Schools meet tomorrow in Walter Burke Memorial

Traditional city rivals St Mary's and St Joseph's colleges compete for the Walter Burke Memorial Cup tomorrow in St Mary's at 1.30pm.

This is the second staging of the match which the Bish won last year on a 3-2 scoreline. Walter Burke had retired in late 2009 after a career spanning 40 years during which he was instrumental in introducing and developing soccer in Mary's. Sadly, Walter passed away Christmas 2010, following a short illness.

With Walter’s help, soccer was first played officially in the college in the early seventies and, from humble beginnings on a converted Gaelic pitch, money was raised to buy a set of goal posts. With help from a set of jerseys donated by the past pupils union, soccer was established.

St Mary's played their first competitive match in 1971 against the Bish and nine years later the school made its first major breakthrough when Mary’s captured the Connacht senior championship for the first time.

Since then Mary’s have been a major force in the province, while also winning four Irish senior cups and two junior cups in recent years.

Any former students who played on teams managed by Walter Burke during their time in St Mary's are welcome to attend the game.