St Brendan's, Killarney will learn the identity of their Hogan Cup final opponents when MacRory Cup winners St Pat's Maghera play the Connacht champions Summerhill College this Wednesday.

St Pat’s will go into that semi-final on the crest of a wave after they became MacRory Cup champions for the 15th time in their rich history. Their win gave Derry starlet Conor Glass his third medal at this level, an incredible feat.

Glass' side simply had too much energy and physicality for their opponents St Paul’s Bessbrook in the St Patrick's Day decider at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

They were home and dry at the break following a lightening start that saw three goals in the first twelve minutes. That paved the way for another win even if St Paul’s, who trailed them 4-4 to 0-5 at the break.

Indeed such was their fightback that St Pat's goalie Sean Ó Caiside had to make a sublime save to keep Ryan McSherry's goal-bound effort out with 10 minutes on the clock. Had that gone in the lead would have been down to three points.

That save sealed the win and Maghera had Conall Darragh to slot home a penalty in added time. Now they have to turn their attention to Summerhill from Sligo. Still, their joint manager Paul Hughes was intent on enjoying their latest win first.

“You never get tired of winning the MacRory Cup, especially in perfect conditions like today,” said Hughes. “MacRory football is a special competition simply because of the bond that there is among the players and the whole school.

"We had asked the lads to start with intensity but we couldn’t have dreamed of the beginning that we got. If you tracked our games through the knockout stages we were poor starters and that was something that we had to address.

"In a couple of challenge games we developed a great intensity. We told the lads that today wasn’t about the fact that we were playing Bessbrook it was all about what they could bring to the game."

Meanwhile three-time MacRory winner Conor Glass was buoyant after the display.

"Memories are made of this," said Glass. "It means so much to me. I never thought I would get a third medal so this is a real bonus. But most importantly, it is a triumph for the team, an achievement that we can all share in.

"I am looking forward to going to the Hawthorn club but my involvement with St Patrick's and the Glen club will stay with me forever. I have enjoyed every minute that I have played with both teams. We can now turn our attention to the Hogan Cup and that will be a fresh challenge but this gives us more encouragement."

St Paul’s can look at the displays of Niall Magennis and team captain Jarlath Óg Burns for comfort but they will be annoyed that it took them so long to settle.

It was only when Bessbrook had nothing to lose that they threw caution to the wind, but ultimately it proved to be too late. On a day when Shane McGuigan kicked an exceptional 2-4, and Glass brought the curtain down on his Ulster Colleges’ career when lifting the MacRory Cup a third time, the challenge is now to make a third Hogan final also.

Meanwhile, the Masita GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Drummond Cup (SF 'B) semi-final will also take place on Wednesday and that features Holy Rosemary College Mountbellew and Patrician High School, Carrickmacross.

Carrickmacross came out on top with a bit to spare having won 2-15 - 0-13 over Peter Canavan's Cookstown side in the MacLarnon Cup which they won for the first time since 1998 with an impressive performance in last Thursday’s final. Their captain David Garland hit 1-8 (all but a point from play) to inspire the High School to a deserved win.

An Andrew Woods goal helped Patrician open up a 1-7 to 0-3 lead by the 20-minute mark and although Holy Trinity rallied to hit five of the next six points, Garland’s major on 38 minutes swung the game back in the Monaghan side’s favour and they went on to win with eight to spare to keep the title in the county and atone for last year’s final defeat against Our Lady’s, Castleblayney.

Patrician are spearheaded by a combination of returning players from last year’s side and others promoted from their Rannafast Cup-winning team. David Garland, Allan Kieran, Ronan McDonald and Fergal Hanratty are among the main men for the High School.

Holy Trinity had Tyrone Under-21 star David Mulgrew in their ranks, while Conan McLernon, Tomás Carney and prolific goal-scorer Paul Donnelly also played key roles through the season.

"It's altogether different from 12 months ago when we were devastated to have lost," Patrician manager Lorcan Keenan said after the game.

"We probably should have been further in front at half-time, but that has been the story throughout the campaign. But look, I'm delighted for the boys because they have worked hard for this and deserve it."

On Garland's massive contribution, Keenan said: "That's why he is captain. I said to him before he went out that big perform on big days and he certainly did that and I'm delighted for him."

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