Ballyholland's Charlie: shackles are off for final

BALLYHOLLAND’S Charlie McGrath says that getting past Maghera in the MacRory Cup quarter-final was a huge weight off the Abbey’s shoulders, so now the shackles are off.

And if the win and performance against Omagh CBS in the semi-final is anything to go by then this Abbey team are finding their groove at the right time ahead of Sunday’s MacRory Cup final clash against Dungannon.

Abbey’s midfield pairing is Keelan McEntee and captain Diarmaid O’Rourke, sons of 2002 key All-Ireland winners, Tony and Aidan respectively, both are talented players and have followed their dads into the Orchard colours with Armagh Minors last year.

Cullyhanna’s Cathal Burns is tigerish corner back, Dara Havern from Saval, is a cool customer, while in attack Mayobridge’s Daniel Carr and Warrenpoint’s Ryan O’Hare will take some watching and sometimes making things happen is centre-half forward McGrath who says he has been inspired by 2006 MacRory Cup winner Kevin McKernan, who has helped out as Down GAA development officer at the school.

“Listen, the hard training is near over us now. It's more Kevy just taking us through match situations, practising through and just really preparing, specialising for each scenario I suppose,” said McGrath.

“It's a big thing at this stage, taking Omagh in semi-final and just specialising on what they're good at and what situations you find yourself, such as being point down with five minutes, Kevy has been through it all, so hopefully we're prepared.

“He's really taught us what it means, obviously Seán [Gallagher] as well, with the 20 years as well, and Seán was beaten the semi-final, so he's been here trying to bridge that gap for 20 years, so it's basically just teaching us what it means, how many people have missed out, it's a once in a generation thing, so we have to make the most of it.”

Dungannon’s Eoin Long is a player that makes his team tick, while ,Ruairi O’Neill is sharp close to goal and James Mulgrew will need to held to account by Abbey’s defence.

McGrath said that the weekend team-bonding trip to Donegal was a good way for the sixth and seventh years to know more about each other and that the Armagh players roomed with Down players, so that brought everyone even closer and he feels it benefited the side.

He says the shackles are off and it would mean everything for him to win the MacRory Cup with his schoolmates.

“The quarter-final, to be honest, was big pressure, it was 20 years, it was sort of bridging the gap for us. Once we get past that, I think the shackles are off now, were just rocking, so hopefully we get through it,” McGrath said.

“We have so many good players, so many people, people have actually come in on us and we're not being a one-man band. It's not obviously Diarmaid scored nine points in the last game, but it's a full-team effort and there's people sitting back that maybe haven't broke through yet and maybe there will be a big game to come in the final.

“It's everything, it's just seven years in the making. I've never won anything with the school and it's obviously a prestigious competition and it's 20 years since we've won it, so it'll be awesome.”