AN attractive double bill of schools' football takes place this Saturday in Portlaoise where the All Ireland vocational schools senior and junior finals will be decided.
Vocational football has languished somewhat in the shadow of its colleges counterpart but most teams are sprinkled with county minors and the competition is intense. One of the senior teams competing on Saturday, for example, St Malachy's High School, Castlewellan, Co Down, has come through eight rounds to reach this stage.
Along the way they beat last year's champions, Enniskillen College of Further Education, and in the Ulster final defeated St Ciaran's of Ballygawley - who were coached by Tyrone senior Pascal Canavan. Ulster schools have dominated both competitions since they were inaugurated in 1975, winning, 11 senior titles and 17 in the junior grade.
St Malachy's opponents this Saturday are the Kerry and Munster champions, Scoil Ui Chonaill, Cahirciveen. Their presence in the final has generated a lot of excitement in the south Kerry region and a big crowd is expected to travel in support.
"There is unbelievable hype locally, said vice principal Lorcan Murphy. "We have received tremendous support from both the clubs of the players and the people of south Kerry and hopefully we can repay them with a victory on Saturday.
Cahirciveen beat St Brogan's College, Bandon, in the Munster final and two weeks ago, defeated Ard Scoil Chiarain from Clara in the All Ireland semi final by a single point.
Neither team has won the title but St Malachy's, with 11 of last year's squad available, will start ash favourites. They beat Davitt College, Castlebar, after extra time in a superb All Ireland semi final at Carrick on Shannon.
Their chances of winning on Saturday are diminished, somewhat by the absence of their, excellent full back Declan Maginn - he is recovering from a recent appendix operation. Key men for Malachy's are centre half back Aidan O'Prey and midfielder and captain Jim Magorrian. Brian McGeown and Colin Laverty are key men in attack but both are doubtful with injuries. Another forward, Gerard McCrickard, is also doubtful hating suffered a hand injury requiring 19 stitches.
The age limit at senior level is 18 1/3, according to PRO Paidi Palmer, because of the six year cycle that now pertains in most schools. The junior final (under 16) features another Down team, St Mark's of Warrenpoint. Past luminaries of St Mark's include Mickey Linden, Paddy O'Rourke and John Treanor. Another Down great, Liam Austin, teaches there.
Their opponents are Clonakilty Community College who also defeated Ard Scoil Chiarain in the semi final. St Mark's have played in six junior finals, winning all six, and are expected to make it seven out of seven on Saturday. Throw in for the senior game is 3.00 while the junior game starts at 1.30.
