Ballygiblin school’s proud association with their junior A hurling team of 2021
Ballygiblin National School wishes the Ballygiblin junior A hurling team every success in the All-Ireland club semi-final this weekend.
The school enjoys the advantageous position of bordering onto Ballygiblin hurling pitch and a symbiotic relationship exists which benefits both the club and the school.
“We have the enviable advantage of being able to take children ‘off down the pitch’ as soon as the ground dries up and the sun shines,” a school spokesperson said.
“Many enjoyable afternoons have been spent down there both within and outside of the school day with teachers happily imparting their knowledge and skills to willing pupils. We are indeed lucky to have a dedicated group of teachers who have provided training both outside and within school time in pre-Covid times”.
There are currently 15 past pupils on the present Ballygiblin junior A hurling panel as they go onto the next stage of the All-Ireland championship to play the semi-final against Fullen Gaels from Manchester. Led out by team captain and past pupil, Fionn Herlihy, the following ex Ballygiblin NS players have been training and playing with hours and hours of hard work put in. They are: Kieran Duggan, Joseph O’Sullivan, Dean Barry, Michael Lewis, Dillon Sheehan, Ryan Donegan, Aidan Donegan, John O’Donoghue, Jack Lewis, Shane Doyle, Sean O’Doherty, Brian Coughlan, Shane O’Brien and Mark Walsh.
No doubt the camaraderie and bonds of friendship built up over the years have added to their cohesion as a team. Indeed the team manager, Dave Moher is a past pupil and present parent (with All-Ireland medals from his days playing with the Cork Intermediates). Dean Barry, grandson of the late Ned Barry who was a founding member of the club, is on the starting team. While Ned himself selflessly offered up his time to mentor the school’s students, as they prepared for various school hurling competitions over the years.
MANY GREAT GAMES
Ms Marie Mullins, the Junior Infant teacher at the school, is a sister of James Mullins who is also on the team. Diarmuid Lynch, present parent and long-time Ballygiblin player, also has All-Ireland intermediate medals, while past pupil Joseph O’Sullivan played minor hurling for Cork in 2014.
Present principal Mary Collins has two sons, Michael and Jack Lewis on the panel. Ballygiblin Hurling Club’s chairperson, Liam O’Doherty has a son and past pupil, Sean, on the panel.
“Many of our present pupils have cousins, uncles and friends on the panel and match on match the support and number of pupils attending is growing.
“As a school we were curious to trace the school’s hurling past successes and ascertain if our heroes featured on these teams. Ballygiblin won the 12-a-side Roinn B Schools hurling final on two occasions: in 2001 and 2004. As a matter of fact, the school achieved a double in 2000/2001 winning the football final in the autumn and the hurling final in the summer.
“Brian Coughlan, who is on the present team, played on this first victorious school team under trainer and former principal Nora Ahern. Fionn Herlihy, present captain, played on the victorious 2004 school team under trainer and former vice principal Mary McCarthy. In 2008, Ballygiblin won the Sciath na Scol indoor hurling county final for the first time in Na Piarsaigh in Cork with trainer Nora Ahern (then principal) and mentors Liam Lewis and John Donegan from Ballygiblin Hurling Club. Michael Lewis, Aidan Donegan and John O’Donoghue played on that team.
“Two years later, Ballygiblin fourth class team won the indoor hurling county final again with trainer Mary McCarthy and mentor Liam Lewis. Shane Doyle and Jack Lewis from the present panel were on that victorious team, whilst one of the team physiotherapists, Killian Finn, also played.
“In 2014 Ballygiblin indoor hurling team again won the county final in Na Piarsaigh with trainer Ms Marie Hanrahan, teacher. Dillon Sheehan, Ryan Donegan, Mark Walsh, Shane O’Brien and Seán O’Doherty from the present panel featured in this, our most recent success. Over the years there were many great games, many near wins and runners-up, but most of all many enjoyable training sessions and matches played.
“We wish to remember especially Mr Jack Clancy RIP, former principal, who shared his enthusiasm for and enjoyment of GAA and all things Irish with pupils and staff alike. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. We recently enjoyed a visit from his son, Lieutenant General Seán Clancy and daughter, Ms Máire Clancy, former vice principal of Ballygiblin NS.
“We are extremely grateful for the help and training provided by Mitchelstown/Ballygiblin Juvenile GAA sponsored by Horgan’s Delicatessen Supplies and organised by Paul Horgan with trainers Gabriel Tully and Mark Keane. We are grateful to Ballygiblin Hurling Club for the use of the pitch so well maintained by groundsman Denis Walsh. Edmund Barry is always happy to let us know when the pitch is suitable for use and to help put up goals etc.
“Suffice to say that we are hugely proud of this bunch of committed lads who brighten our Mondays with tales of the weekend matches, never mind the ‘all important No Homework’ for the major wins: North Cork, county and Munster titles,” the school spokesperson stated.
All eyes are on them again as they head out this weekend. The school wish them every success and win or lose, will know they will have played their best and given great entertainment in this otherwise somewhat bleak period.
Ar scáth a cheile a mhaireann na daoine.