1. Scoil Return to Senior

2. Notes from the Executive

3. Féile Weekend

4. Ella’s Wise Words

5. Team News

Scoil Return to Senior

On Saturday evening, Scoil Uí Chonaill’s adult hurlers returned to the Senior Hurling Championship for the first time since 1999. Having come off the back of three losses in a row in the league, the hurlers had a point to prove. Facing Raheny for the second time in two weeks, who won the competition in 2017, Scoil had done their homework. Positional changes and harder work in training meant that players were well and truly ready for the match.

From the outset of the game, the tone was set. Danny Mottram sent a long ball down the left sideline to corner forward Joey Ryan who slotted over from just outside the 45. Both sides traded points for the opening twenty minutes, with Barry Cushen and Robert Kennedy adding scores. Daragh Levins picked up a beautiful pass from Neil O’Flynn and dispatched a score from the 50. Raheny struggled to get any real momentum, typified by Cathal Hardy’s challenge in the first half when he left a man on his back. (He’ll tell you it was a shoulder to shoulder!)

The second half started in Raheny’s favour, with a goal coming straight from the throw in. Our full back line of Alan Cronin, Conor Coady and Conor Farrelly were unlucky to let this goal in. The wing backs of Eoghan McKay and Daragh Levins were phenomenal all throughout the game. Scoil rallied back with scores from Jason Redmond and Ruairi Coady. A series of red cards put a dampener on the game, one for our own Killian Linnane who claims he ‘did nothing’.

As the game drew to a close, Padraig Morrissey was replaced by Alastar Cassidy in the middle of the park, who seemed to cover every blade of grass. Shane Sheridan and Padraig Conlon came on to ensure the win. Robbie Kennedy got the vital score with two minutes left to play. A well deserved win. Final score: Scoil 0-15 Raheny 1-11.

Senior hurlers face St. Pat’s of Palmerstown in the next round of the championship on the 5th of May. All support welcome!

Full gallery from the game can be found here: http://www.scoilgaa.com/scoil-in-pictures

Notes from the Executive

Please read the notes from Executive meeting on the 3rd of April 2019.

• Juvenile pitches to be set across the main pitch.

• Please ensure goals are secure (staked) for matches and training. No sand bags water containers to be used to secure goals

• Pitches 1and 3 St Anne’s available for training. Group to discuss scheduling for training and matches coming into the Summer.

• Please avoid training on main pitch. Main pitch is for matches.

• Subs due for family/ adults/ boys and girls.

• Parking in the car park, please consider other users when parking.

• Any past members OCS past pupils invited to Coffee Tea Morning 30th April at 10.30 am. Spread the word. We hope this will be a monthly event!

Féile Weekend

Best of luck to our boys Féile team who are competing in Westmanstown this weekend! They are playing on Saturday at 10.15am vs Castleknock, 11.30am vs St. Mark’s, 12.45pm vs Westmanstown and 4.00pm vs Na Fianna. Everyone is encouraged to get out and support. Up Scoil!

Ella’s Wise Words

Below is a picture of Ella Geraghty, member of our fantastic Féile winning team, giving words of wisdom to the under 8’s during their training last week. She spoke to the team about the Féile victory and how hard work is the key to success! Congrats to Ella.

The success of the Féile Camogie team was covered on loveclontarf.ie this past week: https://www.loveclontarf.ie/news/scoil-ui-chonaill-feile-camogie-champions

Team News

• U17 Girls:  If we learnt anything from this game it was that we should never be generous with our goalkeeper. Many teams struggle to have a goalkeeper at all but we are blessed to have two. So, when Whitehall were short on numbers, Paul generously allowed them Lia as their goalie. It was a decision we were to regret because, as usual she refused to give the opposition, in this case her own Scoil team-mates, many opportunities to score.  On a wet and very miserable night, Whitehall took the lead straight away and, although we tried very hard to play, we were up against a very hard and physical side. All credit to the girls though, they battled on never letting their heads drop despite quite a few injuries. The most serious being a fall for Amelia in which she hit her head. Get well soon Amelia. As usual they played better in the second half, really getting to grips with the game and fighting every inch of the way.  However, it was not to be their night and Whitehall went on to win convincingly.  Nonetheless, these challenge matches are giving our girls extra footballing experience against sometimes stronger teams and are well worth the effort.

  Score: Whitehall 7-10  Scoil 2-02

• U16 Girls: Pipped at the post is the only way to describe this encounter. Our injury and sickness hit team were so short on numbers that the ever obliging under 14 squad sent goal scorer Sorcha and midfielder Emma to help us out. There was a very strong wind which favoured Peregrines in the first half and they started their scoring almost immediately with a lovely point followed shortly by a goal. In fact they continued taking points very accurately all through the first half while we struggled to find the posts. Everything changed in the second half when our girls got into their stride and started scoring points helped, of course , by the strong wind. There was now only a goal between the teams.  With about only five minutes to go we scored an equalising goal much to the excitement of the fans who were anxiously waiting for the ref to blow up.  Unfortunately, however, when Peregrines goalie kicked out the ball they grabbed it sending it straight up to their goalmouth and wham a goal. Despite the heroic efforts of our backs and Isabelle this was followed almost immediately, in great confusion, by a second goal.

  Our scorers on the day were a mixed bag with Sorcha 1.01, Eve 0.03, Holly 0.03, Sadhbh M 0.01, Meadhbh 0.01 showing the effort put in by all the girls.  A special mention must be made to Emma who was marking the tallest girl on the pitch and did so heroically.  We hope to have as many as possible of our girls back next week so onwards and upwards.

  Score 4-06 Peregrines  Scoil 1-09

  Next game Sunday 14th v Beann Eadair in Howth at 4.30p.m

• U15 Boys: Scoil Uí Chonaill  1:8  St Judes  3:3, U15 Football Championship 1st Round

  Scoil hosted Judes on Sunday morning in the first round of the football championship. Judes settled into the game first with a couple of scores. However Scoil soon found their rhythm. It was a thrilling game throughout. Judes had luck on their side in scoring a couple of goals at important stages during the game. Scoil continued to create opportunities and a couple of brilliant saves by the Jude’s keeper in the 2nd half contributed to them holding out for a 1 point win at the final whistle.

  Despite the result, it was an amazing collective performance from the lads, who continue to perform week on week.

• U11 Boys: After the excitement of the Dubs it was back to normal. Whilst the weather was great on Saturday the boys  made a slow start and really only got going in the last 15 mins when we showed what we can do and played very well. At that stage the other team had got a few goals so we were not going to come back from that. It was small things that we need to work on – picking up the ball under pressure catching and having the confidence to run with the ball and most importantly marking the opposing player! Thanks to Niamh and Caoimhe for helping out with great performances. It’s really important that the lads get the hurl in their hands and knock a ball around every day for 10 min at least as they are always kicking a ball around in school. 

• U9 Boys: It was another good performance all round as they took on Westmanstown Gaels on a bright but chilly morning in deep West Dublin. It was a tighter game than the U9’s have been used to.

  Foireann Shane Despite being outnumbered from the start, Scoil kept their cool and there were great displays of teamwork, in a fast game, with good looking up on the ball, excellent picking out, clever passing and some lovely interceptions. With such good teamwork on display it seems invidious to single out any player, but Noah should be mentioned for his fine tackling. Seán (Player of the Week), putting his body on the line, was as always an absolute stalwart up and down the field.

  Foireann Tony Despite being two players short the team didn’t let the head go down. They fought hard from the off, playing with great heart and determination. Jake’s near-faultless passing, Cian’s perfect 45 and Oisín’s non-stop battling keept the team on track. Zach (Player of the Week) covered a lot of ground and was the only member of the team to go for a high- catch of the sliotar. Special mention must go to Hugh’s dog who’s eye catching save of a fast-moving sliotar kept Foireann Tony ahead. Ronan could you sort a four-limbed jersey please? And some doggy treats for half time. The coaches were pleased to see the players making use of the skills we’ve been working on. We need to look at keeping our positions, especially towards the end of a game and using the full width of the pitch during the match. But Don’t Take Our Word For It …. ‘’Fantastic play scoil. Great team work!! ps sign up that dog, he is a great goalie!”, Jane “Great striking, especially by Jake. Some fab pick-ups. Also impressive defense … lots of good shoulders by Faolán!”, Phil

• U8’s: Under 8s went to Huntstown last Saturday for a three club hurling blitz. The three clubs were the hosts Erin go Brea, Naomh Barrog and Scoil. 
  The two Scoil teams proved the benefits of the indoor winter training in Gormanstown and both teams showed some great skill throughout the matches. Rory, Jason and Roisin shone for team 1 while for team 2 Gene, Conall and Simon played with determination and grit. The other star of team 2 was Emma who has recently joined the team following in the steps of her brother Dennis. 
  It was back to training on Monday night when the boys and girls were able to list what skills they had learnt in the recent sessions. It was funny because when asked none of them knew where they played on Saturday. Will have to work on their geography skills! Off to Whitehall on Saturday.