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BT Football All Stars

Fri 29th Jan 2010

BT Football All Stars Launched today at 2pm.

2010 BT Ulster Colleges Football All Stars 

  1. Daniel McKinless (St Patrick’s College, Maghera)
  2. Ethan Toner (Abbey CBS, Newry)
  3. Sean Warnock (Omagh CBS)
  4. Christopher McGuinness (St Mary’s CBS, Belfast)
  5. Shea McGarrity (St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon)
  6. Paul Allen (St Louis Kilkeel)
  7.  Declan Lynch (St Mary’s CBS, Belfast)
  8. John Carron(St Pius X College, Magherafelt)
  9. Conán Grugan (Omagh CBS)
  10. Caolan Trainor (St Paul’s, Bessbrook)
  11. Daniel McKenna (St Macartan’s, Monaghan)
  12. Barry Reilly (Patrician Carrickmacross)
  13. Andrew Murnin (St Patrick’s, Armagh)
  14. Ross McGarry (St Colman’s, Newry)
  15. Conor McAliskey (St Patrick’s Academy, Dungannon )

 Colleges’ Football All-stars 1988 - 2010

 

School

Number of All-stars

 

St. Patrick’s, Maghera

43

 

Abbey CBS, Newry

42

 

St. Patrick’s, Armagh

38

 

St. Colman’s, Newry

32

 

St. Michael’s, Enniskillen

32

 

Omagh CBS

31

 

St. Patrick’s, Dungannon

22

 

St. MacCartan’s, Monaghan

18

 

St. Mary’s, Magherafelt

15

 

St. Patrick’s, Downpatrick

10

 

St. Louis, Kilkeel

9

 

Patrician High, Carrickmacross

6

 

St. Patrick’s, Keady

6

 

St. Columb’s, Derry

5

 

St. Mary’s CBS, Belfast

5

 

St. Eunan’s, Letterkenny

4

 

De La Salle Ballyshannon

3

 

Our Lady’s, Castleblaney

3

 

St. Michael’s, Lurgan

3

 

La Salle, Belfast

2

 

Loreto, Coleraine

2

 

Our Lady & St. Patrick’s, Knock

2

 

Rathmore Grammar, Belfast

2

 

St. Patrick’s, Cavan

2

 

St. Pius X, Magherafelt

2

Pobalscoil, Falcarragh

1

 

St Paul’s Bessbrook

1

 

St. Louis, Ballymena

1

 

St. MacNissi’s, Garron Tower

1

 

St. Malachy’s, Belfast

1

     

2009/10 Bank of Ireland Ulster Colleges’ football All-stars

Armagh’s Andrew Murnin, who was voted the Player of the match in the county’s All-Ireland minor title win in September, has also gained favour with the BT Ulster Colleges’ All-star selectors and was named at corner-forward when the team was launched at a reception hosted by BT in Lanyon Place yesterday.

The St Paul’s Lurgan clubman gave some outstanding performances throughout the Orchard County’s campaign that saw them bridge a 60 year gap to the history-making team of 1949.

And a fellow county man of Murnin’s – Killeavy’s Caolan Trainor – created his own piece of history by becoming the first Player from St Paul’s Bessbrook to pick up an All-star award.

St Paul’s are the 30th school to be recognised in this the 23rd year of the Awards’ scheme and this year’s team has a fairly wide sweep with no fewer than 12 schools in the mix, including midfielder John Carron’s selection only the second time that St Pius X Magherafelt has picked an award.

Andrew Murnin however is not the only All-Ireland minor medallist in the team announced – although there were no others from Armagh.

Omagh CBS full-back Sean Warnock was an All-Ireland winner with Tyrone in 2008, coincidentally beating Mayo, as Armagh did in the All-Ireland final.

Sean won his third successive BT MacCormack Cup title at the start of the month and is joined by his CBS team-mate Conán Grugan in a team that probably best reflects the spread of talent in the province at the moment.

Apart from the 12 different schools, 7 counties are represented, while 7 of the 8 quarter-finalists in the BT MacRory Cup have players in the line-up, with holders St Patrick’s Academy joining Omagh on two players – Cookstown half-back Shea McGarrity and Clonoe forward Conor McAliskey.

The other school with two players in the mix departed the MacRory in a play-off with the Academy, but there is huge significance in the St Mary’s Belfast award-winners.

Both Christopher McGuinness and Declan Lynch join an elite group of players who made both the hurling and football All-star teams in the same season.

In fact, Rossa clubman McGuinness is picking up his third award, having also claimed centre-half forward in the hurling 15 last season.

There are two survivors from last year’s football team and both represent Monaghan schools.  Barry Reilly from Patrician Carrickmacross and St Macartan’s Daniel McKenna were in the full-forward line last time and both now find themselves in the half-forwards.

Although Barry is representing a Monaghan school, he in fact plays his club football with Kingscourt Stars in Cavan and is a nephew of former Breffni and Ulster defender Jim Reilly.

Barry and two others – John McCarron  (St Pius X) and Paul Allen (St Louis Kilkeel) were keen observers of the BT MacLarnon Cup draw later in the afternoon, while Bessbrook’s Caolan Trainer’s tuned in to the BT O’Doherty Cup knock-out draw.

Speaking at the press conference, Seamus Meehan, Chairman of the Ulster Colleges’ Council, said:

"To achieve an Ulster Colleges’ All Star Award is to rightly earn a place in football’s hall of fame.  Many of the previous recipients have gone on to earn National All-stars and All-Ireland acclaim.”

“This year our team has a wide base in terms of schools, counties and clubs and the overall standard of player at the trials really challenged our selectors.  It reflects well on the coaching these young men have encountered at all levels in their formative years.”

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.”

“To achieve an All-Star award is to join an elite group of sporting individuals who have achieved the highest accolade in football.  Each recipient here today has demonstrated passion, skill and sportsmanship on the field.”

“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 Awards will officially be presented at a Gala Dinner in the New Year.

 2009/10 Football All Stars – pen pictures

  • Goalkeeper : Daniel McKinless

School  : St Patrick’s Maghera
Club : Ballinderry Shamrocks

Daniel has represented Derry at under 17 and Minor level and is hoping that St Patrick’s get a good draw for the MacRory Cup quarter-final later today.

With Ballinderry he has won under-age league and championship medals at all age-levels as well as an Ulster Minor club title last year.  He has also medals for Derry Óg Sport, Hughes/McElwee Cup and the Graham Cup.

 

  • Right Corner Back : Ethan Toner

School  : Abbey CBS
Club: St. John Bosco, Newry

Ethan has represented Abbey at all levels with a runners-up medal in the BT Nannery Cup.

At club level he has won several under-age league titles and an under 12 championship.  He was captain of the Under 16 league winning team.  He has been in Down Under-age Development Squads at various age-groups up to under 17.

Ethan’s sporting CV also includes Cross country and tennis and he has won back to back tennis championships for the Abbey.

 

  • Full-back: Sean Warnock

School : Omagh CBS

Club : Greencastle St Patrick’s
Sean has been a winner with his school in the following BT Colleges’ competitions : Year 8 Shield, Nannery, Dalton, Corn na nÓg, Brock and Rannafast Cups and earlier this month won his third successive MacCormack Cup medal.

Last year he was on the Tyrone team that won the All-Ireland Minor title having come up through the under-age Development structure.

With Greencastle, he is already a club senior with a Frank O’Neill Cup medal for this year’s senior league, 2 under 21 championships and an under 14 league and championship.

 

  • Left Corner Back: Christopher McGuinness

School  : St. Mary’s Belfast
Club: O’Donovan Rossa, Belfast

Christopher is a dual All-star for this year and picks up his third award, having been selected as hurling centre-half forward last season.  He 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.

 

  • Right-half back : Shea McGarrity

School  : St Patrick’s Dungannon
Club: Cookstown Fr Rock’s

Shea has had a successful career with his school picking up medals at BT Corn na nÓg, Rannafast and MacRory Cup levels and was in the 2009 Tyrone minor team.

After winning Tyrone league medals at Under 13, 14 and 16 levels, Shea has progressed to his club senior team and in 2009, Fr Rock’s collected the county Intermediate league and championship and continued through to claim the Ulster Intermediate title.

He is hoping to avoid a clash of fixtures between the Academy’s defence of the MacRory Cup and his club’s All-Ireland bid in the New Year.

 

  • Centre-half back : Paul Allen

School  : St Louis Kilkeel
Club: An Ríocht
Paul is St Louis Kilkeel’s MacLarnon Cup captain, having winning an O’Doherty Cup medal last year and represented Down at minor level.

With An Ríocht, he has under-age county league and championship titles at several age-groups as well as a Down under 20 B Championship in 2008.  This year he was a member of the Senior team that won the Down Division 2 league.

Paul has also captained his club to the County under 14 B hurling League and has under-age awards for golf.

 

  • Left-half back : Declan Lynch

School : St. Mary’s Belfast

Club : Lámh Dhearg

Declan is our second dual All-star having collected a hurling award at midfield a fortnight ago.  He has collected hurling medals with his school at all levels up to and including Mageean Cup and has been in teams that reached several football finals and won BT Corn Cholmchille.

He has 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 : John Carron

School  : St Pius X Magherafelt
Club: Erin’s Own Cargin

John has represented his school at all age-levels and in 2009 won MacLarnon Cup and All-Ireland B championship medals.

He has represented Antrim through the under-age Development Squads and was a Saffron Minor in 2009.

John has also a successful haul of medals with his club, including a county Senior League, County Reserve Championship, O’Cahan Cup, Minor championship runner-up, and County U16 and U14 medals.

He has represented his school in Basketball and soccer.

 

  • Midfield : Conán Grugan

School  : Omagh CBS

Club : Omagh St. Enda’s

Conán earlier this month won his second BT MacCormack Cup medal to put alongside souvenirs from the Year 8, Dalton, Corn na nÓg and Brock Cups.

He was an All-Ireland  Skills champion in 2006 and with St Enda’s club, he has medals for the under 13 Feile, under 14 League and Championship, under 15 Ulster Og Sport, 3 under 16 Championships and Leagues, 2 Minor league and Championships as well as an under 21 Championship.
His other sporting interest is Basketball and he plays with Omagh Thunder.

 

  • Right-half forward : Caolan Trainor

School : St. Paul’s Bessbrook

Club: Killeavey

Caolan is the first player from his school to win a Colleges’ All-star.  He has won Armagh Vocational schools’ medals at both under 14 and 16 levels and runner-up medals at Ulster level in both age-groups.

With Killeavey he has won an Under 16 league and championship and an Armagh Minor league medals.

Caolan is also a keen soccer player and plays at Mid Ulster Cup level with Windmill Stars.

 

  • Centre-half forward : Daniel McKenna

School : St Macartan’s Monaghan
Club: Gaeil Thriuch.

Daniel helped St Macartan’s reach the BT Dalton Cup final in his first year in the Sem.  Since then he has captured the county under 14 and under 16 championships with Truagh and also a minor league title and a runners-up medal for the under 16 league.  He was in the Monaghan under 16 Development squad.

A Monaghan minor for 2 years, he played in the 2008 Ulster final., and he has provincial titles at under 15 and under 16 level for Handball and plays Senior hurling for his club

 

  • Left half forward : Barry Reilly

School : Patrician High Carrickmacross

Club : Kingscourt Stars

This is Barry’s second All-star, having been named full-forward last year.  He is a former winner of the National Bank of Ireland Junior and then Senior sportsperson of the Year awards.  He has played at under 16 and minor level for Cavan, captaining the minors in 2009 and is currently in the under 21 panel.  With Kingscourt Stars he has picked up county medals at under 13, 14 and under 16 levels, captaining the under 14s to league and championship and won a Senior league medal this year.

Barry is a nephew of former Cavan star Jim Reilly.

 

  • Right-corner forward : Andrew Murnin

School : St Patrick’s Armagh

Club : St Paul’s Lurgan

Andrew was a key member of the Armagh minor side that won Ulster and All-Ireland medals this year, putting in a Player of the Match performance in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park.

He has represented his school at all levels and is looking forward to the MacRory Cup draw later this afternoon.

 

  • Full forward : Ross McGarry

School: St Colman’s Newry

Club : St Peter’s Warrenpoint

Ross holds a Rannafast Cup medal and is playing his third MacRory Cup campaign.  He has also played for three seasons with the Down Minor team, captaining them in 2009 to the All-Ireland semi-final.

With St Peter’s he holds medals for the Down Division 2 league, south Down minor league and minor championship runners-up.

Ross has represented club and school in all levels of hurling winning a Down under 16 championship medal.  He is a Down under 15 handball champion and plays off a handicap of 6 in golf.

 

  • Left-corner forward :  Conor McAliskey

School : St Patrick’s Dungannon
Club: Clonoe O’Rahilly’s

Conor has represented the Academy at all levels and was a member of the squad that collected the MacRory Cup title last St Patrick’s Day.

He has been a key member of this year’s team that secured a place in the MacRory quarter-final draw with a play-off victory against St Mary’s Belfast earlier this month.

 

 

Submitted by: Mark Grogan