Newport aim to move up the ranks after schools final win
Saturday, 16th March 2024, will remain etched in the memory of all the hurling lovers in St. Mary’s Secondary School, Newport, just as the school’s proud name will remain etched on the Niall McInerney Cup.
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Shane Flanagan is presented with the Man of the Match award. BRIDGET DELANEYImage 2 of 2
St Mary’s Secondary School, Newport - All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘D’ Hurling champions. Back row: David Minogue (joint-manager) Cormac Galvin, Adam Kiely, Darragh Gavin, Luke Kennedy, James Tobin, James Anderson, John Kennedy, Colm Kennedy (joint-captain), Cathal Hannon, Brian Tobin, Jamie Long, Keith Hogan, Darragh Meaney, Darragh Bourke, Darren Collopy, Brian Nolan, David Wilton, Paddy Kelly (joint-manager). Kneeling: Mark Lonergan, Eoghan Flynn, Cathal Sheridan, Sean O’Connor, Darragh Mackey, Daire Cantillon, Kyle Furlong, Martin McCabe, Shane Flanagan (joint-captain), Tommy Cusack, Callum Poole, Daniel Ryan, Cillian Collins, Fintan Sheridan, Evan Duffy, Aaron Lenihan. Photos: Bridget Delaney BRIDGET DELANEYBy Thomas Conway
It was a special day for St. Mary’s - itself a relatively small school, with no illustrious history of hurling bar a Munster senior crown won back in 2013. In the aftermath of Saturday’s victory, the pride and elation was palpable amongst the players, students, and supporters. Blue flairs were lit, some tears were shed, and there were smiles all round Dr. Daly Park, right there in the soaking rain.
Newport were comprehensively the better side and the man at the helm of it all, their manager David Minogue, was beaming with that same pride. His words speak for themselves.
“It’s absolutely brilliant,” he began.
“Honest to God, the school might have won a Munster title back in 2013, but this is the first title at senior level since then. We’ve never had an All-Ireland in the school before - it means so much.
“What these lads have done for the young lads is just unbelievable. There are young lads coming up through the ranks in the school, and these boys are after setting the benchmark for what’s to come.”
Minogue, and by extension this whole Newport team, are devotees of a particular hurling philosophy. They play a short, passing game, laden with off-the-ball running and off-the-shoulder movement. When it works, like it did last Saturday, it is truly impressive. But Minogue feels that much of the groundwork has already been laid at club level. The clubs of the surrounding region are adhering to a certain style, and that in turn is being reflected in this St. Mary’s side.
“We’ve tried to work on it all year in training - that open, passing game,” the manager added.
“But I have to credit the clubs. The work that Newport and Murroe are doing is sensational, and obviously the team is mainly based on that. But then you have Seán Treacys there as well, and Ballinahinch and Ahane supplying a few as well. So, it’s the style of hurling that the clubs are playing - it’s all about recycling the ball out, getting the best man on the ball, and getting them shooting for scores. We’re only feeding off what the clubs are doing.”
As for the future? Minogue feels the possibilities are limitless. There’s a new crop of younger players just emerging within the school, and they’ve now been inspired to go and claim glory for themselves. A whole new culture has been created in St. Mary’s, and the plan now is to build on this epic success.
“I think we have only one TY on the team, the rest are fifth and sixth years. But we have a great crop coming in again next year and the year after that. There are some serious players there and some serious teams coming through. So, we’re hoping to move up the ranks,” Minogue concluded.