“GALLEN CS DEFEAT ATHLONE CC TO WIN CONNACHT SCHOOLS JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE FINAL”
GALLEN CS 11 ATHLONE CC 7
On the 26th of November Gallen CS took on Athlone CC in the final of the Connacht Junior League Cup Final in Ballyhaunis Co Mayo.The first half started off with Gallen kicking off to Athlone CC. Gallen defended brilliantly with Clive Keena stopping Athlone CC full back in his tracks with a very well timed tackle. Gallen were awarded a penalty which Sean Flynn kicked to the corner to put Gallen in a very good attacking position. The first half saw errors by both sides who were understandably nervous on the occasion. This saw penalties being conceded by both sides. Gallen eventually found their feet and the Gallen backs began to make some decisive and threatening attacking plays which put Athlone CC under pressure.Athlone came back into the game and some great tackling by Aaron o Reilly , Jamie Kelly and Lorcan Daly as well as some defensive clearances by Sean Flynn stopped Athlone CC going ahead.Athlone CC missed a penalty on the call of half time leaving it scoreless at the break.Athlone CC began the second half brightly, pinning Gallen CS in their own half but Gallen held strong with Aaron o Reilly once again to the fore in making tackles.
After a great run through the Athlone CC defence by Luke Gavin Mangan , Gallen were awarded a penalty which David Nally slotted over to give Gallen a 3-0 lead. Athlone hit back and their pressure was rewarded when their number 2 crashed over for a try converted by their number 12 , leaving the score Gallen CS 3 Athlone CC 7. Aaron O Reilly made a great run for Gallen and earned them a penalty which David Nally put over to reduce the margin to one point , Gallen 6 Athlone CC 7. Gallen then got the decisive match winning score when a great run by Sean Flynn lead to a pass to full back Nathan Poland who dived over for the try. Gallen were now in front and showed great courage and determination with Nathan Poland coming close to a score on another occasion. Gallen held on to take the league crown.
Gallen C.S Team was -Ruairi Carroll , Griffin Dunican , David Gavin , Sean Ibbotson , Aaron o Reilly, Conor Kenny , Lorcan Daly , Ethan Rowe mc Cormack , Max Feehan , Sean Flynn, Clive Keena , Jamie Kelly, Luke Gavin Mangan, David Nally and Nathan Poland. Subs – Jason Tully, Lorcan Buckley , Oliver Cusack , Javier Diaz. Manager – Mr Steven McGrath.
Thanks to Adrian Hynes TY for the compilation of this article.
Gallen’s roll of honour at junior rugby now reads, Connacht Junior Development Cup Winners 2013 and 2014 and Connacht Junior League winners 2014.
College Awareness week 2014
It was a busy place in Gallen CS last week as we highlighted the inaugural College Awareness week. On Monday Kay Mitchell from NUIM spoke to all the sixth years about their study and what they need to focus on in researching for college next year. Kay also addressed a large group of sixth year parents that night with Mrs Finnegan and covered a range of topics: what parents need to know about third level and the challenges many young people face, the CAO process, DARE, HEAR, Accomodation, Money, SUSI . First years were treated to two talks this week. Annette from AIT spoke about our local third level college and all the possibilities open to young students in the future. Paul and Sachin from Ericsson summary to first year follows. Fifth years have had a number of speakers this year and this week it was the turn of Moate Business College . TYs travelled to NUI Maynooth Open Day last Friday with MS Donnelly and many attended three talks and said they found it worthwhile. All these events aim to support the students and the work of the teachers in encouraging our students to work hard and aspire to continuing in further and higher education which so many of our students do as evidenced by the national press this week.
Ericssons: Connectivity, Life and Technology.
On Monday our Transition and Second Years enjoyed an informative talk from two software engineers employed by Ericssons in Athlone. Ericssons employ over 110,000 people in 80 different countries around the world. Over 40% of the world’s internet traffic is processed through their network in Athlone.
They defined a network as the interaction between People Things Interactivity and Big Ideas and provided interesting examples of how far our internet networks have developed in the last twenty years. Their most recent innovation is the refining of the 5G network and by 2020 they aim to have 50 billion connected devices around the world (6 devices per connected person).
Students surprised the two engineers with their clever and insightful questions. Ericssons motto is “Sleep Less. Dream More”, their work is all about ideas and certainly some of our students had some ideas about the future of technology.
Two of our Transition year students Steve Anne and Sarah took part in a TY specialist programme in Ericsson last week and hot off the press Friday evening we heard the girls were on the winning team , more information and pictures next week..
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