St. Brendan’s, Birr land competitive Camogie 7’s

The first DCU 7-a-side tournament was  major success with the eventual winners of the Cup competition coming from Offaly in the guise of St. Brendan’s Birr. It was a competition that showcased the very best that Leinster Camogie has to offer with nine teams taking part from Kilkenny (5), Wexford (2) and Offaly (2).

The day highlighted some of the fabulous Camogie players playing at second level across Leinster and a deluge of rain at several stages during the day didn’t manage to dampen the spirits or the style of proceedings.

The group stages progressed well under the guidance of some of DCU’s Ashbourne stars as they showed their capabilities at refereeing. The group stages concluded with two teams from Loreto Kilkenny reaching the Semi Finals alongside Loreto Wexford and Birr. The semi finals were extremely competitive as Birr edged out the Loreto Kilkenny TY’s on a scoreline of 10-9, while in the battle of the Loreto’s it was Wexford who won the other semi, edging out the Noresiders 13-8. This provided a final showdown which pitted Offaly against Wexford, with the game ebbing and flowing throughout, with St. Brendan’s eventually running out winners with two goals to spare.

The shield final was contested by Presentation Kilkenny and Banagher (Offaly) and it was the Kilkenny side who managed to come out with a 17-5 victory, a scoreline that didn’t do justice to the Banagher effort.

One of the striking features of the tournament was the amount of family members who were in action on the pitch and sidelines of current DCU students. There were links with a number of the schools and it was fitting that the player of the tournament went to Sarah O’Connor, sister of Fresher Hurler, Joe, as she exhibited a huge array of skills landing player of the match in all four of her games and was duly rewarded with player of the tournament, a great feat considering she also made her Wexford Senior debut the previous evening.

DCU would like to thank the teachers and coach drivers for their effort in bringing the students to this event. Great credit must go to the Ashbourne players and Gavin Cawley for their hard work in organising and running a successful day and to the ATT support offered by Stephen Carrass.. Thanks also to Camogie club sponsor, AIB. A further mention then to the schools who participated; St Mary’s New Ross (Wexford), Loreto Wexford, Banagher (Offaly), St. Brendan’s (Offaly), Loreto Kilkenny, Presentation Kilkenny, Johnstown (Kilkenny), Castlecomer (Kilkenny).

Dunboyne win first ever DCU Ladies Football 2nd Level Blitz

It was a great day on DCU Sports Campus, as twelve schools took part in the first ever DCU ladies Football blitz. In a competition split initially across four groups, there were schools from Westmeath, Dublin, Meath, Longford, Carlow and Offaly who took part in what was an extremely high level of football. There were a number of outstanding players on show and highlighted the current strength of ladies football across the province of Leinster.

The St. Peter’s Dunboyne who won the inaugural DCU Ladies Football 7’s

It was a St. Peter’s Dunboyne side from just over the Dublin/Meath border who proved to be the victors on the day with a strong performances in the group stages before beating a fine Moate outfit in the semi final before meeting Holy Faith, Clontarf in the final in what was a tight affair throughout. The Meath school had the standout player of the day on display, as Vicky Wall managed to rack up big tallies throughout and highlighted the reasons why she is already starring for the Meath Senior team. The final was an excellent game, with the Clontarf girls exhibiting a serious team work rate and no little skill.

 

The Shield final was won by a good Loretto Foxrock side who contained a number of good Dublin minor footballers.

The Loretto Foxrock side who won the Shield Final

It was a great turnout of schools and it was particularly pleasing that the Dunboyne side was coached by current Moynihan Cup player, Carol Keenan and the St. Leo’s side were mentored by Stephen Attride, as they are both out on their work experience.

DCU GAA Academy would like to thanks everyone in DCU Sport for providing the facilities for the event, while thanks must also go to Trispace for providing the food, the ATT’s on the day, including Stephen Carrass and sponsors Bank of Ireland, with a special mention going to Gavin Cawley. It is also worth noting that all of the referee’s, umpires and stewards for the day were current DCU Ladies Football players and all did a fantastic job. The GAA Academy would also like to wish Amy Fitzpatrick from Castleknock Community College a speedy recovery.

The Tullamore Side 

The Loretto Navan side who competed in the competition

A huge thanks to the teachers and coaches in all of the participating schools; Moate (Westmeath), Ballymahon (Longford), Loretto Foxrock (Dublin), Loretto Navan (Meath), Mount Sackville (Dublin), Castleknock CC (Dublin), Tullamore (Offaly), St. Leo’s (Carlow), Holy Faith Clontarf (Dublin), St. Peter’s Dunboyne (Meath) and Dominican College (Dublin).

Our Lady’s Castleblayney win DCU Philip McKenna 7’s

 

The victorious Our Lady’s Castleblayney win who won Philp McKenna 7’s Cup

A great day of football was had in DCU on Wednesday, as the annual Philip McKenna 7’s competition took place with the eventual winners coming from Monaghan in the form of Our Lady’s Castleblayney, the school of DCU Fresher Football 2015/2016 Captain, Barry Kerr. The other winners on the day were Colaiste Eoin (Dublin) who won the shield competition, while Scoil Mhuire Clane (Kildare) won the plate competition.

The weather made the day a great spectacle, with all of the All Ireland double winning DCU Fresher Football team out carrying out duties as referees, umpires and stewards for the day. There was great football on show from early in the day, with teams from three provinces taking part. The early action seen some of the powerhouses of Leinster A Football in fine form with Edenderry, St. Pat’s Navan and Moate in fine form, as they all managed to reach the cup quarter finals.

The day progressed as 16  teams made it to the knockout stages at various levels at the end of the conclusion of the group stages. When the day got down to the semi final stages there was a healthy scattering of schools from different counties playing. The plate semi finals seen team playing with former DCU students in charge in the form of Dermot Sheridan/Ronan Flanagan and Seanie Johnston, who were mentoring Cavan schools, Virginia and Breffini respectively. The shield semi finals seen local school Aidan’s in good battling form, as they manged to overcame Marist, Athlone.

The St. Mary’s Edenderry Side who lost out in Cup Semi Final

The St. Kevin’s Finglas side who lost out in Cup Semi final

The Cup semi final’s were highly competitive games, as local school, St. Kevin’s (Dublin) faced Castleblayney, as the Ulster side won out in an end to end game. While the other semi final resulted in a one point victory for Knockbeg (Carlow) over Edenderry (Offaly) in a game that was tense until the final whistle.

The Knockbeg college side who reached the Cup Final

Action from the Cup Final

Knockbeg launch another attack in the Final

It was a tight encounter as the Carlow outfit back boned by a number of County players, faced the Castleblayney side who were very well drilled and were spearheaded by their adventurous goalkeeper Hugh McGinn and Frank Connolly (Player of the tournament). The day took it’s toll on the talented Knockbeg team, as the final approached it’s conclusion and Castleblayney managed to come out victorious.

Player of the tournament and Castleblayney Captain, Frank Connolly, is presented the winners trophy by Donegal’s Michael Miller

The Shield final was an all Dublin affair, as Colaiste Eoin had the measure of DCU’s neighbors, St.Aidan’s. While it was another clash of team from the same county in the Plate final, as Clane had too much for Newbridge.

The Colaiste Eoin side who won the Shield final

The Scoil Mhuire Clane side who won the Plate final against Newbridge

DCU GAA Academy would like to thanks everyone in DCU Sport for providing the facilities for the event, while thanks must also go to Trispace for providing the food, the ATT’s on the day, including Cormac Ryan & Stephen Carrass and sponsors Bank of Ireland, with a special mention going to Gavin Cawley.

A huge thanks to the teachers ans coaches in all of the participating schools; Athy (Kildare), St. Kevin’s (Dublin), St. Pat’s Navan (Meath), Marist (Westmeath), Breffini (Cavan), Newbridge (Kildare), St. Nathy’s (Roscommon), Moate (Westmeath), Virginia (Cavan), Clane (Kildare), Naas (Kildare), Castleblayney (Monaghan), Colasite Eoin (Dublin), Knockbeg (Carlow), Edenderry (Offaly) and St. Aidan’s (Dublin)