Ulster School's Cup Final 2018

ARTICLE BY ROD NAWN FREELANCE JOURNALIST AND SPORTS ENTHUSIAST @RODNAWN1

BBC television audience - on a day when school sport is celebrated across many codes are not unfamiliar with the descending on ‘HQ’ for the Final. The Royal School Armagh was the first name etched on the original shield 142 years ago, and nine times it has been carried high back to the Orchard County. The thrilling rugby of both sides in the semi-final two weeks ago holds out the promise of some expansive attacking play this afternoon. That RBAI sought and fought so bravely for a fourth successive success only to concede to the ‘out-of-towners’ provided a match which summed up much about the Schools’ Cup and the joy it can create, the pride it has in its players, spectators and institutions. Campbell College’s short trips to Kingspan have been more frequent perhaps, and it is rightly proud of the 27 times the Cup has been lifted by the young men in black. Today, John McKee has the privilege of leading the side out, a team and a squad guided by that most impressive of former Irish No.8s Brian Robinson, assisted by Neil Doak, making a swift return to familiar surroundings. His time as a player and then during his spell as Ulster’s Head Coach were marked by an instinct for attack and for players to show initiative, qualities on show in spades in the intriguing and tactically compelling defeat of Methodist College in the first semi-final a fortnight ago. In the nearby dugout Doak – who is deservedly returning to the top of the professional game with Worcester next season – will be one of his former players. Willie Faloon was a flanker for Ulster to whom the adjective teak-tough could have been invented, and athlete whose career was blighted at critical times by injury. He has taken to his coaching duties at the school which provided him with one of his great sporting moments as a young man. Against, coincidentally, Campbell College he was a key part of a splendid Armagh team which won the 2004 Final. His skipper this afternoon is hooker Jack Treanor, a mobile, hardworking forward who leads by

robust example. Like his counterpart McKee he is very aware that though the players carry the hopes, expectations and real affection of their supporters they must focus on 70 potentially gruelling minutes when the all-round skills and collective adaptability of each team will be thoroughly examined. In 2004 a red-haired back-rower with a magnificently combative skillset walked up to raise the Danske Ulster Schools’ Cup aloft, ending a 27-year drought. The ebullient John McCall’s place in Final history is writ large because of his deeds on the pitch that day and his carriage off it. Only ten days later John died, struck so cruelly down by an undetected heart condition while wearing the green of Ireland in the Under 19 World Cup in South Africa. On a day when everyone, of all ages and genders, always celebrate the game of rugby it won’t be surprising if thoughts, at times, turn smilingly to John.

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