GAA: Countdown to Holy Trinity Cookstown's historic MacLarnon Cup Final

The Cookstown lads qualified from a difficult group which featured last year’s MacLarnon Cup winners Castleblayney as well as local rivals

St Pius X College, Magherafelt and the much fancied St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena.

Trinity won their opening game, Paul Donnelly’s goal making the difference against St Pius, 1-12 to 0-8. In the second tie they came out on top over Castleblayney on a difficult day for football 2-13 to 1-4, Donnelly again getting the goals, to set up a winner-take-all game against St Louis.

In a tight game at Loup, Trinity came out on top 0-16 to 1-10, the quarter-final a rematch against defending champions, Castleblayney a brilliant first half display seeing Cookstown progress via goals by Donnelly and Conan McLernon’s penalty 4-9 to 1-12.

And in an epic semi-final against St Columb’s, Derry, Holy Trinity came through an extra time thriller 1-17 to 2-12.

“It has been a great achievement to reach the MacLarnon Cup final on St Patrick’s day” said Martin McGirr, who manages the team alongside Kevin O’Boyle and Peter Canavan.

“The boys have shown tremendous commitment and will represent the school well.

“There’s a great buzz in the college, everyone is looking forward tot the final. Carrickmacross were in the final last year and qualified for All-Ireland final at fifth year, so they’re formidable. but our boys will give it everything.”