Tradition and excellence are a potent mix

The next generation has answered the call.

St. Nathy’s College are back in an All-Ireland final, which has captured the hearts and minds of supporters from across Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo. Schools’ football offers the unique opportunity for players to compete alongside those they would normally be pitched into battle against.

Given St. Nathy’s geographical location, this opportunity is more pronounced. Having players from three counties come together and being able to line out alongside each other is the very essence of schools’ football.

It is a wonderful and unique opportunity but also a snapshot into what makes St. Nathy’s special. For a start, there are no egos. As the players and mentors stood together for photos and mingled at the school’s press afternoon on Friday last, there was a joy and sense of fun permeating through the squad.

But this is the way it has always been for St. Nathy’s.

Success breeds success and the Ballaghaderreen-based school have enjoyed no shortage of that. Claiming the All-Ireland Senior B title under the stewardship of the late John O’Mahony at the turn of the century was historic. Even though they came up short in 2018, the belief within the school never wavered.

Further success was coming. It would just take time. Connacht Senior B final defeats in 2020 and 2022 stung but that latter year would prove pivotal for this current crop of players.

In 2022, this cohort guided St. Nathy’s to the Connacht Juvenile B title. They wanted more. A pact was formed between players to complete Transition Year together, so they could give themselves every chance of securing Connacht senior glory.

Infused with Leaving Certificate students who have passed every test posed to them, there is a belief that permeates through the squad. Their own excellence gives them a healthy confidence that they can mix it with the best.

When speaking on the Laochra Gael programme that was dedicated to himself back in January, Galway’s three-time All-Ireland winning manager Cyril Farrell always felt the county’s hurlers could compete with the best.

It wasn’t a case of finding talent. It was a case of finding belief within the group. This became obvious less than 90 seconds into the popular TG4 show when he stated: “West of Ireland people, if they are very good at something, they nearly apologise for it. We have as much right to win as anyone. But you have to believe that.” 

The Ballaghaderreen-based school will never apologise, nor should they, for having a side who are capable of competing with the best. St. Nathy’s, no doubt, held a steadfast belief that they deserved to lift the Hogan Cup in 1957. It is a belief that has been passed from team to team, generation to generation.

It was the same belief that was passed from Fr. Tom Lynch, who guided the school to that historic Hogan Cup in 1957 to John O’Mahony, who masterminded the All-Ireland Senior B success in 2000. Ronan Brett, Colm Maye and Fr. Paul Kivlehan have instilled that same belief into their players.

After St. Nathy’s beat Lucan CBS in the All-Ireland Senior B semi-final in 2018, the first phone call that Fr. Paul received came from ‘Johnno.’ History matters. Community matters even more.

For this current crop, they face a very tricky assignment against a Cnoc Mhuire Granard outfit that have shot the lights out in recent games. The North Longford school are backboned by the county’s provincial minor winners in 2024.

But St. Nathy’s have every right to approach this game with confidence. Their supporters will turn out in force, as they have done all season, while they possess players who excel on the big stage.

After all, tradition and excellence are a potent mix — one St. Nathy’s have brewed through generations.

Verdict: St. Nathy’s