08/03/2016
It was a historic day for Schools GAA in Healy Park, Omagh St. Enda's GAA, on Tuesday as the last ever Ulster GAA Vocational Schools Finals in both McDevitt and Arthurs Cups went ahead.
From a Tyrone GAA perspective there was the added excitement that the McDevitt Cup was won by the Tyrone Champions and "may" reside in the school now going forward.
Dean Maguirc College Carrickmore secured the 2016 Ulster Vocational Schools McDevitt Cup title with a 3-11 to 1-4 victory over Derry Champions, St. Colm's of Draperstown. In all it was a most impressive display by the Carrickmore School who were managed by three former County senior players in Enda Kilpatrick, Terry McCann and Gavan McElroy. Significantly another former Tyrone senior player, Loughmacrory's Ciaran Meenagh, was a member of the St. Colm's management team.
The goals were scored by Pearse Dobbs, Diarmaid Gallagher and Patrick Quinn and while it was finely balanced at 20 minutes with the Dean leading 1-3 to 1-2, they soon began to pull clear and were 2-8 to 1-2 ahead by the break, the goals in that half from Dobbs and Gallagher. Oisin McCann, Stephen Grogan, Tiernan McGarrity, Thomas Owens and Sean Conneely were also on target in an impressive display overall from the eventual winners, who were bringing the McDevitt Cup to Dean Maguirc College for just the second time, the last triumph having been delivered back in 2002.
The School were also represented by six different clubs - An Charráig Mhor Gfc, Loch Mhic Ruairí Naomh Treasa GAA, Killyclogher GAA, Pomeroy Plunketts GAC, Aireagal Chiaráin and An Caisleán Glas GAA, Tír Eoghain
Dean Maguirc College winning team: Jarlath Slane (Carrickmore), Dara Curran (Loughmacrory), Thomas Owens (Errigal Ciaran), Conor Cuddy (Carrickmore); John Rafferty (Killyclogher), Micéall McCann (Greencastle), Mickey McCallan (Carrickmore); Barney Corcoran (Pomeroy), Sean Conneely (Greencastle); Oisin McCann (Killyclogher), Patrick Quinn (Pomeroy), Tiarnan McGarrity (Carrickmore), Stephen Grogan (Carrickmore), Pearse Dobbs (Loughmacrory), Diarmaid Gallagher (Loughmacrory).
Subs: Thomas McDonagh (Carrickmore), Ryan Haughey (Kilyclogher), Rory McElroy (Carrickmore), Enda Duffin (Pomeroy), Cahir Munroe (Carrickmore), Nuno Da Silva (Pomeroy), Peter McAleer (Pomeroy), Martin McNally (Pomeroy), Oran Munroe (Carrickmore), Shea McElhatton (Greencastle), Jack Conway (Loughmacrory), Cathair Conroy (Carrickmore), Matthew Conway (Greencastle), Oran Toal (Killyclogher), Villius Macidulskas (Loughmacrory), Ryan Rafferty (Loughmacrory).
Photographs by Jim Dunne.