Four members of the Antrim minor team that collected the provincial title in July picked up their second Ulster Colleges' Hurling All-stars yesterday in the team announced at the Headquarters of new sponsor BT in Lanyon Place Belfast. However that achievement was overshadowed by the first ever award for a student at St Patrick's Academy Dungannon! The Academy has seen 20 footballers honoured in the 23 years of the All-star scheme, but Sean Kelly, a member of the Brocagh Emmett's club, is the first hurler to gain the award. Appropriately enough the Academy become the 23rd school recognised in the scheme. Sean plays his hurling with Naomh Colm Cille, a combination team coming >from several GAA clubs in the Coalisland area. They recently captured the Ulster Junior title with a win over Rasharkin in the final at Casement Park at Halloween. The BT Mageean Cup final was played at the same venue in the same week and resulted in an emphatic win for Cross & Passion Ballycastle over St Mary's Belfast. It is no surprise that 7 players in that final caught the eye of the selectors, although a 4/3 breakdown in St Mary's favour was unexpected. Two players from each school gain their second awards. Winning Mageean captain Matthew Donnelly, a son of former Antrim legend Brian, retains the full-back jersey and equals the feat of brother Ryan who won All-stars in 2005 and 2006. Last year's winning captain Conor Laverty moves from half-forward to midfield, while 2008 centre-forward Christopher McGuinness is now the centre-half back. Conor McClelland is also a second time recipient, this time at half-back. Rossa man McGuinness will face Ballinascreen in the Ulster minor final this Sunday and the club got a real boost ahead of the game with three more players making the All-star line-out goalie Philip Crean (Rathmore Grammar), corner-back Ciaran Orchin (St Mary's) and centre-forward Stephen Beatty (La Salle). Overall the team features 12 players from Antrim schools with Dungannon's Sean Kelly and St Patrick's Armagh pair Paddy Heaney and Conor McNally making up the other 3 positions. Heaney has played soccer at under-age level for Northern Ireland and there are two other forwards who also play at a significant level. Conal Queenie McMahon is in the Ballymoney Utd squad, while up the road in Limavady, manager Oran Donnelly is using the talents of Cross & Passion's Stephen Jennings. Oran, along with former Derry footballer Joe Cassidy, is also Stephen's hurling coach in school. The team also includes a finalist in the Junior chess master championship, a cross-country runner who has represented his school at provincial level, and a rugby player with Armoy RFC. Seamus Meehan, Chairman of the Ulster Colleges' Council, congratulated the recipients. "To achieve an Ulster Colleges All Star Award is to rightly earn a place in hurling's hall of fame. These awards recognise and reward these talented players' commitment and endeavour on the hurling field." Commenting Peter Morris, Consumer Director at BT said: The All-Stars is a fantastic initiative that BT is now proud to be part of under our renewed sponsorship of the Ulster Colleges GAA. On behalf of BT, I would like to congratulate the 15 outstanding players we are honouring. High performance and the creation of high performing teams is something very dear to our hearts in BT as we strive to be number one for customer service. Commitment, hard work and dedication are the cornerstones of any star performer and I'm delighted that we're here today to recognise those players at the top of their game. The Hurling awards will officially be presented at a Gala Dinner in the New Year, while the BT Ulster Colleges' Football All-Stars will be announced on December 21st. 2009/10 BT Ulster Colleges' Hurling All Stars 1. Philip Crean (Rathmore Grammar) 2. Ciarán Orchin (St Mary's CBS) 3. Matthew Donnelly (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle) 4. Dan Kinney (St MacNissi's, Garrontower) 5. Sean Kelly (St Patrick's Dungannon) 6. Christopher McGuinness (St Mary's CBS) 7. Conor McClelland (St Mary's CBS) 8. Declan Lynch (St Mary's CBS) 9. Conor Laverty (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle) 10. Paddy Heaney (St Patrick's Armagh) 11. Stephen Beatty (La Salle College, Belfast) 12. Conal McMahon (St Louis Ballymena) 13. Conor McNally (St Patrick's Armagh) 14. Shane Jennings (Cross & Passion, Ballycastle) 15. Donal McKinley (St Louis Ballymena) Player Profiles : Goalkeeper : Philip Crean School : Rathmore Grammar Club: O'Donovan Rossa Philip has represented his school at all levels. He has been in Antrim Under-age Development Squads at various age-groups and represented his province in the Under 16 Shinty International in 2008. With Rossa he has collected a range of medals South West Antrim Shield and Féile na nGael, U16 South West Antrim Shield, Antrim Minor and U21 Championships. Right Corner Back : Ciarán Orchin School : St Mary's CBS Club : O'Donovan Rossa Ciarán has collected Ulster Colleges' medals for the BT MacNamee, Br Leonard and Foresters' Cups and was an Antrim Year 12 All-star With Rossa, he has medals for the Nipper Quinn, South Antrim U14, U16 championships, Antrim minor and Under 21 championships. A keen footballer and handballer, Ciarán holds county handball titles at the following levels Under 14 singles, Under 15 doubles and Under 17 singles. He has also a provincial medal for the under 15 doubles. Full-back : Matthew Donnelly School : Cross & Passion, Ballycastle Club : McQuillan's Ballycastle Matthew wins his second successive award at full-back. He has won Ulster Colleges' hurling medals at every level, including 2 for the Mageean Cup, the last as captain in October. He was also at full-back on the Cross & Passion team that won their first All-Ireland O'Keefe Cup title last April and he captained his school to the BT Foresters' Cup in 2008. At club level, he has won a host of under-age medals, and captained his county at both under 15 and under 16 level. He won an Ulster Minor medal with Antrim last year and also captained Ulster in the 2008 Shinty International. He is a member of the Ulster elite Development Squad and was Moyle Young Sportsperson of 2008. He is a son of former Antrim and Ulster hurler Brian and he equals the achievement of his brother Ryan who won two Colleges' All-stars in 2005 and 2006. Left Corner Back : Dan Kinney School : St MacNissi's College, Garron Tower Club : Ruairí Óg, Cushendall Dan has represented his school at all levels in hurling including captaining this year's Seniors that have reached the BT Casement Cup final. He was also a Year 12 Antrim All-Star in 2009. At club level, he has collected medals for the U12 Championship, U-16 North Antrim Shield, Darragh Cup, and a Feis Minor Sevens. He has represented St MacNissi's in football, soccer and Cross Country, winning medals in the latter discipline at NEBSSA and Ulster level. Right-half back : Sean Kelly School : St Patrick's Dungannon Club: Naomh Colum Cille / Brocagh Emmett's Sean is the first player from St Patrick's Academy to be awarded a Colleges' hurling All-star. It completes a momentous year for Sean as he collected Tyrone and Ulster Junior medals with his club Naomh Colum Cille in the autumn and an All-Ireland Minor C title with his county in July. He also holds an Ulster Féile na nGael Div 3, and Tyrone minor league and U16 championship medals, as well as a L'Estrange Shield medal with his school. He plays football for Brocagh and won a Tyrone under 16 league medal in 2008. Centre-half back : Christopher McGuinness School : St. Mary's Belfast Club: O'Donovan Rossa, Belfast Christopher is winning his second All-star, having been selected at centre-half forward last season. He is a dual player and has collected Ulster Colleges' medals at BT MacNamee, Gallagher, Corn Colmchille, Treanor and Foresters' Cup level as well as Mageean and MacLarnon Cups two seasons ago. At club level, he has won 3 under 12 hurling, 2 under 14 and under 16 hurling medals at south Antrim level as well as under 16 and Minor football and hurling medals. He was also on the Rossa side that recently won the under 21 hurling title. With Antrim, he won an All-Ireland under 14 hurling medal and under 16 and 2 Ulster minor league and championship medals. Christopher was also a finalist in the Junior Chess Masters' championship 2006. Left-half back : Conor McClelland School : St. Mary's Belfast Club : Gortnamona Conor has collected medals with his school at all levels and was Player of the Match in a Mageean Cup final. This is his second All-star as he made the team two seasons ago at full-back. He has represented Antrim through under-age teams and holds 2 Ulster Minor league and championship medals, while with Gortnamona he has 2 Antrim and Ulster Intermediate championships, an Ulster league Division 2 and an Antrim under 16 championship. He has won football medals for Antrim under 14 and under 16 championships. Midfield : Declan Lynch School : St. Mary's Belfast Club : Lámh Dhearg Declan has collected medals with his school at all levels up to and including Mageean Cup. He has also represented St Mary's in football reaching several finals and winning BT Corn Cholmchille. He has also represented Antrim at minor level in football and holds a Tony Forrestal Cup hurling medal. With Lámh Dhearg he has won medals for the Ulster senior hurling league, Under 16 league and championship, minor and senior football leagues, and the reserve hurling championship. Midfield : Conor Laverty School : Cross & Passion, Ballycastle Club: St Brigid's Cloughmills / St Brendan's This is Conor's second successive All-star having been selected at left-half forward last year. Conor was Cross & Passion's successful Mageean and O'Keefe Cup captain last season, adding a second medal in October and he also holds medals at BT Thompson, Gallagher (2) and Foresters' Cup levels. He played midfield for Antrim minors when they won the Ulster title in June and has been a member of Antrim Development squads, the under 16 Ulster team and the Ulster Elite Development squad. He was Player of the Tournament for the north Antrim under 12 Indoor league and won a McAuley Cup medal with his club senior team. Right-half forward : Paddy Heaney School : St. Patrick's Armagh Club : Armagh Cúchulainn's / Pearse Óg Paddy has won BT McGreevy and McFarland Cup medals with his school and helped them qualify for the BT Casement Cup final this year. He will then have played in four successive Casement Cup finals. With Cúchulainn's he has won medals for the U12 and U14 championships and was 2009 Armagh Minor Player of the Year. He also picked up a senior championship medal in football with Pearse Ogs this autumn. He has 4 Northern Ireland soccer caps and has twice represented Armagh in the Milk Cup competition. Centre-half forward : Stephen Beatty School : De La Salle College, Belfast Club: O'Donovan Rossa, Belfast Stephen has represented his school at all levels winning a Year 8 blitz title. With Rossa, he has collected 2 medals each at U14 and U 16 South Antrim Championship levels, minor and under 21 hurling and minor football championship levels as well as an Ulster Senior league. He also holds a number of under-age league medals. Stephen has also represented Antrim at minor level winning Ulster Minor league and championship medals. Left-half forward : Conal McMahon School : St Louis Ballymena Club: Loughgiel Shamrocks Conal has represented his school at all levels in hurling and football winning a BT Foresters' Cup medal 3 seasons ago. He was also a Year 12 Antrim All-star At club level, he has picked up 2 Antrim Féile na nGael medals, 2 McMullan Cups, 2 Darragh Cup, 2 Antrim U16 and 1 Antrim minor championship medals. He has represented Antrim at U14 and U16 level and currently plays soccer with Ballymoney United FC and has been on trial with Reading and Luton Town. Right-corner forward : Conor McNally School : St Patrick's Armagh Club: Derrynoose Conor has represented his school at all levels in football and hurling and is currently in the MacRory Cup squad. He has won 2 BT McGreevy Cups and a BT McFarland Cup with St Patrick's. He has played both sports at under-age level with Armagh and with Derrynoose he holds medals for the U14 Championship and Féile na nGael. He also came fourth in the All-Ireland Féile na nGael Skills' Competition. Full-forward : Shane Jennings School : Cross & Passion, Ballycastle Club : McQuillan's Ballycastle Shane has collected Ulster Colleges' hurling medals at all levels, including 2 BT Mageean Cups and he was a member of the school team that collected the O'Keefe Cup All-Ireland title for the first time in April. He has won a Tony Forrestal Medal with his county and Under 14 league, Shield and Cup medals as well as McMullan Cup and Under 16 League and Championship medals with McQuillan's. Shane is a son of former Antrim hurler Paul Jennings and he has captained Antrim in the Milk Cup and currently plays soccer with Limavady Utd in the Irish league. Left-corner forward : Dónal McKinley School : St. Louis Ballymena Club : Loughgiel Shamrocks Dónal has represented his school at all levels in hurling and football winning a BT Foresters' Cup medal 3 seasons ago. He was also a Year 12 Antrim All-star At club level, he has picked up 2 Antrim Féile na nGael medals, 2 McMullan Cups, 2 Darragh Cup, 2 Antrim U16 and 1 Antrim minor championship medals. He has represented Antrim at U14, U16 and minor level, winning provincial league and championship medals in 2009. Dónal plays rugby for Armoy and is a brother of Ciaran who collected an All-star in defence two seasons ago. Submitted by Séamas McAleenan, Ulster Colleges' Tweet

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