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Mini Sevens
Final Action: St. Cronan's v Glenealy
Hurling: Crows Crowned Mini Sevens Champions
It’s said “third time lucky” and this old axiom certainly applied to this year’s INTO mini sevens hurling tournament which was held in the St. Patrick’s GAA Grounds Wicklow on Tuesday 10th May. It was third time lucky as a result of blitz having to be cancelled on not one, but two previous occasions. However on this occasion the games were played in glorious sunshine and on an excellent surface thanks to the great work of St. Pat’s clubmen Brian Finnegan and Frank Naughton. It was not only the weather that contributed to the good standard of hurling, but this year eleven schools took part, the largest number of schools ever to take parting this festival.
Bray’s St. Cronan’s recorded their second successive victory in this competition. They have some very fine hurlers and deserved their INTO Mini Sevens crown. Their outstanding hurlers included Christopher Lyons, Philip Haughton, Karl O’Brien, Adam Conway, Pádraig Hogan, Daniel Connolly, Cian O’Brien, Luke Maloney, Lee Brandon and Michael Lee. We wish them well as they represent the garden county in the regional finals later this month.
In earlier rounds there were many excellent games and these are some of the results: St. Patrick’s 3-2 Rathnew 3-0; St. Laurence’s 2-3 Carnew 1-2; St. Cronan’s 6-3 St. Brigid’s 0-0; St. Cronan’s 3-8 St. Patrick’s 0-0; St. Cronan’s 3-4 St. Laurence’s 1-2; Scoil Chualann 3-2 Ashford 1-0; Glenealy 5-4 Ashford 1-3; Scoil Chualann 2-3 Glenealy 2-1; Carnew 1-5 St. Kevin’s 1-0, Carnew 4-5 Rathnew 1-2.
Cumann na mBunscol Cill Maintain wishes to extend its thanks to the St. Pat’s club for the use of their facilities. Once again Andrew Cornyn’s organisational skills were outstanding. We also wish to express our gratitude to club members Gerry Higgins, Frank Naughton and John Sexton who organised the pitches. Thanks also to Louise Sexton and Kay Ryan who provided the refreshments on the day, and to Tom Byrne and John sexton who referred the matches.
Camogie: Crossbridge’s Hat Trick of Mini Sevens
The INTO Mini Sevens Camogie blitz took place on Tuesday 15th April in the Kilcoole GAA Grounds. Seven teams participated and were divided into two sections. In section one were the home side St. Brigid’s Kilcoole, Donard, Glenealy and Talbotstown. In section two were Aughrim, two times winners Crossbridge and Ashford.
Following the round robin series of matches Glenealy emerged on top with three wins out of three games. Crossbridge emerged from section two with two wins out of two. As anticipated the final was a very close affair with skill and flair in abundance from both sides. Glenealy is a well-known hurling area and hopes were high for a camogie title. However the Crossbridge girls were intent on making the magical three-in-a-row. At the final whistle they were the winners by a single goal. Crossbridge will now represent the garden county in the regional festival next month. At least one lucky girl will now get to play in front of a full Croke Park later on this summer. Cumann na mBunscol wishes our camogie representatives well next month.
The coiste wishes to express its gratitude to the Kilcoole club for the use of its grounds for this competition. We are also indebted to Breda Donnelly and Martina Kelly who were the referees on the day.
Boys' Football: Valleymount’s Sevens’ Title After Extra Time
Eighteen teams participated in this year’s INTO Mini Sevens boys’ football tournament which was held in Kilcoole on Tuesday 26th April. Schools from all corners of the county participated. The participants were divided into four groups with the top team in each section qualifying for the semi-finals. The groups were drawn by lot at the coiste meeting the day before, and section one was almost an exact replica of the Allianz Boys’ Division One with St. Cronan’s, St. Pat’s and Kilmac meeting again. Football stronghold Rathnew were the fourth team in this section. Section two comprised of Valleymount, Ashford, St. Kevin’s Greystones, Dunlavin and Kilcoole. In section three there were Gaelscoil Inbhear Mór, St. Fergal’s Bray, Scoil Chualann and Newtown, while in section four Roundwood, St. Laurence’s Greystones, Donard, Crossbridge and Arklow BNS were competing. After an exciting round-robin series of matches St. Cronan’s topped group one, Valleymount, won group two, while Scoil Chualann won their section and Roundwood topped section four. The first semi-final was a local derby with two Bray schools, St. Cronan’s and Scoil Chualann looking for a place in the final. Valleymount and Roundwood contested the second semi-final. The final proved to be one of the most exciting finals ever in this competition with the Bray Gaelscoil facing the small school from the west. The football was exemplenary with both teams giving one hundred per cent. It was point for point all the way through and it came as no surprise that the game ended in a draw at the end of normal time. In extra time Valleymount exploded out of the blocks with four points in quick succession. However the buachaillí from the Gaelscoil did not relent and were deprived by the post on two occasions. But for some brilliant goalkeeping by the Valleymount net minder the title would surely have gone to Bray. However this year’s competition produced a first time winner in Valleymount and we wish them well as they represent the garden county in the regional festival later in May. Congratulations must go to Tony McGinley of Valleymount and Bray’s Sinéad Ní Chreán Loinsigh for producing teams that gave a tremendous exhibition of entertainment and sportsmanship on the day. Cumann na mBunscol Cill Mhantáin once again wishes to express its gratitude to the Kilcoole GAA club for once again allowing us the use of their facilities. We are also indebted to the Kilcoole caretaker John who ensured that the pitches were prepared and in pristine condition for this competition. We also wish to acknowledge Morgan Ó Foighliú, Paul O’Riordan, Dominic Leech and Hugh Kenny for referring. Bhi an-lá ag gach éinne!
Girls' Football: St. Brigid’s Victorious in INTO Mini 7s Football
Thirteen teams representing twelve schools came to Roundwood on Wednesday 13th April to contest the annual INTO GAA Mini Sevens event. The county winners go on to a regional festival in May where at least one girl from the winning school in Wicklow will represent the garden county in a representative match in Croke Park during the summer on a big match day.
The thirteen teams were: the hosts, Roundwood, Ashford, Rathnew, Donard, Glenealy, Carnew, Valleymount, St. Michael’s Arklow, St. Fergal’s Bray, St. Brigid’s Greystones, Gaelscoil Inbhear Mór, Gaelscoil Cill Mhantáin “A” and “B”. Teams played in a series of group matches at the end of which Roundwood, Valleymount, St. Brigid’s and Gaelscoil Inbhear Mór qualified for the semi-finals. In the first semi-final the greater experience of the girls from Greystones put it up to the younger Arklow team who gave a very spirited performance. However on the day the experienced school was not going to give way and St. Brigid’s path to the final was completed. In the other semi-final girls’ football specialists Valleymount and Roundwood were neck and neck for most of their game. A goal in the final minute gave the girls from the west of the county victory.
The final proved to be another thriller with Valleymount taking and early lead and looking good for another title. However the Greystones girls had other ideas and not only drew level but went one point ahead. A last minute free which was converted by Valleymount’s Amanda Carroll meant that the first ever draw in the Mini Sevens was on the cards. Once again St. Brigid’s proved that they were not going to go away from this day without the title and scored two points in quick succession to give Greystones its second title. We wish them well and they take part in the regional festival next month.
Finally a big go raibh maith agat to Roundwood teacher Pádraig Corbett who once again organised a wonderful event.
Cumann na mBunscol Cill Mhantáin wishes Wicklow's four representative teams the best of luck in the upcoming regional festival. Go n-éirí libh!
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