Latest Laois Sport: Double delight on cards for Mountrath Community School
MCS gear up for Camogie and Hurling Leinster Finals
Mountrath Community school are getting ready for two Leinster finals in both Hurling and Camogie in the next few weeks.
The first and second year girls will face either Johnstown or Birr in the final in a couple of weeks time after defeating Gorey, Johnstown, Scoil Chriost Ri and Colaiste Abhainn ri to get to the Leinster Final.
The girls started training back in January with a huge turnout of 44 attending training. The girls have shown their commitment and excitement for the game, giving it their all each time they grace the field.
This was demonstrated when the girls played 5 Feile games last weekend with their clubs, winning their respective finals, then travelled 2 hours on Monday morning to Gorey for their Leinster Semi Final. Playing Gorey CS in their own back yard was going to be a difficult task along with heavy legs from a successful weekend. Thankfully our tenacious goalie and back line along with an energetic midfield duo and clinical forward line kept fighting to the very end coming out victorious 5-3 to 1-7.
Best of luck to all in the Leinster Final, this group of girls are very dedicated and the MCS camogie future looks very bright.
A great deal of time and dedication has been given by their teachers Ms. Orla Donnelly and Ms. Michelle Harty and a special thank you to the TY Future Leader students Lily Russell, Aimee Delaney, Eva Dowling, Amy Dowling and Lucy Smullen for their help coaching the girls.
The Mountrath Community School first and second year hurlers have also qualified for the Leinster Hurling Final after beating FCJ Bunclody on a score line of 1-17 to 0-07. There is a great buzz in the school as the team gear up to play the winners of Coláiste Eoin and St Fintan’s Sutton.
The team is represented by ten clubs in Laois, which include Castletown, Portlaoise, Ballyfinn, Camross, Clough Ballacolla, Colt Shanahoe, Abbeyleix, Mountrath, Trumera and Rathdowney Errill. The team is captained by centre back, Donnachadh Carroll, a proud Mountrath man. The team have trained very hard since October, with huge numbers, sometimes exceeding 50 players, attending trainings. Mountrath CS came second in the group after beating St Brendan’s Birr and Banagher College comprehensively. A loss in the final group game against a physical Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar side meant Mountrath qualified as the group’s runner up.
A North Leinster Semi Final against Killina awaited. A mighty team performance ensured a North Leinster Final awaited, with Mullingar the opposition. A massive challenge was in store as the Mountrath men looked to prove the doubters wrong and overcome this Mullingar side. A Daniel Whelan inspired attack, combined with a strong defence commanded by Odhrán Cuddy of Castletown in goals meant Mountrath were victorious on a score line of 1-12 to 1-9.
FCJ Bunclody awaited in the Leinster Semi Final. Éire Óg Carlow was the venue. Mountrath led from start to finish and won the game well, 1-17 to 0-07. A strong team performance led by the tenacious Conor Ryan in defence cut out any Bunclody goal threats. Trumeras Jack Mulhall, Jack Rice and Luke Hynes worked tirelessly up front for Mountrath.
It must be noted the commitment and dedication the team and their teachers Mr Michael Breen and Mr Aaron Dunphy have shown over the past four months, collective training sessions over Easter seemed to have paid dividends for this brilliant team. Tipperary’s Jake Morris and Waterford’s Dessie Hutchinson have passed on their wisdom to this bunch by taking sessions with these young hurlers.
A busy week of training is in store as the hurlers of Mountrath gear up for a Leinster Hurling Final!