The man who guided St. Patrick's, Maghera to the back-to-back Hogan Cups in 1989 and '90 is confident that the renowned Derry football nursery can repeat that feat on Saturday.

The reigning champions will attempt to become the first school to win consecutive Hogan Cups for a second time when they face the Eamon Fitzmaurice-managed Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne in Croke Park, and Adrian McGuckin is convinced they can emulate what his trailblazers achieved nearly a quarter of a century ago.

Reflecting on St. Pat's breakthrough success in 1989 in the Irish News, McGuckin said: "We had won the MacRory Cup a number of times at that stage and the Hogan had then become the big one.

"But we had a really good group of players in 1989, and they needed to be really good because we got pushed to the wire in some of the games. Everyone still talks about the MacRory Cup final that year, how good it was. James McCartan scored 3-2 (for St. Colman's, Newry) and still finished on the losing side.

"Eamon Burns put over a long-range free in the last minute for us to win by a point and that was the first time we had beaten St. Colman's in a MacRory final. That was a big result for us."

On the current St. Pat's team, McGuckin added: "I have really enjoyed their performances. They're playing great football. It has been said a few times this year that it will take a good team to beat them.

"I don't think they will be beaten." Tweet

Most Read Stories