St Patrick’s College, Maghera
St Patrick’s College, Maghera is one of Ireland’s most celebrated schools in Gaelic games. The County Derry college has built an exceptional football tradition while also achieving major success in hurling and camogie, making its colours familiar far beyond the school grounds.
A South Derry College Founded in 1963
St Patrick’s opened in September 1963 as a bilateral school serving Maghera and the wider South Derry area. In 1978 it amalgamated with St Mary’s Secondary School, developing into the co-educational college known today.
Gaelic games became a major part of the school’s identity. Pupils drawn from clubs across Derry and neighbouring areas helped build teams capable of competing for Ulster and All-Ireland honours in football, hurling and camogie.
MacRory Cup Tradition
The MacRory Cup is Ulster Schools’ leading senior Gaelic-football competition. St Patrick’s Maghera won it for the first time in 1977 and became one of the competition’s defining schools, including four consecutive victories from 1982 to 1985.
Maghera secured its 17th MacRory Cup in 2025, defeating Abbey Vocational School by 0-12 to 2-5 at Celtic Park. The title was the school’s first outright success since 2016, following a shared championship with St Colman’s, Newry in 2020 when the replay could not be played.
Six Hogan Cup Triumphs
The Hogan Cup is the All-Ireland senior schools Gaelic-football championship. St Patrick’s Maghera have lifted the trophy six times: 1989, 1990, 1995, 2003, 2013 and 2025.
The sixth title arrived at Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day 2025. Maghera defeated St Colman’s College, Claremorris by 2-8 to 0-4, completing a MacRory and Hogan Cup double and adding another generation to the school’s football story.
Mageean Cup Champions Again
St Patrick’s is not solely a football school. Maghera emerged as an important Ulster schools hurling force during the 1980s and established a strong Mageean Cup record against leading schools from across the province.
In January 2026, St Patrick’s defeated holders Cross and Passion, Ballycastle by 4-13 to 1-12 to win the Ulster Schools Senior A hurling championship. The victory ended a wait stretching back to the school’s previous Mageean Cup success in 2017.
A School Team, Not a Local Club
St Patrick’s College, Maghera competes in schools competitions rather than the Derry club championships. Its players represent the college while continuing to belong to their own home clubs across the school’s catchment area.
This distinction matters when researching a jersey. A St Patrick’s Maghera shirt represents the school and its Gaelic-games programme; it is not a jersey belonging to a separate Maghera parish club.
Royal Blue and White
Royal blue and white are strongly associated with St Patrick’s College sportswear and Gaelic-games jerseys, with red or darker detailing appearing in some designs. The school crest provides the clearest link across changing football, hurling, camogie and PE ranges.
This FanFile covers the school rather than one particular jersey. Manufacturers, sponsors, patterns and colour balance can change, so check the crest, label, product code and design details on your own shirt when identifying its exact season or team.
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