeter if we beat RBI to when the final. -- RBAI. But

:06:34. > :06:39.ultimately it is about who goes up there to lift that trophy.

:06:40. > :06:42.Save to say they are up for it. It is an intense rivalry but there is

:06:43. > :06:49.respect? There is tremendous respect. To fabulous coaches with

:06:50. > :06:53.great experience. Not just of the schools rugby but also club rugby as

:06:54. > :07:00.well. They will take that experience in. They know every little single

:07:01. > :07:05.ward there is. They will be trying to exploit it today. So much

:07:06. > :07:09.history? These are the teams who have played most in the final. The

:07:10. > :07:17.big thing for me is the RBAI defence. They have only conceded 11

:07:18. > :07:24.points. Dan Soper has brought almost like a professionalism this year. --

:07:25. > :07:27.a professionalism. It will be a big game and I will be interested to see

:07:28. > :07:33.how they go. Let's hope we see some running rugby. Let's sample some of

:07:34. > :07:39.the atmosphere. Thank you. The tension is building

:07:40. > :07:42.-- the tension is building. Both sets of players just gone back into

:07:43. > :07:48.the dressing room having finished their warm ups. I am joined by Paul

:07:49. > :07:53.Marshall. You have experienced playing in a final with Methody.

:07:54. > :07:57.What was that like? It is a fantastic location for everybody.

:07:58. > :08:03.The noise is building ready. It will be the highlight of their careers in

:08:04. > :08:08.school and they will hope to kick on in the Ulster and Ireland collars. A

:08:09. > :08:13.lot of people talking about the experience of RBAI. Will that be a

:08:14. > :08:17.factor? I think for some it will give them confidence. Methody are

:08:18. > :08:21.definitely the underdogs. If you are playing in a final, there is less

:08:22. > :08:29.pressure if you are underdogs. The conditions are pretty tough. It will

:08:30. > :08:33.be who controls the game best. You are familiar with a lot of the

:08:34. > :08:38.Methody players. Nick Wells is a former coach of yours. Who should we

:08:39. > :08:46.be looking out for? Methody are strong at scrum-half. Jonny Jordan.

:08:47. > :08:49.It'll be interesting. In terms of Methody, their back row, their

:08:50. > :08:53.forwards will be well drilled generally. Their back row will be

:08:54. > :08:57.strong. The centre pairing is strong as well. It will be interesting to

:08:58. > :09:03.see how they go. That is it from us on the touchline. Back to you.

:09:04. > :09:10.Paul Marshall still looks like a schoolboy, doesn't he? He does!

:09:11. > :09:13.Great to see him here. What do you make of the standard? You are

:09:14. > :09:21.involved with the Ulster Academy. Is the standard on the up? It is. We

:09:22. > :09:31.have seen a lot of great players from schools level and on the 19s. A

:09:32. > :09:34.couple of them are playing today. In fact, four of them. Exceptional

:09:35. > :09:42.talent. That is what we have to build on. To bring these players

:09:43. > :09:45.through for Ulster. It is really ramping up. We will talk

:09:46. > :09:52.specifically about some of the talent on show. Ian, you have picked

:09:53. > :09:57.specifically Michael Lowry. This is his third final. He has a lot of

:09:58. > :10:02.experience of playing schools rugby. The other great game in the

:10:03. > :10:06.semifinal. He is a small guy. He is targeted by the opposition but he

:10:07. > :10:13.hits a lot harder than his size. His ball carrying, his distribution... A

:10:14. > :10:18.bit of pace, a bit of awareness. Showing a lovely dummy and going the

:10:19. > :10:22.length. He has a bit of Paddy Jackson about him. Is similar

:10:23. > :10:28.stature. It shows the experience and the leadership that he has got.

:10:29. > :10:34.Willie, you have had a look at Paul curve Methody. He had an exceptional

:10:35. > :10:38.game against B Ore. He scored a couple of tries. He is a robust and

:10:39. > :10:48.strong player. -- Belfast Royal Academy. He will have a stronger

:10:49. > :10:54.defence against him today. But he is one that RBAI have to keep an eye

:10:55. > :10:59.on. As we look at some of the highlights, Paul Kerr, I suppose for

:11:00. > :11:04.the players, how do they cope with this pressure and this occasion?

:11:05. > :11:08.This is where it will be building. They are in the changing room. They

:11:09. > :11:13.are thinking about being on TV, in front of their schools. You have to

:11:14. > :11:16.have a positive mindset. That is where the experience of the coaches

:11:17. > :11:21.will, going to play. They have to be excited. The RBAI guys will be full

:11:22. > :11:25.of confidence after a good win in the semifinal. Methody have had some

:11:26. > :11:31.great wins and they will be keen to do a good show today. This is a key

:11:32. > :11:36.time when the coach gets to say the final words? You would like to think

:11:37. > :11:40.of this state is the captain will have the final word. That is their

:11:41. > :11:48.job from now on when they get across the whitewash. Ireland boss Joe

:11:49. > :11:53.Schmidt took this time to send a message to the finalists.

:11:54. > :11:56.Lads, I know it is coming up to the final of the Ulster Schools' Cup and

:11:57. > :12:01.it will be a super occasion. I know both teams will be well motivated.

:12:02. > :12:04.All the best two RBAI and Methody. I'm sure it will be a fantastic

:12:05. > :12:09.match. May the best team win. If you are

:12:10. > :12:13.watching, enjoy the game. Good luck tomorrow. He may not be watching

:12:14. > :12:19.today, he might be busy. Final predictions? I have a sneaking

:12:20. > :12:24.feeling that RBAI have too much experience and too many top-quality

:12:25. > :12:30.players in their ranks. But we can't write off Methody. They have been

:12:31. > :12:36.here, they are underdogs. They will give it a fight. It comes down to

:12:37. > :12:43.who performs on the day. RBAI will be favourites. They have been slow

:12:44. > :12:47.starters. I fancy RBAI coming through today. More from the man at

:12:48. > :12:54.half-time. The teams are almost ready. We will get across to our

:12:55. > :12:57.commentary team, Tony McWhirter and on the microphone for his 40th

:12:58. > :13:02.Ulster Schools' Cup final, Jim Neilly.

:13:03. > :13:08.Alas, Saint Patrick hasn't quite turned up the warm side of the

:13:09. > :13:18.stone. The final of the second oldest rugby club addition in the

:13:19. > :13:22.world -- second oldest rugby club competition in the world... This is

:13:23. > :13:32.the 141st final. Methody in their 63rd final. RBAI in their 67.

:13:33. > :13:39.Methody and won 35, RBAI 31. RBAI hope the gap will be closing after

:13:40. > :13:44.today. I'm certain the chaps from Malone Road will have a big say. It

:13:45. > :13:50.promises to be a cracker. The final has been played here since 1924.

:13:51. > :14:13.Calum Green will be contesting his third final. -- Callum read.

:14:14. > :14:26.Matty Loane is joined in an impressive back row by Kelly and

:14:27. > :14:40.Gallagher. Experience in the centre. On the wing is Ethan McIlroy, whose

:14:41. > :14:44.brother was a winner in 2009. Oisin Quinn is the referee. He has the

:14:45. > :14:49.looking forward to this one. It is gone to be Methodist College to kick

:14:50. > :15:04.this game off. Perhaps a little bit of breeze in their favour. That is a

:15:05. > :15:09.decent kick. That is not a bad kick. Methody have to be very careful.

:15:10. > :15:16.Larmour has decided to run this. Methody setting out their stall.

:15:17. > :15:48.Well won back by the Methody pack. Good tackling, J Finnegan coming in.

:15:49. > :16:04.O'Donnell opting for the narrow side. Armstrong goes down to ground.

:16:05. > :16:06.Hat-trick scorer in the semifinal. Outrageous little dummy from

:16:07. > :16:15.O'Donnell, did not quite get away with it.

:16:16. > :16:30.Callum Reid, powerful prop forward. They get the penalty, good start.

:16:31. > :16:37.All about ball retention. Good afternoon gym, everybody. The

:16:38. > :16:43.initial kick, long, putting pressure. Good ball retention. The

:16:44. > :16:56.initial penalty given away at the breakdown. Should be good kicking

:16:57. > :17:03.for both sides. James Hume will have a shot at goal. His third year in

:17:04. > :17:12.the first 15, second successive final. About six feet two. Just

:17:13. > :17:18.under 16 stone. A lot of international centre three quarters

:17:19. > :17:37.is not as big as this fellow. All three points for RBAI in last year's

:17:38. > :17:44.final. Included a converted try. Three minutes gone, still no score.

:17:45. > :17:55.Trying to keep it flat, as the wind. Just past the left-hand upright.

:17:56. > :18:09.Straight through, Michael Lowry. Lovely little backhanded flick to

:18:10. > :18:14.his hooker. Cleverly done. A list of skills shown by the men in black and

:18:15. > :18:25.yellow. Lowry back in position. Good, aggressive stuff by the

:18:26. > :18:37.holders. That might be turned over, good, aggressive play. Good defence

:18:38. > :18:43.by MCB. Really putting the rush on. Anybody watching this afternoon,

:18:44. > :18:48.Young McClory, wearing the scrum cap, he has the full package, in

:18:49. > :19:07.terms of playing rugby football. Good pace, good tackle. Did not find

:19:08. > :19:11.touch. MCB up very quickly. The ball was spilled forward by Dermot

:19:12. > :19:21.Wallace, the second row. Cameron Kelly on this occasion, real Vokes

:19:22. > :19:25.rush. O'Donnell looking to hit the first receiver, flying up into the

:19:26. > :19:38.tackles, they know first contact is important. Considerably heavier than

:19:39. > :19:50.Methodist College. The average wait a few years ago was 15 and a half

:19:51. > :19:57.stones. Well taken by Cameron Kelly. Here comes Finnegan. Started on the

:19:58. > :20:11.wing a few years ago, full-back last year. Well kicked by O'Donnell. Well

:20:12. > :20:21.taken by Doherty. Lyttle making a tackle first. Jordan in quickly. The

:20:22. > :20:29.skipper was back there, the scrum-half. Not committing too many

:20:30. > :20:33.men to the breakdown, interesting. Gibbons speak tallest man in the MCB

:20:34. > :20:56.team. That will be all the way back. Good

:20:57. > :21:02.pressure. Solid midfield. Really going around the fringes. The

:21:03. > :21:11.challenge was well wrapped up. Unfortunate mistake, very sweet

:21:12. > :21:15.contact. A shot of the senior coach, Nicky Wells, who took over from his

:21:16. > :21:26.dad. Winning his first ever Schools Cup final in 74, the first of three

:21:27. > :21:34.in a row. Well stolen by MCB. Well read, picked off nicely. Jordan,

:21:35. > :21:45.inside 22, line-out. A great steel, and a crucial steel.

:21:46. > :22:02.Simply picked off in front of David McCann.

:22:03. > :22:15.Cheeky dummy by the scrum-half. He needs a bit of help. Gets it from

:22:16. > :22:21.the open side. That will be a penalty. All the pressure coming

:22:22. > :22:33.from the holders. Not able to finish things off. MCB coughing up the

:22:34. > :22:36.ball. If they manage to get the turnover, important experiences such

:22:37. > :22:46.a large part of the afternoon, they just need to play their game.

:22:47. > :22:54.Davidson was on the bench last year, starting the counterattack. Omar

:22:55. > :23:03.just putting a toe in touch. Came off the bench last year. 13 of last

:23:04. > :23:11.year's matched a 22 back in action for RBAI. 11 of the squad starting

:23:12. > :23:17.today. Daniel Saber keeps turning out the scenes. Very strong right

:23:18. > :23:23.throughout the school. A lot of other six boys. They may have to

:23:24. > :23:30.start to rebuild again. Good catch and drive by MCB. Still driving

:23:31. > :23:45.forward. A good drive by Methodist College. Jordan waiting. They have

:23:46. > :23:51.earned a penalty. Good work, Thomas Gallagher giving his forwards a

:23:52. > :23:54.round of applause. Something they used very well in the semifinal

:23:55. > :24:02.against Belfast Royal Academy. Rolling very efficiently. RBAI will

:24:03. > :24:16.have to be aware of that, a large part of their armoury. Paul care

:24:17. > :24:27.scored 40 points in the cup. Three of them in the semifinal. Josh

:24:28. > :24:51.Trainer. Gibbons at the front for MCB. Some hard graft. It is paying

:24:52. > :24:55.off. Dominating these exchanges. Getting their hands on the ball,

:24:56. > :25:01.staying on their feet. Preventing MCB from getting the ball on the

:25:02. > :25:08.ground, winning the scrum for their sizes they had a great game in the

:25:09. > :25:21.semifinal, against the much vaunted defence. Paddy Finnegan on the near

:25:22. > :25:28.side of the scrum. A flat ball by Hume. If he held that he was

:25:29. > :25:36.through. Referee playing advantage to MCB. Trying to counter ruck. Not

:25:37. > :25:38.putting too many players in there. That is a mistake, gotten loose.

:25:39. > :25:58.David Lyttle could not snap it up. Must regain possession on the MCB

:25:59. > :26:07.ten yard line. A bit of ground made. Taken on by Gallagher. James played

:26:08. > :26:13.for MCB, his brother played for another team. The pass was a bit too

:26:14. > :26:19.flat. Nothing that they can do on the left wing. Just taking their eye

:26:20. > :26:22.off-the-ball once or twice. Slightly overcooked pass. Nice refereeing

:26:23. > :26:34.bike -- by Quinn. Just letting your team

:26:35. > :26:45.play, making sure the game is nice and fast.

:26:46. > :27:06.His dad is a writer, director, nominated for an Academy award,

:27:07. > :27:12.about 16 or 17 years ago. Hard to believe that in the hundred and 31st

:27:13. > :27:19.final, only the 15th between these two sides. Two the dominant sides in

:27:20. > :27:26.the cup, amazing they have only met on 15 occasions. Given competition

:27:27. > :27:31.has grown unchanged, in recent years, moving away from the open

:27:32. > :27:42.draw to seeded teams, quite surprising they have met only on

:27:43. > :27:50.that number of occasions. That was not altogether straight. Omar, not

:27:51. > :28:00.the biggest number rate in the world, but very quick. The running

:28:01. > :28:07.game is not really clicked yet. A step by Hume, well tackle. That was

:28:08. > :28:11.not forward. They get on fine tuning is not there at the moment. The

:28:12. > :28:20.outside backs are a little bit overeager. Playing the runaround

:28:21. > :28:29.play. Coming short. Well Marshall. -- well marshalled. You can see what

:28:30. > :28:30.the game is. Cal Reeva is the main ball-carrier. Smashing over the gain

:28:31. > :28:54.line. Johnny Jordan playing it under 18

:28:55. > :29:04.and U19 level. Abstraction I think. Well spotted by Quinn. I think

:29:05. > :29:08.Michael Lowry will go for the corner, good decision by the

:29:09. > :29:17.captain. Found a very good touch. Solid kick. Going back to the scrum,

:29:18. > :29:22.you will see a lot of this, you will see a team putting the ball into the

:29:23. > :29:27.rain scrum, cracking around, coming back to the right-hand side. We will

:29:28. > :29:34.see a lot of looking for the screen pass. Taking the pressure off the

:29:35. > :29:42.number nine. Making it easier to clear their lines defensively. Can

:29:43. > :29:51.they execute the drive? Well tucked in. Little glance. Rambling forward.

:29:52. > :29:55.MCB managing to hold that down. The referee has the hand-out for a

:29:56. > :30:01.penalty. The drive forward. Held up very close. Half a metre away. Still

:30:02. > :30:06.playing advantage. Saunders sitting back. O'Donnell to the near side.

:30:07. > :30:21.Omar, for the line, squeezed into touch. Still in play. There is the

:30:22. > :30:26.drive and the try. It is, Omar. Might it Billy McKay be Keith

:30:27. > :30:30.O'Donnell. Just a dummy pass, around the corner. Impressive. Great

:30:31. > :30:36.line-out play. In control of the back. 15, 20 metres churning,

:30:37. > :30:43.keeping their patients. You see the dummy. You see the dummy. Good

:30:44. > :30:47.score, nothing more than they deserve.

:30:48. > :30:55.The last one up was Yasser Omar. As he went for the line he was held

:30:56. > :31:03.short. He did well to keep the ball infield. A little dummy by Rhys

:31:04. > :31:15.O'Donnell. Talking to his dad, Keith, who lost in the 1980 final to

:31:16. > :31:19.Methodist College. Methodist College didn't really do much wrong with

:31:20. > :31:23.their defence. It was just the strength and the poise of Donald

:31:24. > :31:31.from a couple of yards out. -- Donnal.

:31:32. > :31:46.Dan Soper and Richard Hedley. What a Beltor! That is a very good kick by

:31:47. > :31:51.James Hume. He has landed that one. A very good start for the holders.

:31:52. > :31:56.16 minutes gone. That is a cracking kick. The conditions very blustery.

:31:57. > :32:17.That is outstanding. I'm not sure that went ten metres.

:32:18. > :32:26.If it's not ten metres they have the choice of the line-out where the

:32:27. > :32:30.ball went into touch. Given Inst's Tipperary are weighed and perhaps

:32:31. > :32:35.superior scrummaging, they have gone for the scrum option. Straightaway

:32:36. > :32:38.we will see the Inst back line splitting. Michael Lowry will stand

:32:39. > :32:45.left with David Lyttle and James Hume. We have the electric pace of

:32:46. > :32:51.David Finnigan. A big right hand side of the pitch to explore. If the

:32:52. > :32:57.pack can set the platform. Nick Wells will not be panicking. Rhys

:32:58. > :33:08.O'Donnell has got away... He needs somebody with him. Good support. Yet

:33:09. > :33:12.huge amount of confidence -- Detroit has given Inst a huge amount of

:33:13. > :33:33.confidence. -- the try. Methody have got themselves out of

:33:34. > :33:39.the way. Name-macro have given away the penalty. Great defending my

:33:40. > :33:47.Methody. -- Inst. The Methody defence has been to verb so far. --

:33:48. > :33:52.superb. Name-macro look so dangerous. Rhys O'Donnell pulling

:33:53. > :34:02.the strings. -- Inst. Setting Michael Lowry free. He has been

:34:03. > :34:11.possibly the most consistent performer this season so far for

:34:12. > :34:21.Inst. Just over halfway through the first hour. There is 35 minutes in

:34:22. > :34:29.schools rugby. That has gone long. Good tackle from Thomas Jordan.

:34:30. > :34:51.Ferocious handoff by big -- big David McCann.

:34:52. > :35:02.A lot of inside switching by Inst. Hume sweeps are dried -- wide to

:35:03. > :35:08.Davidson. He get some help from Joe Finnegan. Methody's tackling is

:35:09. > :35:17.terrific. Play on us, says the referee. He has given the penalty to

:35:18. > :35:23.Inst. It might have been Thomas Gallagher coming in from an illegal

:35:24. > :35:26.angle. Rhys O'Donnell found himself in all sorts of trouble. He should

:35:27. > :35:32.have been able to get back on his feet. The referee deemed it was a

:35:33. > :35:39.penalty. It was Paul Kerr coming through. He has to try to get back

:35:40. > :35:45.on his feet quickly. Methody will feel a little harshly treated.

:35:46. > :35:54.Name-macro have advanced to within six or seven metres of the Methody

:35:55. > :36:06.line. -- Inst. Good tackle by Bingham. Callum Reid... Pulled down

:36:07. > :36:16.by the ankle. Soldiers. Infield. -- Saulters. Just over egging the

:36:17. > :36:21.pudding once again. You can quite clearly see what they are trying to

:36:22. > :36:25.do. Go around the corner. Rhys O'Donnell has played several inside

:36:26. > :36:31.passes. It is doing enough to keep the Methody back row honest.

:36:32. > :36:37.Whenever they can create the quick ball, the ball goes wide. Slightly

:36:38. > :36:44.in -- ill timed pass on this occasion. Hume is posing ulcers of

:36:45. > :36:55.questions to Methody. He is drifting wide, he is inside... -- all sorts

:36:56. > :37:01.of questions. The regular loosehead, Alex Cairns, got knocked out in the

:37:02. > :37:05.semifinal. There is a 23 day rule in schools rugby that he is not allowed

:37:06. > :37:11.to play. He missed the final by a matter of days. Methody do well to

:37:12. > :37:21.get it away. And once again Jonny Jordan has kicked splendidly. Yes,

:37:22. > :37:23.he did. Trying to get a finger or a hand on it just to slow the ball

:37:24. > :37:49.down. Great play by the scrum-half. Name-macro have a wee bit of

:37:50. > :37:53.momentum here. -- Inst. This -- this is very Methodist College style

:37:54. > :38:02.rugby. Close to the line. Here they go again. It is over! It is a try!

:38:03. > :38:08.The second try. It is David McCann. That was executed to perfection. You

:38:09. > :38:14.really couldn't have asked for a better one than that. Like Ireland

:38:15. > :38:19.last weekend in Cardiff, no overambitious centre came back in to

:38:20. > :38:26.make a mess of it. -- on like Ireland. David McCann has been

:38:27. > :38:32.outstanding. We have seen him carry ball, good feed going forward. As a

:38:33. > :38:38.looked down, puts his head down. Splinters off. He is a big guy with

:38:39. > :38:44.lots of power. It was made for him by the other forwards. Great

:38:45. > :38:50.control. Technically superb. He has played for Ulster at under 16, 17

:38:51. > :38:53.and 18 level. I am sure he will finish playing in the back row, I

:38:54. > :39:17.would suspect. He is not the tallest fellow.

:39:18. > :39:25.That was a bit of an old-fashioned toe poke. They didn't get near the

:39:26. > :39:30.post. He can kick difficult ones and then misses what look like easy

:39:31. > :39:35.ones. Slightly ominous looking for Methody. It is important to get some

:39:36. > :39:46.field position. Spend some time in the Inst half and get their own

:39:47. > :39:48.scoreboard ticking over. Matty Loane got a thump in the back, fairly

:39:49. > :40:04.legally. I hope he is OK. Well passed by Methodist College.

:40:05. > :40:22.Ethan McIlroy, the first time he has got ball in hand. This is better by

:40:23. > :40:28.Methody. More impressive. One. By Armstrong. He has got away. He was

:40:29. > :40:33.missed by the Inst back row. It has gone forward. That is a fine example

:40:34. > :40:40.of outside-half play by the youngest member of the Methody team, Thomas

:40:41. > :40:44.Armstrong. Reminiscent of Paddy Jackson when he played in his first

:40:45. > :40:54.final as a fifth former. Very much so. Armstrong is taking a flat to

:40:55. > :40:59.the line. Just unable to finish that of. That is more like it from the

:41:00. > :41:10.team in white. They need to come back and perhaps get a point for

:41:11. > :41:14.three, before the interval. Well tackled by Gallagher. What a strong

:41:15. > :41:26.fellow he is. Methody trying to affect the turnover. Lowry saves the

:41:27. > :41:30.day for Inst. Methody overanxious. Unfortunate for them. Going over the

:41:31. > :41:35.top and conceding a penalty when all they had to do was stay on their

:41:36. > :41:44.feet. It is so difficult. Lowry goes down. It is Armstrong. Not giving

:41:45. > :41:47.Lowry time to get back on his feet. If he bought himself half a second

:41:48. > :41:53.he could have picked him up and carried him over the goal line. But

:41:54. > :41:56.given the circumstances, the adrenaline was flowing. Your natural

:41:57. > :42:01.instinct is to play the man on the ground. You want that ball. Michael

:42:02. > :42:11.Lowry was a medallion chain winner in 2014. Hoping to make it the first

:42:12. > :42:18.three in a row Schools' Cup wins for Earth Inst macro for several years.

:42:19. > :42:27.Again, Methody not giving the outstanding prop much room. That was

:42:28. > :42:34.a fine clearing kick. That is a pretty good exit strategy. Yeah, it

:42:35. > :42:38.was brilliant. Callum Reid is technically good with his feet. He

:42:39. > :42:44.gets the ball back. The support is there quickly. Rhys O'Donnell buys

:42:45. > :42:51.him that extra second. You saw the line-out before. Keeping the Methody

:42:52. > :43:04.back row honest. Allowing them time to clear their lines. Josh Trainor.

:43:05. > :43:08.Good line-out from Methody. They will try the drive. It is ambitious

:43:09. > :43:12.to think they can go over from here. That is good protection of the

:43:13. > :43:23.football by Matty Loane. He has wriggled away from a hand. Thompson,

:43:24. > :43:26.who made that searing break. Another flat pass. Ken Doherty got himself

:43:27. > :43:33.flattened there. The Methody full-back. Good tackling by Charlie

:43:34. > :43:39.Cloke, who nearly didn't make the final. He has been bothered by an

:43:40. > :43:43.ankle injury. Here come Methody again. Matty Loane, the

:43:44. > :43:52.inspirational skipper. Taken on by Big Ben Crangle. Weighing in at

:43:53. > :43:56.about 17 stone. Only a fifth former. The wind playing havoc with just

:43:57. > :44:06.about everything, including my notes, which have disappeared! Very

:44:07. > :44:11.noticeable from James Hume, the perspective defensively. He is

:44:12. > :44:16.making a beeline, trying to shut down the 13, 15 Channel 4 Methody.

:44:17. > :44:21.If they can just look up, Methody, they can get outside Hume, there is

:44:22. > :44:34.lots of space. A reverse pass from Rhys O'Donnell. Des O'Donnell would

:44:35. > :44:44.have been proud of that one. Inspirational in mini rugby.

:44:45. > :45:10.Derry He goes Calum Reeva. -- Reid. O'Donnell. Well away by Wallace. Not

:45:11. > :45:26.altogether sure the kick was the right thing to do. Inst has a man

:45:27. > :45:32.down, it is James Hume. Looks like a rib problem. One hopes is not too

:45:33. > :45:39.serious, for his sake. I would agree with you, that last passage of play,

:45:40. > :45:42.if he had looked and given the ball early, he thought he did not have

:45:43. > :45:48.the pace to outrun his opposite defender. As you say, he has pace to

:45:49. > :45:51.burn outside. Nice to see him getting a chance to stretch as

:45:52. > :45:58.lakes, go one-on-one with his opposition. Over five minutes to go.

:45:59. > :46:17.James Hume seems to be all right again. This is the Methody hooker,

:46:18. > :46:23.Josh Trainer. Well pulled in by the prop. Finnegan could not gather,

:46:24. > :46:25.might have done the second attempt. Did he knock it forward? A chance

:46:26. > :46:40.for Methody. A lot of pace out there.

:46:41. > :46:46.McIlroy steps back inside. His brother Blaine was a cup winner for

:46:47. > :46:51.Methody Way back in 2009. Gibbons makes ground for Methody. They could

:46:52. > :46:59.do her points or two before the interval. They might just get it.

:47:00. > :47:11.Bursting through the tackle, from Omar. Recycled by Methody.

:47:12. > :47:34.Bingham. They ran too wide. Thought somebody was going to come in. A

:47:35. > :47:40.high tackle by Inst. That is the best piece of play we have seen from

:47:41. > :47:46.Methodist College. The box kick initially, linking. Good to see the

:47:47. > :47:53.backs and forwards intermingling. The handling skills are magnificent.

:47:54. > :47:58.You could see what Kerr was trying to do. Just not read by the outside

:47:59. > :48:04.backs. A big Cole created on the inside. The referee having a word

:48:05. > :48:10.with James Hume about the tackle. There is Damian McKenzie one of the

:48:11. > :48:14.Inst try scorers. Seems to be having a problem with the contact lens.

:48:15. > :48:30.They started playing at this ground in 1924. Before that, mostly at

:48:31. > :48:53.Balmoral, the Royal Agriculture Society frowns. -- grounds.

:48:54. > :49:03.Inst living history might repeat itself, 60 years on. Josh Trainer.

:49:04. > :49:09.Can Methody do what Inst did to them after just 21 minutes. The ball is

:49:10. > :49:17.in from the back. Here come Methodist College. Pretty close.

:49:18. > :49:25.Jordan acting as a flank forward. Inst trying to counter right. All

:49:26. > :49:33.the pressure coming from Malone. Inst managing to hold them out. It

:49:34. > :49:37.is that close. Tantalising. Here they go again. Third or fourth time

:49:38. > :49:44.of asking. Still Methody press. Terrific defence by Inst. There are

:49:45. > :49:55.men over and this must be tried for Methody. It is a try. In the corner.

:49:56. > :50:01.Methody saving up half another of Inst pressure, conceding to tries.

:50:02. > :50:06.Bouncing back with a splendid effort of the rain. Great try. Good

:50:07. > :50:11.composure. Trying to go round the corner. The big Inst forwards

:50:12. > :50:17.keeping them out. Transferring the ball superbly. Difficult moving the

:50:18. > :50:26.ball, given the conditions. Keeping your spacing and width. Not an easy

:50:27. > :50:39.conversion. It is game on again. His first try in the cup, was assigned

:50:40. > :50:51.do it. Methody now, with a converted try, and a conversion to come. As we

:50:52. > :50:56.approach our time. Paul Kerr, the top points scorer. 40 points today,

:50:57. > :51:03.including four tries, three in the semifinal. He has struck that not

:51:04. > :51:08.badly. Did not quite judge it the way he wanted. It looked as if it

:51:09. > :51:12.might come back in. I don't think Mickey Wells will be too

:51:13. > :51:18.disappointed. He will be very pleased about the last six or seven

:51:19. > :51:23.minutes from his team, mix well. We saw the stats at the start of the

:51:24. > :51:29.game, the weight advantage that Inst have. That extra stone man really

:51:30. > :51:33.tells. How well the Methody backline move the ball. Simple passing game

:51:34. > :51:47.creating the space, beautifully finished. Good restart kick. Inst

:51:48. > :51:59.giving away the penalty. Has the Methody try unlearn them? --

:52:00. > :52:03.unnerved them. The Methody guys looked shell-shocked, it was all

:52:04. > :52:07.Inst. Defending for their lives. A spring in your step, back to one

:52:08. > :52:18.score, you can smell the finishing line again. A few seconds ago. Well

:52:19. > :52:26.taken at the front of the Methody line-out. Cameron Clear Lee. Also

:52:27. > :52:36.representing Leinster at under 17 at and under 18 level. Methody decide

:52:37. > :52:42.not to put the width in this. They decide not to. Popping it into

:52:43. > :52:47.touch. Our time here in the 20 17th Ulster Schools Cup final. Tries from

:52:48. > :52:54.Rhys O'Donnell and David McCann for Inst. Right at the end they tried

:52:55. > :53:06.the end for Methodist College. A pulsating match, the holders Inst

:53:07. > :53:13.12-5 Methody. We certainly have our money 's worth so far. Some dramatic

:53:14. > :53:18.stuff. Inst taking initiative early on, powering their way over. Methody

:53:19. > :53:24.snaking their way back into it at the end of the first hour. Ian

:53:25. > :53:30.Humphreys and Willie Anderson, we have a fair bit of value, despite

:53:31. > :53:35.conditions? It is very blowy, hard to see it on TV. They've team is

:53:36. > :53:41.very physical, it has been nice they have had the confidence to throw the

:53:42. > :53:48.off-loads. Inst disappointed they have not got more of a lead. Fair

:53:49. > :53:52.play to Methody coming back into it. I've impressed with the rugby,

:53:53. > :53:57.giving it is blowing a gale? Outstanding. Inst really using their

:53:58. > :54:05.pack to fantastic effect, scoring a couple of tries. Methody using their

:54:06. > :54:12.backs. As Matt Williams used to say, what champions are made of,

:54:13. > :54:20.fantastic time to score. That first score from Inst, right up your

:54:21. > :54:29.street? Yes, Rhys O'Donnell, such a tremendous terry ever player. Great

:54:30. > :54:33.small. Snapping up the spoils. Like any good scrum-half, presence of

:54:34. > :54:40.mind. Brilliant. They were battling on the line. Ray conversion by James

:54:41. > :54:43.Hume, for the seven points. Everybody talks about the Inst

:54:44. > :54:52.backline, the forwards showing what they can do this week. You would

:54:53. > :54:56.sacrifice that for kickers today. Very hard out there. Even that last

:54:57. > :55:01.conversion looking like it would come round. They are doing well.

:55:02. > :55:06.McCann with the second try, all about the power. He had a couple of

:55:07. > :55:13.breaks before this. Winning the ball. Fantastic low driving maul by

:55:14. > :55:20.Inst. Well controlled. Great to see a pack like this, doing exactly

:55:21. > :55:25.that. Fede for some grand upfront. Took his try fantastically well. How

:55:26. > :55:30.much of a weapon is a strong set piece at schoolboy level? It is

:55:31. > :55:35.massive, while the Inst forwards are doing so well, the Methody pack of

:55:36. > :55:42.getting sucked in. Inst need to use the width. The Methody defence are

:55:43. > :55:47.using two players for each ruck. Give them more space to attack with

:55:48. > :55:50.their threats. The back free have so much pace. I think they will come

:55:51. > :55:56.through second half. Plenty of threat behind from Methody, lovely

:55:57. > :56:01.move for the try. Did very well, starting from them all. This quality

:56:02. > :56:08.of handling not seem very often at professional level. No fancy plays.

:56:09. > :56:12.Simple, good hands. A lot of yards up the middle. The defence gets

:56:13. > :56:21.sucked into Megiddo, accurate passing. The wind was even a factor

:56:22. > :56:25.in this try. Very much so. The Methody players standing square,

:56:26. > :56:30.running straight. Moving the ball very well through the hands.

:56:31. > :56:39.Fantastic. The Dudley Boyz. Let's see what a former Methody people

:56:40. > :56:47.made things. Paul has joined me again for the half-time analysis. A

:56:48. > :56:52.shaky start from Methody. Inst holding onto possession in the

:56:53. > :56:58.opening quarter? Inst with the lion's share possession. Played

:56:59. > :57:02.well. Methody will go in 12-5 down, not too disappointed. With the

:57:03. > :57:06.strong wind behind their backs, they will get more field position. How

:57:07. > :57:14.important was the score before half-time? Massive. Thomas Armstrong

:57:15. > :57:18.playing really well. He has the backline moving well. Scoring in the

:57:19. > :57:22.corner, good try. Looking to get into the right area, put pressure on

:57:23. > :57:26.them. Armstrong shows they have a strong running game. Something they

:57:27. > :57:32.will have to use in the second half, with conditions? Definitely. Inst

:57:33. > :57:35.started well. Rhys O'Donnell, the scrum-half, playing very well,

:57:36. > :57:42.controlling the forwards, moving the ball well. Inst trying to get the

:57:43. > :57:50.ball into James Hume's hand. Strong centre. Not surprise if he gets more

:57:51. > :57:54.ball in this far. The players are back on the pitch, we will get right

:57:55. > :57:59.back down to Gavin. Schoolboy rugby, they are standing in waiting. More

:58:00. > :58:03.from you at full-time. We will hand you back to Tony and the gym.

:58:04. > :58:09.COMMENTATOR: The strength of the wind has increased. Causing problems

:58:10. > :58:13.for kickers and passes. They can cope with rain, but the wind makes

:58:14. > :58:29.it a complete loss. Particularly one as important as this one. Getting

:58:30. > :58:37.the second half under way. Inst have not been in three successive finals

:58:38. > :58:47.since the 1960s. 60, 61, 62. A schoolboy error, but a fairly petty

:58:48. > :58:51.error. Giving possession and advantage straight back to Methodist

:58:52. > :59:00.College, the last thing Inst want to do. The last thing you from Michael

:59:01. > :59:05.Lowry. Nerves? That score before half-time has rattled Inst. No doubt

:59:06. > :59:11.about that. One would have expected him to put down an attempt. One

:59:12. > :59:15.thing James Hume is very good, fast and good in the air. Lowry

:59:16. > :59:20.completely overcooking that. Jordan looking where his backside. Most

:59:21. > :59:27.deployed to the left-hand side. Thomas Gallagher bringing it to the

:59:28. > :59:37.nearside. Not a great attempt at the tackle by James Hume. Hopefully not

:59:38. > :59:43.carrying every problem. Armstrong. -- carrying a rib problem.

:59:44. > :59:48.That was good control of the ball under difficult circumstances by

:59:49. > :00:06.Methody. Thomas Gallagher has been very busy. Inst of tackling well.

:00:07. > :00:13.Only the second try they have conceded in the cup this year.

:00:14. > :00:24.Advantage to Inst. Rhys O'Donnell in a bit of trouble. The referee has

:00:25. > :00:34.played advantage. Paddy Finnegan, twin brother of full-back Joe. Here

:00:35. > :00:39.is Michael Lowry. My word, he is quick. He has got it away to

:00:40. > :00:46.Davidson. He is not slow either. Inst recovered well. Lowry recovered

:00:47. > :00:51.well as well. He gets the ball, show and go outside. Commits a defender.

:00:52. > :01:05.A great tackle from Methody to cover. Inst are going to create

:01:06. > :01:14.problems all day long. He reminds me of Matthew Morgan, who plays for

:01:15. > :01:27.Ospreys. Blistering pace. Good work again by Methody. That was a very

:01:28. > :01:32.good kick. Kept infield. It was not put down. That is interesting. I'm

:01:33. > :01:37.not sure why Inst did that. They would have had a 22 drop out if they

:01:38. > :01:43.had put that down. This could be very interesting. A Methody score

:01:44. > :01:50.could stand the odds makers on their heads, and this final. Very much so.

:01:51. > :01:59.He knows there is a defender coming. His first option is to kick it macro

:02:00. > :02:05.it away. -- kick. Methody get in nice and low. Technically superb.

:02:06. > :02:14.Keep their shape well. Inst have to be on their mettle. Well taken. An

:02:15. > :02:19.offence by Methodist College at the line-out. Somebody coming in in

:02:20. > :02:26.front of the ball. There was a knock site. Joining the line-out before it

:02:27. > :02:29.moved off its platform. You must keep back ten metres from the

:02:30. > :02:39.line-up until the referee jobs 's hands saying the line-out is over.

:02:40. > :02:48.-- drops his hands. That has gone into touch. Pressure off Inst. What

:02:49. > :02:55.has been nice today, all the chat is of Ruan Pienaar leaving Ulster. But

:02:56. > :03:03.there are two good scrum-halves here today. The future looks good. Lowry

:03:04. > :03:11.has burst through. This is good support play. Rhys O'Donnell yet

:03:12. > :03:17.again. They have knocked it forward. They have given away a penalty. Not

:03:18. > :03:22.releasing in the tackle when the try line was within sight. A quick

:03:23. > :03:27.release there and it might have been game over. Yes, here is Lowry once

:03:28. > :03:35.again. Ball in one hand, surveying the options. Keep an eye macro on

:03:36. > :03:41.number 13 for Methody. He got over the ball so quickly, preventing Inst

:03:42. > :03:44.from getting the ball away and winning his team a penalty,

:03:45. > :03:57.potentially stopping a try scoring opportunity. Look at the strength of

:03:58. > :04:04.the assistant referee's Flag. Very much favouring Methodist College.

:04:05. > :04:10.Good take by Bingham. Trainor has the ball under his arm. Methody into

:04:11. > :04:16.the Inst have. Paddy Finnegan has to get out of the way. Trainor still

:04:17. > :04:22.going forward. Good work. Armstrong is a clever playmaker. Well gathered

:04:23. > :04:37.by McIlroy. The ball was passed forward.

:04:38. > :04:45.It's great to see both teams having a go. You have done this a lot

:04:46. > :04:51.longer than I have. But in terms of backline play, I haven't seen the

:04:52. > :04:58.ball used as expensively. Both sets of wingers have seen lots of ball. A

:04:59. > :05:06.fantastic spectacle. A scrum to Inst. They have not really dominated

:05:07. > :05:17.the scrum. Omar picks it up. Nicely done. That was a high tackle. That

:05:18. > :05:27.may be a yellow card. That was a bit naughty. Chris Larmour had come in

:05:28. > :05:31.off his wing. Oisin Quinn will have to have a think about that. He has

:05:32. > :05:39.gone to his touch judge to get some advice. There is nobody to refer to,

:05:40. > :05:48.no TMO. Paul Kerr hung out that arm. Very instinctive. I think he will be

:05:49. > :05:58.lucky if he doesn't go to the bin. No malice, I'm sure. He is Methody's

:05:59. > :06:06.top points scorer for this season, Paul Kerr. The hand is going to the

:06:07. > :06:13.pocket. So alas, it is ten minutes in the bin. Seven minutes in the

:06:14. > :06:16.bin. This is schools rugby. Because they only played 35 minutes each

:06:17. > :06:23.have, it is seven minutes in the bin. He just got beaten by the step.

:06:24. > :06:29.It is easy to throw an arm out. It is an instinctive gesture. Yes it is

:06:30. > :06:34.wrong and yes, the referee has done the right thing. Inst with the

:06:35. > :06:38.numerical advantage. Paul Kerr has been very important in trying to

:06:39. > :06:47.shut down the Inst midfield. Perhaps some breathing space for them now.

:06:48. > :06:50.You can see how strong the wind is. Michael Lowry didn't make much in

:06:51. > :06:59.the way of ground. Just about midway between the Methody 22 at the ten

:07:00. > :07:07.metre line. They are a man short and the Bataclan, Methody. Again the

:07:08. > :07:12.wind causing problems. Surely the option is to throw it to number two

:07:13. > :07:17.or three in the line-out with a strong wind. That was always

:07:18. > :07:20.destined to drift because of the wind. It has given Methody the

:07:21. > :07:28.scrum. My thoughts precisely. Absolutely. It gives them a chance

:07:29. > :07:38.to soak in the opposition, to create more space wide. A very difficult to

:07:39. > :07:45.execute. The first time Inst have got a squeeze on. Gallagher did well

:07:46. > :07:53.for Methody. Methody will try to make ground on the narrow side. Good

:07:54. > :08:05.burst by Josh Trainor. Gallagher was well tackled.

:08:06. > :08:13.Good driving forward by Methody. Jordan with the wind behind him.

:08:14. > :08:36.That was well taken by Inst. Calum Reid has not had a chance to

:08:37. > :08:41.show his speed and strength. That went forward. It is of sight. The

:08:42. > :08:47.ball was knocked on. The man who was in front of the ball touched the

:08:48. > :08:51.ball. Inst making a lot of mistakes. Nicky Wells, I'm sure, is now may be

:08:52. > :08:55.thinking of Methody can survive the next five minutes with a man short

:08:56. > :09:00.and maybe do something, this game could be stored on its head.

:09:01. > :09:12.Absolutely. You can see what Methody are trying to do. Send the extra few

:09:13. > :09:19.men into the ruck. Inst want to see the ball going wide with their

:09:20. > :09:22.advantage. It is about the ball going wide, not picking the right

:09:23. > :09:27.line. Methody getting the ascendancy. Matty Loane has been

:09:28. > :09:31.pretty inspirational. He has made some sensible calls. The shortened

:09:32. > :09:40.line-out was one of the most sensible so far. Inst didn't matter

:09:41. > :09:45.to do that. -- manage. There goes Gallagher. He is very strong. Slips

:09:46. > :09:53.inside from the first tackle. Methody have got a lot of men out

:09:54. > :09:57.wide. That was high. David Lyttle could find himself in the Ben. It's

:09:58. > :10:07.starting to get a little bit attritional. -- in the bin. It may

:10:08. > :10:14.be James Hume. He is gone. The number is a good up. The two main

:10:15. > :10:19.centres off the pitch. He had no option but to send him to the

:10:20. > :10:26.sin-bin. Methody's mein goal kicker is off the field. What a decision by

:10:27. > :10:30.Matty Loane. It looks like the right decision. Instead of going for the

:10:31. > :10:36.three points, they are going for the trite and the conversion. That is a

:10:37. > :10:43.good kick to touch. The kick at goal would almost have been easier. Josh

:10:44. > :10:47.Trainor has had a good afternoon. The Methody set pieces one of their

:10:48. > :10:51.strengths. That is very good by Methodist College. What a good

:10:52. > :10:59.counter drive by the holders. They have got to get themselves out of

:11:00. > :11:10.here. If Methody score, well, you know the script. Jordan has got

:11:11. > :11:16.Matty Loane standing outside him. Matty Loane goes to ground. Lays it

:11:17. > :11:27.back. Here come Methody again. Josh Trainor. Tackled by McCann. An

:11:28. > :11:34.overlap... It is going to be a try! The touch judge has his flag up.

:11:35. > :11:38.Chris Larmour came within a whisker of getting a second and perhaps

:11:39. > :11:45.conclusive try. But the flag was up and it is an Inst line-out. How

:11:46. > :11:50.close was that? Michael Lowry just saved the day. If he had been

:11:51. > :11:55.carrying the ball on his outside arm, he would have been in. It was

:11:56. > :11:59.close from that angle. You can run into the corner flag and that is not

:12:00. > :12:04.touch. It used to be if you hit the corner flag it was touch. But the

:12:05. > :12:13.flag went up and the referee has to go with the touch judge. RNA eye

:12:14. > :12:17.under fierce pressure. -- RBAI. Well done to Methody for coming back.

:12:18. > :12:27.Methody did that well. The driven line-out. Trying to pull in Lowry.

:12:28. > :12:32.There is more room out there. One slightly misplaced pass from Methody

:12:33. > :12:38.that caused the full-back to bobble and take it on his chest. A slightly

:12:39. > :12:44.slicker transfer and he would have been in. Michael Lowry has saved the

:12:45. > :12:51.day for Inst. Another Inst player down. Lowry has got the scrum capped

:12:52. > :12:58.off. Nicky Wells won't be too worried at this stage. They are

:12:59. > :13:03.playing all the cards as we speak. He certainly won't be too worried if

:13:04. > :13:08.Michael Lowry can't continue. This would be a huge blow for Inst. It

:13:09. > :13:13.looks like his left knee is getting some attention. This is the main

:13:14. > :13:20.playmaker for Inst. The other main playmaker, James Hume, is off. It

:13:21. > :13:24.won't be too long before Methody's Naughty Boy, Paul Kerr, comes back

:13:25. > :13:32.on again. Yes, the Nub to main centres. Lowry does well. He

:13:33. > :13:37.sacrifices himself. Must immediately you can see him wince with pain.

:13:38. > :13:42.There is a wee spot of blood on the knee. I don't think that is the

:13:43. > :13:48.problem. I think he has jarred that need or twisted that knee. He

:13:49. > :13:53.doesn't look happy. I am just wondering if Michael Lowry's third

:13:54. > :13:57.of Cup final in a row is over. Charlie Cloke has a word. I'm

:13:58. > :14:07.wondering if he will take over as skipper? It may well be Charlie

:14:08. > :14:11.Cloke. You have to take your hat off to Thomas Gallagher and Matty Loane

:14:12. > :14:15.and the Methodist College back row. They have grabbed this game by the

:14:16. > :14:18.scruff of the neck. Leading from the front in terms of their ball

:14:19. > :14:26.carrying. Their line network, their experience. Setting an example for

:14:27. > :14:30.the other forwards. Looks like Pierce McLernon will come on for

:14:31. > :14:38.Inst. Dermot Wallace is the man going off. McLernon started last

:14:39. > :14:43.year's final. Was left out today. Lowry will have to make a decision.

:14:44. > :14:48.It may even be lower down. Some were just above the ankle for Michael

:14:49. > :14:53.Lowry. He is in an awful lot of pain. He can get up. He is hobbling

:14:54. > :14:59.rather badly. I'm sure he won't want to go off completely. He may go off

:15:00. > :15:05.the field to get some treatment. He will try to continue, Michael Lowry.

:15:06. > :15:09.It will have to be 100%. The way Methody are going, if they see him

:15:10. > :15:13.limping, he will be a defensive weakness for Inst. Surely he can't

:15:14. > :15:18.continue looking like that? I think he knows that as well. He is

:15:19. > :15:22.heartbroken. Inst will bring on another big man to counter the

:15:23. > :15:32.Methody advantage at the line-out. Dermot Wallace. The Inst number

:15:33. > :15:35.four. He is going off. We will have to wait and see. They have to make

:15:36. > :15:46.up their minds. The referee has given him a chance

:15:47. > :15:54.to get right, and get on with the game. That is a serious blow to

:15:55. > :15:59.Inst's ambitions of a third successive Schools Cup win. Hanging

:16:00. > :16:07.in the balance. Delusional captain, playmaker and inspiration, that is

:16:08. > :16:16.Inst's biggest problem for the remaining 20 minutes of the game. --

:16:17. > :16:31.inspirational captain. Sam Friars coming on. Paul Care coming back on

:16:32. > :16:42.any second. Will he play outside half? Good catch and drive from the

:16:43. > :16:48.side. A fair bit of pressure. McDonnell needs to find touch. He

:16:49. > :16:58.has not. Methody growing in confidence. That is not done. How

:16:59. > :17:06.unfortunate for Lowry. Great tackle by Friars

:17:07. > :17:17.just coming off the bench. Interesting to see he will start at

:17:18. > :17:35.the outside half position. I think it will be Lyttle. Sam Fryers in the

:17:36. > :17:42.centre. Wallace has left the field, with McLaren coming on. He goes

:17:43. > :17:47.O'Donnell. Taken on by Fryers, straight into action. Penalty

:17:48. > :17:57.against Methody, they cannot afford to get careless, let Inst back in

:17:58. > :18:02.the game. It is a 23 man game. Sam Fryers of the bench, first bits of

:18:03. > :18:11.play fears has had to do, absolutely textbook, in defence, carrying the

:18:12. > :18:18.ball. Joe Finnegan kick into touch. Good kick to touch, it was. James

:18:19. > :18:30.Hume, well over six feet, around six two, 15 stone. Inst back in the

:18:31. > :18:35.Methody half, as we come to the halfway stage of the second half.

:18:36. > :18:42.Paul Care returning to the field after the sin bin. Not sure who that

:18:43. > :18:49.was meant to go to. The Inst line-out has been all over the

:18:50. > :18:56.place. A bit fractured. A couple of strong decisions, just to slow

:18:57. > :19:04.things down. Trying to run some time off the clock so they can get Hume

:19:05. > :19:07.back. Good refereeing. Bringing them together. Shake hands, behave

:19:08. > :19:24.yourselves. The referee looking around to see

:19:25. > :19:33.whether James Hume is due to come back on. Maybe a minute, maybe two.

:19:34. > :19:41.Paul Care back on, Methody back to their full contingent. Both are full

:19:42. > :19:55.a minute of each other. Hardly any time to gain a great advantage. Reid

:19:56. > :20:02.acquired by his standards. Taken by Kelly, over halfway. Look at the

:20:03. > :20:14.width Methody have. And extra men. Good tackle by Fryers.

:20:15. > :20:26.Nothing much in the open side of the field. Here comes Jordan again. They

:20:27. > :20:33.need somebody to go into scrum-half. Keeping it tight, little pods of

:20:34. > :20:37.four, five forwards. Accidental offside. The man with the ball

:20:38. > :20:42.running into a player of his own side in front of him. Therefore

:20:43. > :20:49.deeming to gain an advantage. Tell-tale signs, two or three guys

:20:50. > :20:54.stretching out limbs. It is a big pitch. Also slightly heavy, given

:20:55. > :21:02.conditions previously. There is the great tackle by Sam Fryers. Care is

:21:03. > :21:05.trying to beat him on the outside. James Hume just warming up of a

:21:06. > :21:26.tracksuit top on. Well presented, to O'Donnell.

:21:27. > :21:35.McLaren. He comes for David Wallace. Good switch. Where will that go?

:21:36. > :21:42.Well collected by Methodist College. Again, tackling letting them down.

:21:43. > :21:47.The hard running Thomas Gallagher, like the rest of the family, can do

:21:48. > :21:59.boxing. Not called to use that skill today. Well taken by Finnegan.

:22:00. > :22:19.Reid nearly getting away. That was not the smartest kid in the world,

:22:20. > :22:22.that one, yes it was. Just running out of ideas. Here is James Hume

:22:23. > :22:30.coming back on making up the numbers. O'Donnell guilty of kicking

:22:31. > :22:35.one or two way. Doherty has played well, full of pace. Nice option,

:22:36. > :22:39.well executed. He would prefer the points, to stay and play. Just back

:22:40. > :22:48.in the ascendancy, a territorial manner. Coming up to the midway

:22:49. > :22:59.point of the second half. Again they go along. This time it worked. Omar,

:23:00. > :23:08.Callum Reid, brought down by the ankle tap. Dad has gone straight

:23:09. > :23:17.into touch. Inst giving away possession. This will give Methody

:23:18. > :23:23.lots of confidence. If Michael Lowry got the ball, the first instinct

:23:24. > :23:31.would be to look up. That pass that he and Hume used effectively. The

:23:32. > :23:42.little steps by the ten, Shayne King that one. A bit of cramp, for

:23:43. > :23:43.McIlroy, nothing too serious. Josh Trainer injuring himself, played

:23:44. > :23:55.very well. Mickey Wells will be reasonably

:23:56. > :24:04.happy. He would like your site to finish it off, if they can. This is

:24:05. > :24:09.a shot behind him of Alex Cairns, got knocked out in the semifinal,

:24:10. > :24:14.unavailable for this one. A bit like the match last year, for Inst,

:24:15. > :24:25.Belfast College, defending manfully for the second half. So far Methody

:24:26. > :24:38.have-nots, but cannot find the key. Inst making another replacement.

:24:39. > :24:47.Josh Trainer, fantastic line-out throwing all afternoon. Sensible

:24:48. > :24:53.catch at the front. Methody have that Thaksin. Thomas Gallagher

:24:54. > :25:00.joining them. Up to the 22, over the 22. Trying to catch Inst offside.

:25:01. > :25:05.Methody building up a considerable head of steam. Still going, making

:25:06. > :25:08.contact with the man in front. Nothing illegal by that. Great work

:25:09. > :25:23.by the Methody forwards. They have Inst stretched. They could

:25:24. > :25:29.be in again. Well taken by Nathan McCullum

:25:30. > :25:46.Here comes Gallagher, fellow back row forward. They have been

:25:47. > :25:52.terrific. Gibbons, the big second row. Still there for Methody. Can

:25:53. > :25:58.they get over the posts? Only a converted try between them.

:25:59. > :26:03.Remember, they have long since stopped having extra time replays,

:26:04. > :26:10.if it finishes level, then the cup is shared. Inst will certainly not

:26:11. > :26:17.one that, they have not had a three in a row sequence for over 70 years.

:26:18. > :26:26.Still therefore Methody. Inst give away the penalty. Jordan did that

:26:27. > :26:30.well, buying the extra half second. Just giving away the penalty. Look

:26:31. > :26:37.at the quality of the transfer of the pass. Off the left-hand.

:26:38. > :26:44.Methody, to a man, playing at the epitome of a team. Maybe not the big

:26:45. > :26:51.names, like Inst side, but playing for each other, giving everything.

:26:52. > :27:05.Paul Kerr back on again. This will make it a whole different ball game.

:27:06. > :27:13.No mistake from close range from Paul Kerr, all of a sudden looking a

:27:14. > :27:19.lot rosier for Methodist College. After 22 minutes, they found

:27:20. > :27:25.themselves 12-0 behind. More than clawing their way back. Inst looking

:27:26. > :27:30.shell-shocked. Walking back to the kick-off. Losing their captain

:27:31. > :27:35.Michael Lowry and they need someone else to step up and compete,

:27:36. > :27:45.grabbing this by the scruff of the neck. As things stand, it is Methody

:27:46. > :27:55.on the front foot. A bit too long. There goes McIlroy. Billy Gribben

:27:56. > :28:07.coming on from the bench. Gathered by Inst.

:28:08. > :28:23.And again, the rambling of the Lucent prop, Callum Reid well held.

:28:24. > :28:29.A good gathered by Inst. David McCann, one of the first try

:28:30. > :28:37.scorers. Inst need something here. Better stuff from Inst. Here is

:28:38. > :28:47.Hume. Looks like a high tackle. Referee is happy enough.

:28:48. > :29:05.Inst need to get a point of some kind.

:29:06. > :29:22.Good tackle by Josh Trainer. Trying to prevent that coming back. Set up

:29:23. > :29:38.by Paddy Finnegan. Inst getting closer. Callum Black becoming more

:29:39. > :29:47.prominent. Inst's turn to get it wide. No advantage, Inst get the

:29:48. > :29:52.putting on the scrum. Going back to type, the ball coming wide. Paul

:29:53. > :30:00.Kerr, probably having the advantage on Hume, marshalling him brilliantly

:30:01. > :30:07.midfield. Such a large part of the Inst offence, but Methody of

:30:08. > :30:13.shutting down. Forcing him into unforced errors. Unusual for him.

:30:14. > :30:18.Difficult part of this match. Quite a few guys going down, cramping.

:30:19. > :30:23.They know the emotional side of it. A lot of build-up to this. The pitch

:30:24. > :30:28.is heavy. It has been a high-quality game. The ball has been played for

:30:29. > :30:32.an awful long time. Referee has had a tremendous game, letting the game

:30:33. > :30:40.go. Traditional schoolboy rugby at its best. He has contributed in a

:30:41. > :30:41.major way to this game. Refereeing it in the spirit of the game, with

:30:42. > :30:52.sympathy. And the initial nog foreword by

:30:53. > :30:58.RBAI, the holders. Just about 11 minutes and a bit to go. -- the

:30:59. > :31:12.initial knock forward. More replacements coming on.

:31:13. > :31:22.Gallagher tries to get away on the narrow side. He said the ball up

:31:23. > :31:30.nicely for Methody to clear. They do clear but only by a matter of a few

:31:31. > :31:34.metres. Gallagher has been the fulcrum of this Methody side.

:31:35. > :31:39.Perhaps not the right option, going against the grain. Inst closing down

:31:40. > :31:46.well. Good pressure from his opposite number. Yasser Omar. Just

:31:47. > :31:55.to put Jordan under pressure with his box-kick. Inst still ahead 54

:31:56. > :32:09.pints. -- four points. Anger Adair has come on for Inst. -- Angus. Son

:32:10. > :32:17.of Andy. Former Ulster hooker. They have got the ball well protected out

:32:18. > :32:22.of the back. O'Donnell with an -- Ridgers dummy. Well tackled by

:32:23. > :32:28.Methody. Inst get the penalty. What do you do hear? You are less than a

:32:29. > :32:35.try ahead. You have the chance of three points to go more than a try

:32:36. > :32:40.had. Decision time. Given the conditions a kick at goal is not

:32:41. > :32:44.straightforward. Yes it would put them back in the ascendancy. But

:32:45. > :32:52.perhaps the scrum and running sometime off the clock if the right

:32:53. > :32:57.call. -- some time. Given the increased superiority of Inst in the

:32:58. > :33:04.scrum, it took them a while to exert that extra weight difference. There

:33:05. > :33:07.is Charlie Cloke. He was very doubtful for this. He did

:33:08. > :33:17.wonderfully well to get through an hour of this final. Straightaway we

:33:18. > :33:22.see Inst sacrifice they left wing. He is standing just behind his

:33:23. > :33:31.outside-half. Already they have a numerical advantage in terms of

:33:32. > :33:35.what's available in the open play. Inst have got everybody behind the

:33:36. > :33:43.scrum. That leads me to think they might be trying something clever.

:33:44. > :33:48.That didn't look straight. Hume, the scorer of the conclusive try against

:33:49. > :34:01.Campbell College a year ago. Taken on by McCann. Methody told to leave

:34:02. > :34:09.the ball. The referee is playing advantage to Inst. Omar. Calum

:34:10. > :34:14.Green... He had a go himself. -- Kalann read.

:34:15. > :34:23.Methody hands in that legally. O'Donnell sets it up. Here come Inst

:34:24. > :34:29.again. Hume trying to use his strength. Not really working. Again

:34:30. > :34:42.Inst battling the Methody line. And again Methody hanging in there.

:34:43. > :34:44.They're so close. Yasser Omar... Kalann read is standing by. Is this

:34:45. > :35:05.his day? David Lyttle got it wide. Hume... A

:35:06. > :35:10.battering ram. Silly pressure coming from the holders. Joe Finnegan...

:35:11. > :35:25.Good covering tackle by the Methody skipper, Saulters. Now it is Callum

:35:26. > :35:33.Reid. There were men outside. Yasser Omar... He managed to just keep his

:35:34. > :35:42.composure and keep possession of the ball. Inst have said it up. They are

:35:43. > :35:49.using the replacements. O'Donnell looking for a runner in the

:35:50. > :35:56.openside. Calum Reid goes to ground. Good work on the ground by Josh

:35:57. > :36:03.Trainor for Methody. Hume needed to give the ball. Just checked a little

:36:04. > :36:15.bit. The Methody defence were up to him. Here they go again. McCann

:36:16. > :36:20.manages to set it up. We have had six or seven minutes of solid Inst

:36:21. > :36:25.pressure. They have gone through phase after phase after phase.

:36:26. > :36:32.Methody have kept them out. Calum Green has knocked it forward. Five

:36:33. > :36:36.minutes remaining of normal playing time. -- Callum Burton read.

:36:37. > :36:43.Methodist College have put in an amazing shift. Yes, they have. Joe

:36:44. > :36:48.Finnegan down. Rab is not a lot of advantage coming for Inst. I know

:36:49. > :36:58.the referee had given the penalty underneath the posts. -- perhaps not

:36:59. > :37:03.a lot of advantage. They would perhaps have wished to have gone

:37:04. > :37:08.back and had the shot at three. New can't question this Methody defence.

:37:09. > :37:15.It has been absolutely brilliant. The backroads superb. Young Jordan

:37:16. > :37:26.at scrum-half. -- the back row superb. As Finnegan recovered from

:37:27. > :37:30.his boat of cramp? There is no sign of Inst bringing anybody else on at

:37:31. > :37:36.the moment. The rain has come in with a vengeance. We have got rain

:37:37. > :37:41.and wind. Add a even noticing it? I don't think so. They are in the

:37:42. > :37:45.zone. There is a long way for Methody to go. They are camped

:37:46. > :37:53.inside their own five metre line. They haven't opened up this Inst

:37:54. > :37:59.back line at any stage. They scored their try from phase play yes, but

:38:00. > :38:12.off the set piece they haven't had a courting effect. -- courting. It

:38:13. > :38:18.would be a Methody scrum. Adair, wearing number 21, on the far side

:38:19. > :38:23.for Methody. In the front row, Gribben, reserve hooker a year ago.

:38:24. > :38:31.Now reserve prop and on the side. Good pick up by Gallagher. Good run.

:38:32. > :38:39.Taken down by David Lyttle. Methody need to get out of here. That was

:38:40. > :38:50.the loosehead prop, Darren Morelli. He was the captain, Matty Loane. He

:38:51. > :38:59.has played so well. Gallagher again. Possibly Methody's best player.

:39:00. > :39:03.Taken on by Cameron Kelly. The Methody back row as a unit have been

:39:04. > :39:10.pretty effective. Ben Crangle, only a youngster. 17 stone, the heaviest

:39:11. > :39:18.man on the park. We'll Methody be tempted to kick? Maybe not. Dragged

:39:19. > :39:24.over the line. That will be a five metre scrum. That was a very good

:39:25. > :39:27.piece of tackling by McCann. Pierce McLernon, maybe Jim, the

:39:28. > :39:33.replacement. Didn't he do well? He closed him down so well. You're

:39:34. > :39:39.absolutely right. He is a very big unit. He kept his disappointment

:39:40. > :39:44.under wraps at having played last year and not starting this year. He

:39:45. > :39:48.was overlooked for Dermot Wallace, a replacement the previous year.

:39:49. > :39:58.Pierce McLernon has come on and made presence felt. This is Inst's chance

:39:59. > :40:07.to put this game to bed. One would expect maybe Omar and O'Donnell...

:40:08. > :40:10.Their link play between eight and nine has been a joy to watch.

:40:11. > :40:19.Perhaps a strike move involving Hume. Omar knocked it forward. Can

:40:20. > :40:23.you believe that? He tried to be too clever. He tried to pick it up

:40:24. > :40:32.one-handed. In this weather and in these conditions, you have got two

:40:33. > :40:40.hands, young man. Stick it up your jumper, go Route one. Paddy Finnegan

:40:41. > :40:45.was ready to pick it up. The set piece had been called. It was just

:40:46. > :40:50.execution, Jim. Another man down with some cramp. It is Zach

:40:51. > :40:57.Davidson, the Methody right wing three quarters. Always nice to see

:40:58. > :41:04.an Inst man sorting out a Methody man! A bit of cross pollination from

:41:05. > :41:12.the physio team. I can put my hand on my heart and say some of my best

:41:13. > :41:18.friends are collegian 's! -- collegians! Inst making a

:41:19. > :41:24.replacement. Ethan Field has come on and one of the try scorers as left

:41:25. > :41:30.the field, David McCann. McCann has had a fine game. He played very well

:41:31. > :41:38.in the semifinal. He followed it this afternoon. He can be well happy

:41:39. > :41:40.with his afternoon's work. Lewis Lowry on for Methody. Wearing number

:41:41. > :41:55.22. Lys Gomis ollie same place. This

:41:56. > :42:01.time it is a Methody scrum. -- the scrum is in the same place. Lewis

:42:02. > :42:07.Miller, in fact, has come on for a Methodist College, I beg your

:42:08. > :42:15.pardon. Good tackling thereby Inst. And by Ethan Field. Methody Stoke,

:42:16. > :42:20.as they have been for the last six or seven minutes, inside their own

:42:21. > :42:25.22. They don't want to kick the ball because possession will be given

:42:26. > :42:32.away. How do they get themselves out of your? I don't think a kick would

:42:33. > :42:36.be a bad option. Given how unpredictable the conditions are.

:42:37. > :42:42.Perhaps just rely on the bounce of the ball. They try to run it. Josh

:42:43. > :42:47.Trainor has had a horrific game in the middle of the Methody front row.

:42:48. > :42:52.Cramp affecting a lot of young men here this afternoon. Tough

:42:53. > :43:03.conditions. Methody still struggling. Inst try to get the ball

:43:04. > :43:07.away. Lovely flat pass by Armstrong. Callum Reid just about hangs onto

:43:08. > :43:18.the Methody ball-carrier. Jordan was in there quickly. Trainor again, a

:43:19. > :43:22.bolt of energy. Methody still inside their 22. That was John Bingham who

:43:23. > :43:29.made some ground. Forward by Methody. Inst will get the putting

:43:30. > :43:36.to the scrum. Six and a half minutes remaining. It will be difficult,

:43:37. > :43:42.given the fact that Inst have got the ball now. It is a litany of

:43:43. > :43:48.cramp on the pitch. Perhaps that decision from Inst that we talked

:43:49. > :43:52.about in the Methody half, do they go for the post or kick the corner,

:43:53. > :43:57.they chose to go for the latter and they have been ensconced down here

:43:58. > :44:03.for the last 67 minutes. Methody unable to break them down from set

:44:04. > :44:14.piece or phase play. Looks like Yasser Omar who is down injured.

:44:15. > :44:20.Adam Fryers gives him a pat. The James Hume is having a word with his

:44:21. > :44:24.number eight. He is a huge man. He is saying to him, get the ball at

:44:25. > :44:30.the back of the scrum, pick it up and don't let go. Thomas Gallagher

:44:31. > :44:41.has the cramp for a Methody. Another man still down with cramp. It has

:44:42. > :44:46.been a very odd last ten minutes. At least half a dozen players going

:44:47. > :44:51.down with cramp. It has been a seesaw location, the whole game. It

:44:52. > :44:55.has ebbed and flowed brilliantly. Inst in the ascendancy for long

:44:56. > :44:59.periods. This is what we see from the Methody back line, their ability

:45:00. > :45:04.to move the ball under pressure. Inst came back really well after

:45:05. > :45:08.looting their captain with ten or 15 minutes remaining. They have just

:45:09. > :45:13.played the territory game. The game has lost some shape with the

:45:14. > :45:17.injuries we have had. Perhaps that has played into Inst's hands.

:45:18. > :45:22.Methody with just over a minute remaining. They have it all to do.

:45:23. > :45:31.They have two turn it over and go 80 metres. Methody have won three cup

:45:32. > :45:41.finals in a row back on the late 80s. I think it was 1989, 1990 and

:45:42. > :45:43.19 91. Rhys O'Donnell is down injured. Conditions are pretty

:45:44. > :45:58.horrible out there. The rain is coming streaming down.

:45:59. > :46:09.Inst minutes away from their 32nd. One minute and a half to go, I can't

:46:10. > :46:16.get the sums right. Before they think they can get their hands on

:46:17. > :46:26.the cup at right for the 32nd time. They contested the very first final,

:46:27. > :46:29.way back in 1876. With a loss to Armagh Royal. Rhys O'Donnell leaving

:46:30. > :47:14.the field. On comes Robben They have made it three in a row for

:47:15. > :47:28.the first time since the 1940s. Niall Armstrong. Inst still taking

:47:29. > :47:29.it on. Final minute of this game. 70 minutes, silly me, thinking it was

:47:30. > :47:50.80. Here come the boys of RBAI. 20 seconds to go. All

:47:51. > :48:01.Inst have to do is hang on to the football. Armstrong. Armstrong is

:48:02. > :48:09.slotted into scrum-half, where he played for Ulster schools quite

:48:10. > :48:16.easily. They need someone to run. It is up, into touch. Inst, for the

:48:17. > :48:24.first time in 70 years have won three successive Ulster Schools Cup

:48:25. > :48:35.finals. The weather had a lot to say in this game. They gave the holders

:48:36. > :48:42.and three-time winner is such a tough game, Methody. The strength of

:48:43. > :48:49.the Inst pack, and the determination not to release this cup came through

:48:50. > :48:54.in the end. Full marks to Methody and likewise RBAI, a final affected

:48:55. > :48:58.by pretty dreadful conditions. In terms of commitment, strength and

:48:59. > :49:03.skills, a pretty decent cup final. Let's hope they'll come through this

:49:04. > :49:07.safely, MEC them playing again in the not too distant future at

:49:08. > :49:17.whatever level. There you go, there it is. The 2017 Schools Cup final,

:49:18. > :49:25.and for the third year in a row it will go to RBAI.

:49:26. > :49:29.Willie Anderson and Ian Humphreys with me in the studio watching that.

:49:30. > :49:33.Great second half, spectacular effort from both sides. Only a few

:49:34. > :49:40.points scored. In such terrible conditions. Both sides wanted to

:49:41. > :49:43.keep playing. Not many chances, but huge physicality. Many boys going

:49:44. > :49:49.down with cramp. How much effort they put in. It was a good

:49:50. > :49:52.old-fashioned dogfight out there. It really caught the imagination, the

:49:53. > :49:58.whole way through the second half. Could have gone either way. Methody

:49:59. > :50:04.with a few chances. Inst got back in the groove again. The last ten

:50:05. > :50:09.minutes, probably the better side. Inst trying to celebrate, but they

:50:10. > :50:15.are too tired. All out on their feet. The likes of James Hume, it is

:50:16. > :50:18.the third one for many of them, but the last game they will play with

:50:19. > :50:24.their mates. A lot of them enjoying the moment, savouring, and having a

:50:25. > :50:30.good night tonight. Let's hear from the winning captain, Michael Lowry.

:50:31. > :50:36.The winning captain, three times in a row, congratulations. Thank you.

:50:37. > :50:40.What was it like to watch the last 20 minutes from the subs bench?

:50:41. > :50:44.Really difficult, you want to be on the pitch. The boys really stuck at

:50:45. > :50:51.it, I'm so proud of them. They showed real effort and grit. People

:50:52. > :50:54.coming off the bench. Half of the bench could have been starting

:50:55. > :51:00.today. Really putting in a last shift. We are overwhelmed. Mixed

:51:01. > :51:07.emotions sitting on the bench. Shivering away. Incredible. It is a

:51:08. > :51:12.pleasure and a privilege to lead such a great bunch of boys. Three in

:51:13. > :51:17.a row, the first time Inst have done it since the 1930s. Incredible

:51:18. > :51:23.feeling permit before the game we did not think about it. We had a

:51:24. > :51:27.final game against Methody, our rivals from across the road. You

:51:28. > :51:34.think about a third win, look back on it a couple years from now. Great

:51:35. > :51:40.achievement. How is your knee? Hopefully get some ice on it, and

:51:41. > :51:43.rest up. Once I got hit, my whole leg seized up, getting cramp

:51:44. > :51:49.everywhere. Disappointing not to finish the 20 minutes. One of the

:51:50. > :51:54.players on the bench, getting out there for the last 20 minutes, then

:51:55. > :51:57.me popping along on one leg. I will let you collect the cup,

:51:58. > :52:03.congratulations. Looks like he's fit enough to go and live that are

:52:04. > :52:09.rather heavy trophy. Ian Humphreys, he has it all, young Michael Lowry.

:52:10. > :52:15.Very good again today. You saw how Inst lost their shape when he went.

:52:16. > :52:19.He made lots of clean break. Taking out of hand and distribution was

:52:20. > :52:26.excellent. As we see some of the brilliant play, you know the guy

:52:27. > :52:33.very well from your U19 work with Ulster. He's just a warrior, really

:52:34. > :52:42.good. Save a try in the first half. Made a crucial tackle in the second

:52:43. > :52:47.half, injuring himself. Such a fantastic player to coach. One of

:52:48. > :52:53.those days, strange for a schoolboy to have so much experience. He

:52:54. > :52:57.showed that today. You can see compare to the last couple of years,

:52:58. > :53:00.looks so comfortable. He knew what was going on from bringing players

:53:01. > :53:03.around him into the game. Comfortable on the pitch, let's see

:53:04. > :53:12.how the years lifting the trophy. They are on their way up the steps.

:53:13. > :53:25.COMMENTATOR: Mrs Dorothy Kingston, the wife of giving Kingston, of the

:53:26. > :53:35.sponsors RBAI Bank has been handing out the medals to the losers. Now

:53:36. > :53:40.the moment that every schoolboy rugby player really dreams about.

:53:41. > :53:46.Michael Lowry, coming up two years in a row, getting the medals,

:53:47. > :53:51.talking us through his team. Such an inspirational player for Inst, the

:53:52. > :54:06.young outside half, doing it three years in a row. The trophy will be

:54:07. > :54:10.presented by Mrs Maura McGivern. We will get everybody's names, getting

:54:11. > :54:17.the medals. Cramp was the order of the day, some boys limping. Just

:54:18. > :54:21.about coming through in the final. Neil Salters did not play two years

:54:22. > :54:26.ago. David Wallace on the bench a couple of years ago. All the squad

:54:27. > :54:34.coming up and getting medals. 23 medals presented. The oldest rugby

:54:35. > :54:43.competition in Irish rugby. It will be presented to the winning captain

:54:44. > :54:52.of RBAI, Michael Lowry. Used to be called the London United Hospitals

:54:53. > :54:54.Cup. This appointment on the faces of the Methodist College boys. Had

:54:55. > :54:59.not been in the final for three years. Spike this Inst victory, they

:55:00. > :55:12.are still the most successful side in the history of this competition.

:55:13. > :55:18.63rd final. On Inst's 57 final, they have won its 32 times. Absolutely

:55:19. > :55:31.brilliant from both sides. Really good day. Also, even though we are

:55:32. > :55:39.rivals, great deal of respect from both sides. We will go down to our

:55:40. > :55:46.man on the right-hand side of the war memorial site. Waiting for the

:55:47. > :55:50.wonderful treaty to be lifted, handed over to Michael Lowry. Seems

:55:51. > :55:54.to be enjoying himself up there with the microphone. Since he did not

:55:55. > :56:01.play a full game entitled to have a few words. In microphone is handed

:56:02. > :56:06.back. The trophy is presented. Moira McKibben hands over the Ulster

:56:07. > :56:12.Schools Cup to the captain of RBAI, Michael Lowry. For the third year in

:56:13. > :56:23.a row, Inst are the Ulster Schools Cup champions. Not a bad day. Great

:56:24. > :56:28.when that she'll goes up. Special experience, unfortunately I was on

:56:29. > :56:34.the pitch with Methodist college twice. Those boys deserved. Second

:56:35. > :56:40.half, Methodist College came back into it. Made a competition of it.

:56:41. > :56:43.Inst deserve it. You know these boys at this level, how much credit to

:56:44. > :56:50.both sets of players take? Fantastic. Really fantastic that it

:56:51. > :56:53.was a tremendous game. They need to score just before half-time, that

:56:54. > :56:57.was crucial, gave them relief in the second half. In fairness to them,

:56:58. > :57:02.they came out and use the wind, the advantage with the weather very

:57:03. > :57:10.well. Inst overall, particularly with Lowry, and standing. Thank you

:57:11. > :57:15.Willie Anderson, and Ian Humphreys. The state of youth rugby is very

:57:16. > :57:20.healthy. Congratulations to RBAI, it is their date, they have written

:57:21. > :57:23.their piece of history in this great competition, the Ulster Schools Cup.

:57:24. > :57:39.From all of us here, it is goodbye. In a breathtaking new series,

:57:40. > :58:36.wildlife cameraman Colin Stafford-Johnson explores

:58:37. > :58:40.Ireland's wild Atlantic Way. I've always wanted to travel the

:58:41. > :58:43.length of Ireland's Atlantic coast, seeking out its secret places

:58:44. > :58:47.and wild creatures. This must be the greatest gathering

:58:48. > :58:52.of mammals in Ireland. They could be anywhere in the whole

:58:53. > :58:56.ocean but they choose to be here. I love the sounds

:58:57. > :58:58.of their breathing. Makes you see the country in

:58:59. > :59:02.a whole new light.