Congratulations to Daryl who captained his school team to the Derry Vocational Schools Under 16 title. St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's College Claudy defeating last years All Ireland winners St. Paul's Kilrea in the final by six points, which in it's self was a remarkable achievement.

This title tops off a outstanding year for Daryl at Under Age Level. He helped his club team St. Patrick's win and under 16 League title whilst also getting to the final of the Minor Championship and Carlin Duffy finals.

DerryPost Match report

There were euphoric scenes at the final whistle in the hugely competitive Under 16 decider at O'Brien Park, Claudy's six point win over defending All Ireland champions Kilrea bridging a fifteen year gap to their last Vocational School's success.

Kilrea fielded three players Dominic Mullan at full back, Joe Morgan at centre half back and Enda McFerran at full forward from last year's successful team but they were unable to inspire the St. Paul's fifteen to a three in a row county success.

The first half was played in truly awful conditions, the torrential rain, swirling wind and heavy underfoot conditions making it very difficult for the young players to play open football.

Yet for twenty minutes they produced a titanic struggle as the game flowed from end to end, Enda McFerran putting Kilrea ahead from a free on two minutes, James mc Clay then levelling from a placed ball in the forth minute.

With Jack Mc Conmey and Daryl Mullan outstanding in the central defensive positions, and Dominic Mullan and Joe Morgan equally competitive for Kilrea, scores where at a premium. Kilrea captain Conor Mc Kenna ran through to put his side 0-02 to 0-01 ahead after twelve minutes, but Blaine Carlin equalised a minute later.

Five minutes from half time the deadlock was broken when Blane Carlin put the outstanding Ryan Moore through on goal and he showed great composure by rounding the advancing keeper and planting the ball in the net.

Carlin and Mc Kenna exchanged points from frees and then in the last minute of the half. Stephen Bryson sent Moore racing through to blast the ball to the net off the underside of the bar for a 2-03 to 0-03 interval lead.

The second half was only a couple of minutes old when Joe Morgan received a straight red card and rightly so when he struck Ryan Moore with his elbow.

Kilrea did respond to this setback with a tremendous goal from Hugh Henry on seven minutes after keeper Ciaran McCloskey had initially pulled off a point blank save, but that was their only score of the second period.

With the central players taking control Claudy hit back with points from Moore after nine minutes and Conan O'Kane two minutes later. Kilrea battled hard to the end but there was no way through the rock solid Claudy defence and a Stephen Bryson point two minutes from time sealed a memorable victory.

After the game delighted coach Liam Mc Elhinney a former Dungiven and Derry player said " we asked our major players to be leaders out there today, and I told them that this was a day when boys become men and those players stood up today and where counted. And I mean from number one to fifteen. They where tremendous throughout".

I suggested that the spine of the Claudy team had put in a tremendous fifty minutes and he concurred, "number fourteen Ryan Moore is a very special player as you well know, Blaine Carlin, Kevin King, Stephen Bryson; Daryl Mullan and Jack Mc Conmey from Slaughtmanus, those players stood out this afternoon as leaders".

He told me, "we have been working hard towards this game for the last three months, since the first week in September over Halloween and various weekends. We wanted this win so badly as there hasn't been a champion success in Claudy school for fifteen years. I knew from the outset that I had the right batch of lads, that they were developing as a team and that we could lift the title".

It was suggested that goals were always going to play a huge part in the prevailing conditions. The Claudy coach agreed, 'Goals were always going to be vitally important in the prevailing conditions, especially the one we scored before half time that gave us a six point cushion. It really settled the players and got us focused at half time.. All the right things were said to the players at half time in relation to preparation, focus and attitude for the second period."

He concluded, "There was only one team in the game after they scored their goal. It did not knock them off their stride. They were totally focused on what they had to do, as they have been all year. They are a fine bunch of lads. This year we have had 25 players at every training session, two nights a week and sometimes at weekends. I would like to thank the players' clubs for the tremendous support that we have received throughout the campaign."

Just before the presentation the coach of St. Paul's College, Kilrea, and secretary of the Derry Vocational Schools Committee, Micky Boyle told the delighted Claudy players who had just dethroned the reigning Derry, Ulster and All Ireland Champions, "We battled all the way to the end but today a better team beat us. I just want to congratulate Claudy on winning this Under 16 Vocational title. This is the one every team wants to win. Today is your day enjoy every moment of it. You were the better team. Welldone."

Eamon McSorley of sponsors Ulster Bank presented the Derry Vocational Schools Cup to St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's College, Captain Daryl Mullan amidst public euphoric scenes at O'Brien Park, Foreglen.

St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's College, Claudy
Ciaran McCloskey; Rory O'Kane, Jack McConmey, Cory Armstrong; Conan O'Kane (0-01), Daryl Mullan (Captain), Callum Devine; Kevin King, Stephen Bryson (0-01); Lochlainn Ferguson, Blaine Carlin (0-02) (0-01f), Sean McConologue; James McClay, Ryan Moore (2-01) (0-01f), Shane Cambpell

Subs
Odhran McFeeley for Shane Campbell, Michael McGroarty for James McClay