MARCH 2016 WINNER- SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMÁL, AN BHLARNA

MARCH 2016 WINNER

SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMÁL,

AN BHLARNA

Winners of Munster and All-Ireland Post Primary Under 18½C Hurling Titles

The March winners of the Rebel Óg Monthly Awards for 2016 sponsored by the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, Cummins Sports (Award Sponsors) with RedFM and Irish Examiner Media Partners are SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMÁL Blarney Hurlers. They follow the January and February 2016 winners Kilmurry Footballers and Buttevant Underage GAA Club plus 2015 winners, Ahán Gaels, Midleton U15 Footballers, Cork’s Eimear Scally, Aghabullogue U16 Hurlers, Cork U15 Development Squad, Douglas U14 Footballers, St. Finbarrs U14 Hurlers, Christian Brothers Cork, Coláiste Chríost Rí, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh (Camogie) Sacred Heart Clonakilty (Camogie) and Ilen Rovers.

SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMÁL

The Scoil Mhuire gan Smál team reached the All-Ireland final this year having achieved success in Munster for the first time. They defeated Coachford CC in the Munster final on a scoreline of 2-12 to 0-11. Goals from Michael John Shine and David Donovan in either half proved crucial. Blarney played well in the first half and this was reflected in the halftime score 1-8 to Coachfords 0-5. The second half was a more even affair with both sides trading scores. SMGS gave a spirited team performance and finally a got their Munster crown after several attempts over the last few years.

On the way to the Munster final they defeated Carrick on Suir, in the semi-final AET and Borrissoleigh, Carrignavar and Newport in earlier rounds. Coach Stephen Moylan praised his players for the way they trained hard all year and that THE NEVER SAY DIE ATTITUDE WAS VITAL ESPECIALLY IN THE Munster semi-final against Carrick on Suir.

The All-Ireland semi-final in Cashel was a close affair but SMGS ran out winners against Killina Pres Secondary school by just 4 points. This was a tough match as Killina had some talented hurlers. Blarney batteled hard on the day probably should have won by more. They had 13 wides to Killinas 4. Captain Mark Coleman gave a powerful display and players like Conor Forde, Conor Power, Brian Walsh, Conor Mc Carthy , Seamus Cronin and Patrick Crowley were key to the success.

The final against Roscommon was a very tense match but SMGS had the upper hand throughout even though they only won by two points in the end. Blarney were dealt a blow early in the game when they lost corner forward David Donovan to injury. He was replaced by Barry Dennehy who made an immediate impact by scoring a point. Blarney lead by Captain Mark Coleman had to fight till the end to get their win. Coleman’s free taking was faultless and once again gave a great performance. He was ably assisted by players like Alan McEvoy, Cathal Sheehy, Michael John Shine and Kevin Cremen. James Dineen saved a penalty when it was approaching half time and this proved crucial in the end. Blarney were dealt a second blow with about 7 minutes left on the clock when corner back Brian Walsh was red carded which was a very harsh decision. A late goal from Roscommon CBS brought the margin to 2 points. Team manager Sean Downey together with Coach Stephen Moylan and selectors St John Cremen and Declan O’Connell were very relieved when the final whistle was blown. “It’s unbelievable really ; we have never won anything like this before”

Delighted captain Mark Coleman said “To win an All-Ireland with your best friends is special and this is a day we will remember for a long time. We trained hard for the last 3 years and are bearing the fruits of our labour now.”

SMGS principal Padraig Sheehan said “It’s a very proud day for our school”

Vice-Captain Seamus Cronin said “at the start of the year we were determined to win Munster after losing out last year in the final. We all put in a big effort so it was great to win. To win an All-Ireland on top of that was unbelievable.”

Last year the team won the Cork Colleges Senior B championship for the first time and were defeated in the Munster final. Deciding to try A grade in Cork Colleges this year was vital to their progress in Munster . High quality games were provided and against all expectations defeated Youghal, St. Colmans Midleton and North Mon AG before suffering a heavy defeat against Rochestown in the O’Callaghan cup final. Sean Downey the manager of the team however maintains the victories and more so the defeat against Rochestown were a great learning experience for the players.

SMGS results in competition Senior C hurling

4/11/15 SMGS 2-19 St.Mary’s Newport 0-9

2/12/15 SMGS 1-15 St. Joseph’s Borrisoleigh 0-9

29/01/16 SMGS 3-14 Scoil an Chroi Naofa Carrignavar 2-9

6/2/16 SMGS 3-11 Carrick an Siur CBS 1-14 AET

29/2/16 SMGS 2-12 Coachford CC 0-11 Munster final

All Ireland Semi-Final

5/3/16 SMGS 0-16 Killina Pres Sec school 0-12

All-Ireland Final

16/3/16 SMGS 0-17 Roscommon CBS 2-09

Captain Mark Coleman centre, Vice Captain Seamus Cronin left and Kevin Cremen right

The Scoil Mhuire gan Smál Team who won the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools U18½C Level Final last Wednesday

Scoil Mhuire gan Smál is a co-educational school, founded in Blarney in 1952 by Ms. Peg O’Connor. 29 students were enrolled. It continued to expand under the leadership of the Sisters of Charity who managed the school from 1965 to 1989. The present enrolment is 750.

SMGS has always strongly encouraged participation in sports and provides hurling, football, camogie, soccer, basketball and rugby for the students. Gaelic games has always been an integral part of school life, and teams have competed in Cork Colleges and Munster Colleges for many years. The teams competed at 'C' grade up to recent times. However progress was made last year, winning the Cork Colleges Senior 'B' hurling title, and this year, as runners-up in the O’Callaghan Cup ('A' Grade) Senior hurling competition.

Teachers in the school have made an enormous contribution to Gaelic sports, and retired staff members like Barry Long, Con Hayes and Mícheál Kerins helped to lay the foundation for the school's participation in today’s final, continued over the years by present Principal, Pádraig Sheehan, St.John Cremen, Seán Downey, Declan O’Connell, Pádraig Conway, Derick Moylan and Sean O’Callaghan. Current staff member, Stephen Moylan, plays senior hurling with Cork at present.

The school has had numerous past and present pupils who have played with underage Cork hurling and football teams. Current team members Mark Coleman and Conor McCarthy played Minor hurling with Cork in 2015 and other team members are involved with Cork development squads. Past pupils Brian Sheehan (Blarney) played hurling with Cork at all levels, as did Aidan Dorgan (Grenagh) in Gaelic football. Valerie Vaughan won a bronze medal as part of the Irish cross-country team at the European championships, and qualified for the Olympics. She also represented Ireland in Basketball, as did other past pupils, including the three Flying Forde sisters, Annette, Miriam and Caroline. All girls’ school teams play at ‘A’ Grade today. In soccer, Gareth Cronin, Séamus Long and Allan Weldon all made a significant impact, representing Ireland at Universities level and/or carving out careers in the League of Ireland and in England. In cycling, Barry Twohig and Richard O’Gorman both went on to great successes.

SMGS has had an excellent record in the Young Scientist Exhibition over the years, twice winning the overall title with Sarah Flannery, who played camogie and basketball with the school, in 1999, and Richard O'Shea, who played hurling with SMGS and still plays with Blarney GAA club, in 2010.

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