St Patrick's College, Cavan are celebrating today after their senior football team won the MacRory Cup for the first time in 43 years yesterday – and the winning side was backboned by a number of talented handballers.
Hero on the day was corner-forward Thomas Edward Donohoe, who played in the U14 40x20 Doubles All-Ireland final in 2012 – he scored 2-3. Joint-captains were Pierce Smith, who played in the U15 Singles at the 2012 World Chmpionships, and Cian McManus, who reached the semi-final of the One Wall U15 Singles at the same tournament.
Wing-back Darragh Kennedy, who scored 0-2, was a member of the St Pat's team which won the All-Ireland Féile na nGael Division 3 title the same year, while Stephen Smith – who was a sub on the team having seen game time in the earlier rounds – is a well-known handballer with five Ulster titles to his name, including the U17 40x20 Singles which he won last month.
Full-forward Ben Conaty also played high-level handball in his earlier years at the school, reaching the U13 Nationals semi-final some years ago.
Football and handball have both been improving steadily st St Pat's in recent years. James Brady, a multiple All-Ireland champion, is a PE teacher at the college.
The school is also the alma mater of world champion Paul Brady – no mean handballer and footballer himself!
Paul Fitzpatrick