Abbey and St Patrick's set for MacRory Cup final

The biggest prize in Ulster Colleges Gaelic football is up for grabs on Sunday at the Athletic Grounds as Abbey CBS, Newry and St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon both seek a sixth title [15:00 GMT, live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport NI website].

Both schools come into this final seeking to bridge a lengthy gap since their last success, with the Dungannon outfit aiming to make up for the disappointment of losing in the final two years ago and secure a first title since 2009, while the Abbey are trying to bridge a 20-year gap.

That victory for the Newry school came under the tutelage of the late Jody Gormley whose captain that day in 2006 was Kevin McKernan.

The Abbey would go on to win the Hogan Cup that year with McKernan, who won an All-Ireland minor title with Down the previous year, going on to enjoy a 15-year career at senior level for the Mournemen.

Now back in his alma mater as GAA development officer, McKernan is hopeful the class of 2026 can follow write their own chapter.

"When you look back now and talk to some of the boys involved, it probably sinks in what an occasion it was and the magnitude of it," the Abbey team coach told BBC Sport NI.

"We can say we are part of the history of the MacRory Cup and that team fulfilling its potential.

"My job now to give this group of boys to do something really special as a group of friend and team-mates, but also for their local clubs, we've a job to make them as rounded as we can.

"This Sunday, to go into a final of the MacRory Cup, we're glad it's the Abbey jerseys."

Abbey negotiated a five-team group, opening with victory over St Ronan's, Lurgan before losing to Omagh CBS.

They recovered with victories over St Paul's Bessbrook and St Patrick's, Armagh, before edging St Patrick's, Cavan in the first knockout game.

A big win over holder St Patrick's, Maghera followed and then the Newry outfit turned the tables on Omagh in their semi-final.

Team captain Diarmaid O'Rourke is one of six Dromintee clubmen who started the Ulster Minor Club title win on New Year's Day, but there is a solid balance to the team and McKernan is hopeful they can rise to the big occasion on Sunday.

"We just try to maximise the potential we have and make sure they are stretched to the limit of their learning game to game," he added.

"We've talked about things that have worked for us in certain games and things that need to get better, The training pitch is an enjoyable place to put things into practice.

"Each year we try to max out each year and this year we're very close to getting there with this group. They are performing really well and we just hope they do themselves justice on the day."

Although it has been 17 years since the Dungannon school's last MacRory title, they have appeared in three finals since including their reverse to Omagh CBS in 2024.

There are four survivors from that day including team captain Davan McKeown and their experience may help those newcomers to the big day.

Three-time All-Ireland winner Ciaran Gourley was a coach that day and the former Tyrone ace is hopeful this may work to their advantage on Sunday.

"The things we didn't do so well that day, we can look back and see what we will do different, so maybe that's an advantage to a certain degree," Gourley, a three-time All-Ireland winner, told BBC Sport NI.

"For the rest of the panel it's a new day and a new experience. This group of players have managed to be successful at lower age groups, so we're just hoping they can bring those experiences to the final.

"We just want them to turn up and perform on the day. If they can do that, then we're in the makings of a good final and hopefully we can come out on the right side of the result."

St Patrick's also came through a five-team group to reach the knockout phase and their campaign began with victory over St Macartan's, Monaghan before a two-goal win over St Mary's Magherafelt.

A draw with St Joseph's, Donaghmore would follow, but an impressive display against Cathair Dhoire preceded a play-off round win over Southwest Donegal.

In the quarter-final, it required a late goal from Liam McGeary to draw level against Our Lady's, Castleblayney before Jason Mulgrew found a winner, while extra-time was required in their semi-final against last year's runners-up, Abbey VS, Donegal as they emerged 1-10 to 0-20 winners.

The opportunity to finish the job is in their grasp and Gourley is hopeful his side can take that final step.

"It's a special journey for the players," he added.

"The uniqueness of schools' football is you play with lads you live daily with, the social lives are intertwined, so the friendship bonds are built.

"The quarter-final and semi-final were close and you could see the emotion from that, so we just hope these boys can go one more step and have good memories leaving the school."