MacRory schedule altered

THE adverse weather conditions forced the postponement yesterday of all four Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-finals spread over the three days from yesterday to tomorrow Wednesday.
The weather is yet another obstacle that the Ulster schools’ Council has had to face this term following the granting of permission to schools’ players to take part in inter-county under 20 competitions, a decision that has basically ruled out weekend games which have been a feature of the MacRory Cup.
Ulster Schools’ Council intend that the games scheduled for this week will shift to the equivalent days next week despite it being mid-term break in almost all the schools.
St Patrick’s Academy will take on St Mary’s Magherafelt on Monday evening in Ballinderry and just up the road in the Loup, St Patrick’s Maghera will face Holy Trinity Cookstown on Tuesday 18th.
Saturday 15th will see MacCormack Cup holders Omagh CBS will go to Dunmoyle at 12:30am (weather permitting) to take on St Patrick’s Armagh while a time and venue is still sought for the game between St Colman’s Newry and St Eunan’s Letterkenny.
The first three games had been given evening throw-in times of 7pm or 7.30pm for this week. This may alter over the course of the next few days given that the schools are on mid-term and might favour an earlier time-slot.
Meanwhile the two Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-final games scheduled for tomorrow Wednesday will go ahead as planned.
The Derry county derby between St Pius X Magherafelt and St Columb’s Derry is down for a 7pm slot in Owenbeg while earlier in the day Loreto Coleraine will face Our Lady’s and St Patrick’s Knock in the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown (12.30pm).
Loreto Milford and St Paul’s Bessbrook are already through to the MacLarnon Cup semi-finals following weekend wins respectively over holders St Patrick’s Downpatrick and Our Lady’s Castleblayney.
Meanwhile the involvement of some of the Ballybay Community School in the Monaghan under 20 squad has moved the Danske Bank Faul Cup final against Bailieborough Community School back to Monday 24th February which is just four days ahead of the winners playing in an All-Ireland semi-final.
The Danske Bank Markey Cup winners also has an All-Ireland semi-final on the last day of February, but St Ciaran’s Ballygawley and Virginia College Cavan have still to announce a date.

Danske Bank MacRory Cup quarter-finals
Monday 17th in Ballinderry : St Patrick’s Academy v St Mary’s Magherafelt
Tuesday 18th in Loup : St Patrick’s Maghera v Holy Trinity Cookstown
Wednesday 19th in Athletic Grounds Armagh : Omagh CBS v St Patrick’s Armagh
Wednesday 19th (TBC) St Colman’s Newry v St Eunan’s Letterkenny

Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup quarter-finals
St Paul’s Bessbrook 1-10 Our Lady’s Castleblayney 0-11
Loreto College Milford 1-11 St Patrick’s Downpatrick 0-7
Wednesday 12th 12.30pm in MUSA: OLASP Knock v Loreto Coleraine
Wednesday 12th, 7pm in Owenbeg: St Pius X Magherafelt v St Columb’s Derry

Danske Bank Markey Cup final
(TBC) St Ciarán’s Ballygawley v Virginia College Cavan

Danske Bank Faul Cup final
Monday 24th (TBC) : Ballybay CS v Bailieborough CS