Excitement is at fever pitch around Mallow as the boys of the Patrician Academy bid for their very first All-Ireland schools football title

Patrician Academy football manager Eoin O’Carroll will lead his charges out in this Saturday’s All Ireland C Football final to take on St Paul’s College, Oughterard full of confidence after his side picked up their first Simcox Cup (Cork PPS senior A football championship title) seeing off St Francis College Rochestown in Pairc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G pitch last week.

The north Cork school have been away from the sporting spotlight in recent years. However now, with one of the most talented school sides in the country at C Grade, the Mallow school is right back in the public consciousness and few could argue that they don’t deserve it.

The current squad sees a large number of players from the local Mallow club with a hugely impressive Kilshannig U21 side also well represented.

“We have been on a bit of a journey there in recent months and it is just going on and on. We have just one more hurdle to get over so long may it continue.” said O’Carroll, who is delighted to see a serious blend of talent in his team from the many of the local clubs.

“We are made up in the main by an extremely good Mallow team and an extremely good Kilshannig team, who were competing against each other in the minor championship recently - playing each other in the semi-final. There are eight Mallow boys, one from Castlemagner, Conor Corbett from Clyda Rovers and the remainder are Kilshannig lads.

The manager is impressed by the talent at his disposal but is even more thrilled at the application and dedication shown by all.

“We have an incredibly dedicated bunch with us on the panel. From a commitment point of view giving up our time isn’t an issue but for the players, who have an awful lot going on in their own lives, they have to come into training more often than not at seven or eight o’clock but we still always have 25 or 26 turning up every time.

“As a bunch of lads and young men I don’t think you will get any better than these lads in terms of commitment and their work ethic. They take all the advice you give on board so as a manager all I can say is that as a group of players they are just a special bunch.

“The success on the pitch has led to a tangible feel good factor around the school. The place is just buzzing and the closer we get to the game the better it is becoming.”

And, indeed, the future is also looking bright for sport at the Academy. “We are delighted with the standard of players that are coming through the system this year and in the coming years. We will lose half of the team this year but that is normal for this age group. We will have a strong panel staying on and then there will be opportunities for the younger boys to step up.

“Our 14s and 15s have been winning all round them recently so there is definitely strength coming through the ranks and that all bodes well for the future.”

This season’s successes will make it more difficult for the teams coming behind as the Academy will be graded up after this year’s exploits; however, the manager sees this as a positive.

“We will be graded up but this year is giving us an outstanding platform to build on, going forward, heightening the profile of the school and hopefully attracting more potential players.

“If anyone is looking at the Patrician Academy now from a sporting point of view, like many students and families do, then they would see us playing A Football with a possibility that we could end up playing Corn Uí Mhuiri (and that is the ambition, to play at that level) then the Academy is a much more attractive proposition.

“This whole journey has been made possible by a collective effort from players, coaches, teachers, families, those that have gone before and the principal, Elaine O’Regan. Elaine really has put a positive emphasis on the importance of sport in the school and that can be seen throughout a wide variety of sports with participation levels up significantly. There is credit due to all for this year; however the job isn’t done yet.”

Their opposition in the final have pedigree, some talented individuals. However, O’Carroll and his backroom team have their work done too and have identified where the significant threats are likely to come from.

“We know they are quite good. Kevin Walsh, the Galway manager, his son plays with them and Kevin is involved with the school in coaching so they will be well drilled. They came down to see our last game so they will know all about us as well.

“They have at least five very, very good players, with their full forward their main man. He is a bit of a goal machine, to be honest. Outside of those the rest seem to be strong, talented players, so we can’t take anything for granted.”

Managing player welfare through the competitions is part of management at this level and O’Carroll has been prudent with his selections of late.

“We didn’t play Conor McMahon of Kilshannig in the last game, he is probably one of our better players but he had a bit of a hamstring injury picked up at U21 championship the previous weekend. Eanna O’Hanlon (midfielder) he also picked up an injury (shoulder). He is quite sore so we will have to wait on him.”

O’Carroll is delighted to have achieved an All-Ireland final berth with his side but feels that his players aren’t getting the protection they deserved heading into one of the biggest games of their lives.

“How many of these lads will ever get to play in another All-Ireland final. It is a chance of a lifetime for most of them so I thought it might be a good idea to call off U21 games the weekend before the final. It is only one weekend. I think it is grossly unfair on the players but, sure, it is what it is.”

Derek O’Brien from Clyda is O’Carroll’s right-hand man and he deserves great credit for all the work he has put in. “There are many more that have gone above and beyond with special thanks to Alan Copps. Alan came in and helped us on the physio side recently and helped us out a lot. Alan is a former pupil and we are all very grateful for his help.

A big day for a big sporting school. All eyes will be on Claughaun GAA Club, Co Limerick on Saturday next to see if the Patrician Academy can get the honours that have eluded them for far too long. Throw-in at 1pm.