DANSKE Bank Special Merit Awards

DANSKE Bank have teamed up with Ulster Schools’ GAA Council and O’Neill’s Sportswear to make special merit awards to three young players who have created a huge impact for the teams in Ulster Schools’ competitions during the summer term. All three certainly knew how to hit the target on a regular basis.

In hurling two players stood out for their scoring returns, Tomás Galvin and Ronan McCollum.
Galvin hit a goal in the second minute of injury time to snatch the Danske Bank MacFarland Cup from St Colm’s Draperstown and bring it to St Patrick’s Keady. That score and its implications were spectacular enough to secure a 7-10 to 6-11 victory for Keady, but Tomás had already marked himself down as the Player of the Match.

The Keady Lámh Dhearg forward finished with an incredible six goals and eight points. And that merely continued a trend as Tomás hit 1-13 in the quarter-final against St Colman’s Newry and then 5-7 in the semi-final win over St Columba’s Portaferry, while his returns at club level have been similarly spectacular.

St Louis Ballymena forward Ronan McCollum managed a spectacular six goals and seven points against Cross and Passion Ballycastle as St Louis reached the Danske Bank Gallagher Cup final, following on from returns of 1-7 and 1-9 in the previous two league matches.

In last week’s final Loughgiel clubman McCollum scored all St Louis total of 1-8, but it was not enough to stop Maghera retaining their Gallagher Cup title.

Meanwhile in football, Rathmore Grammar student Michael Morgan hit the net for an incredible 46 goals over the course of the Danske Bank Irish News Cup.

In the semi-final against St Conor’s from Kilrea/Clady he managed nine goals and then matched that feat with another nine in the decider against Loreto Coleraine.

That final in Bellaghy went to extra time after Michael converted three second half penalties for a 10-4 to 6-16 draw. Before half-time in extra time the Glenavy sharp-shooter scored his ninth goal of the day, but Loreto managed to hold him scoreless after that and edged home by 10-19 to 13-8.

Not many will be able to recall an occasion when a player scored 9-1 in a final of a competition – and still could not secure a winner’s medal.

These Danske Bank Ulster schools’ merit awards, specially produced by O’Neills Sportswear, mark a fantastic personal mile-stone for all three players. The personal scoring feats during the summer term mark Tomás, Ronan and Michael out as special talents and it is certain we will hear a lot more about them as they progress in their sporting careers.

Pictured is Ronan McCollum (in navy St Louis uniform) with Tomás Galvin (wearing Marron uniform of St Patrick’s Keady) with Michael Morgan (wearing sky blue jersey – and showing No 6 presentation jersey)

In another picture – Tomás Galvin is wearing the No 6 jersey.

Pictures from Raphael Gatt