BT Ulster Colleges MacRory Cup Play-Off

St. Macartan’s College, Monaghan v St. Patrick’s College, Maghera, Tuesday, 2.00, Derrytresk

St. Macartan’s College put their hopes of qualification for the MacRory Cup in Tuesday’s play-off against St. Patrick’s, Maghera.

The Sem have struggled so far this year, finishing bottom of Section A after four successive defeats, so they will need to up their game if they are to stand a chance of progressing. Maghera, on the other hand, only missed out on automatic qualification from Section B on score-difference. The Derry school won twice and lost twice to finish level with the two Newry sides – Abbey CBS and defending champions St. Colman’s – so they will be in a more confident frame of mind than their opponents. These schools recently clashed in the Rannafast Cup Final, which Maghera won by the narrowest of margins, and both can call on players from those teams for this MacRory Cup game.

The Sem used Saturday’s game against St. Michael’s, Enniskillen to give a chance to players like Conor McCarthy and Tom Hayes, while the team is backboned by Pádraig McKenna, Mel Boyce, Brian and Niall Greenan, Michael Galligan and Fergal McGeough. Gerard Bradley, Stephen O’Hara, Neil McNicholl and Conor Convery are among the main men for St. Pat’s, who will be favourites to advance to the knock-out stages.

Meanwhile, the draw has taken place for the last 16 of the MacLarnon Cup, with two Monaghan schools still in the running. Our Lady’s, Castleblayney have been paired with St. Malachy’s, Belfast, while Patrician High School, Carrickmacross are up against St. Louis, Kilkeel from Co Down.