Congrats to the school's Chess team who finished first and second in this year's Credit Union Interschools Competition which was held today in MICC, Dunmanway. The winning team were Nicole Glasswell, Adrian McCarthy, Nicholas O Donovan and Klaudius Lakocy. Runners up were Abigail O Shea, Joshua Brosnan, Mai Kelly, Andrew Glasswell and Jerry O Driscoll. Thanks to the SCP team of Ms. Mandy Twomey and Tobias Fischer for coaching and thanks to Ms. Caroline O Donovan for accompanying the students. Many thanks also to MICC for hosting.
A group of T.Y students had a great day paintballing in Kinsale last Thursday. The weather was glorious and the battles intense. Thanks to Ms. Sheane and Mr. Lynch for accompanying them.
Final night of our TY Musical 'West Side Saga' this evening, Saturday 6th May at 8pm. Tickets still available at Cathal O'Donovan's Bookshop and at the door.
Well done to the Skibbereen Community School Golf Team who played in Bandon Golf Club on Friday 5th May in the 2017 Inter Schools Competition. The team members were: Matthew Mulcahy, Darren Harte, Daniel Griffin & Adam O'Regan.
Despite the tough blustery conditions they had an enjoyable day and represented the school well. It was the home teams who were victorious on the day: Winners - Hamilton High School, Runners up -St Brogans College.
Well done to our 4th year students who made 1500 scones yesterday in aid of the Darkness into Light walk for Pieta House in Skibbereen. A big thank you also to Fields SuperValu for sponsoring the ingredients.
Congratulations to our U16 Boys and their coaches, Mr. Colman O'Driscoll and Mr. Maurice Moore who beat Hamilton High School, Bandon today on a score line of 2-07 to 0-08. Thanks to Mr. James McCarthy for his support. Pictured are the team and the individual players from Castlehaven, Ilen Rovers, O'Donovan Rossa's and Tadhg McCarthaighs. Lads, you have done your School, your Community and your Clubs extremely proud! Well done!
Our school musical takes place this Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. Tickets are €10 each except on opening night when you can get 2 for €15. Tickets will be sold during lunchtime and are also available from the office and Cathal O'Donovan's bookshop. We look forward to a great night's entertainment!
The Inter Schools Hunter Trials were held in Killeady, Ballinhassig on Sunday 30th April. Our jockeys did themselves and their school proud and have come home with many trophies and rosettes.
They came 3rd overall in the team competition - Laura Kearney and Zoe O'Connor (junior riders, 90cm) and Jessica Kearney & Martha (senior riders, 105cm).
Laura also came 6th in the individual junior competition.
Martha won the individual senior competition (by 12 seconds faster than the closest rider), winning a lovely trophy and rosette for herself and an even nicer one for the school.
To come home with as many prizes as they did is an amazing achievement on their first day out. Well done to all involved.
Two days before the county final, Ms. O'Mahony was dealt a crushing blow with news that star point -guard Eividas had broken a finger. By lunch time, the news had escalated into two fingers and if word on the corridors was to be believed, he would be out for the season. Jamie O'Driscoll considered the situation and gave Eividas some advice 'if you were from Castlehaven, you'd put a plaster on it and get on with the match'. Eividas was quick to respond 'but I am not from Castlehaven'. However, our brilliant point -guard had made a decision, broken finger or not, he was determined to play if the doctor allowed it. The doctor sensibly said 'no'.
So the restorative plan began. The versatile Thomás O'Mahony was drafted into the point -guard role. He had done it before to perfection and would do it again. This left us with a void on the wing where Thomás' explosive speed was one of SCS' lethal weapons. Adam O'Donoghue and Fiachra Collins applied the required pressure.
Roared on by a passionate Liam McCarthy inspired purple-clad crowd of very enthusiastic first years, the SCS team threw everything at Christians and quenched their attacking threats. The 2 1 2 zone defence controlled by the majestic duo of Robbie Minihane and James O'Neill was a wall that Christians found hard to break. Robbie and James are two of SCS' most talented players, they rebound like gazelles, control the defence and are instrumental in setting up our attack. Add in the enormous pressure of Thomas' tenacious defence and it becomes clear why SCS has been a fortress that no team can easily penetrate.
The vivacious Eoghan Barry got us off to the perfect start sinking a shot of sublime beauty from the wing. In the next attack Stevie Redmond cut from the opposite wing and finished off Robbie's perfectly weighted pass. Stevie added seven more points , mostly long shots struck with confident precision and became the games top scorer. The other scores came from Robbie 6, Adam 5, Thomás 4, James 4 and Fiachra 2.
The first years were here to make history. Their mission was to be the first county champions of SCS. They were well prepared, determined and serious about the task. They achieved their goal in style running out winners with a score line of 32 to 14 and a direct route straight to the All Ireland league Play off finals.
Next Sunday, the 30th of April, we are hosting the Playoffs in Skibbereen Sports Centre and appeal to all of you for support. Our first game is against Knockbeg from Carlow at 10 o'clock. We take on a very strong team from Castleknock in Dublin at 1 o'clock and our final game is against the Western champions Oranmore at 5 o'clock.
All-Ireland Schools Regatta, O’Brien’s Bridge, Limerick, Sunday April 23rd 2017
Skibbereen Community School was strongly represented at the All-Ireland School’s Regatta last Sunday. A team of twenty oarsmen and oarswomen, novice and experienced, representing the school, joined hundreds of students from 71 schools all over Ireland for this prestigious event. The very best of Irelands rowers attended and the conditions were perfect, ensuring a very high level of competition.
Skibbereen Community School got off to a great start and showed huge promise for the future, winning a very impressive three National titles –
- All-Ireland Schools Women’s U23 Single Scull Winner – Emily Hegarty (6th yr.)
- All-Ireland Schools Women’s U23 Double Scull Winners – Aoife Casey (5th yr.) and Aoibhinn Keating (5th yr.)
- All-Ireland Irish Schools Men’s J15 Coxed Quad Scull Winners - Ethan O’Connor , Dáire Kavanagh, Fionn O’Regan (2nd yrs), Oisín Boyle (1st yr), & Aisling Fitzgerald (5th yr) (cox).
Well done to all involved.
Pictured below are 3rd year students who visited the geodome at St. Patrick's National School recently and collected young apple trees for the new Skibbereen Community School orchard.
Also pictured are 5th year Agricultural Science students busy planting the apple trees in our new orchard.
Congratulations to the under 16 1/2 footballers who progressed to the Munster final after a hard fought victory over St. Colman's, Fermoy in yesterdays semi-final.
The game was played in near perfect conditions in Brinny and after a cagey opening with both sides exchanging a number of hard won points, Skibbereen Community School opened some daylight with a well taken goal by to leave it 1-8 to 0-3 approaching halftime. A goal before the short whistle gave Colman's hope as only five points separated the sides at halftime.
Playing against the wind in the second half SCS put down an early marker with another goal. St. Colman's responded with a goal of their own within minutes as the two sides played out a highly entertaining second half. Late goals for St. Colman's brought the margin down to three but the SCS lads stood strong securing the first Munster football final spot for the new school on a scoreline of 4-14 to 5-08.
The final against St. Pat's, Castleisland will take place on Friday the 19th of May.
Photos taken at the Irish Schools Regatta 2017 held last weekend.
Congratulations to the following students who performed so well at the Rowing Ireland Schools Regatta 2017 last weekend:
- Emily Hegarty - Winner u23 Single Scull.
- Aoibhinn Keating & Aoife Casey -Winners U23 Double Scull.
- Ethan O'Connor, Dáire Kavanagh, Aisling Fitzgerald (cox), Oisín Boyle & Fionn O'Regan -Winners J15 Mens Quadruple Scull.
Tickets for the TY School Musical are on sale in the school canteen at lunch time, the school office and Cathal O'Donovan's bookshop.
Congratulations to our under 14 Boys Basketball Team and their coach Ms. Marie O'Mahony, on winning the All-Ireland in the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght this afternoon. They recorded a 49 - 9 victory over Larkin CC, Dublin.
Skibbereen Community School 1 - 1 Ardscoil na Mara
Skibbereen Community School win 3 - 1 on penalties.
Report by Sean Spenser
Reaching the quarter finals of the Munster Cup is a remarkable achievement, especially when you take into account the fact that it is the first year that Skibbereen Community School has existed. Tramore were set to be their biggest challenge as of yet. A fantastic team travelling all the way to Lyre from Waterford to play the match. Both teams had a lot on the line, but both ready to give their all.
After a fairly cagey start from Skibbereen, it looked like Tramore would have an easy win, comfortable in possession and threatening to break through at any moment. Twelve minutes in, a misplaced pass fell straight to Thomás O'Mahony. Unfortunately he did not watch the bounce as it sailed over his head, allowing the striker to run into the box one on one and slot home. 1-0 to Tramore and they didn't look like letting it slip. Skibbereen picked up the pace a bit as the half went on, but couldn't find the final incisive pass to break the well organised defence of Tramore. Going into half time a 1-0 scoreline was very fair. Tramore had left the foot off the pedal a small bit after their first goal, but were fantastic defensively.
Half time seemed to be a changing point in the match. Skibbereen seemed to be able to break down Tramore that little bit easier in the second half, yet Tramore still seemed to be able to hold off all attacks. Everything looked hopeless until the fifty fourth minute when James O'Neill won a free kick out wide, after holding off three players, all trying to foul him. About 30 yards out a shot wasn't impossible, but a cross seemed more likely. The ball was whipped with pace into the box, but was cleared by the first man. James O'Neill ran out to meet the ball, took one touch and looked to put in another cross. It bobbled up just as he was about to hit it and his cross looped over the keepers head into the net. With less than five minutes left Skibbereen had equalized. As the final whistle blew, Skibbereen would have considered themselves very lucky to still be in the game. With less possession and an early goal against them, it was remarkable that they kept their heads high and got back into the game.
Extra time was a cagey affair. Neither team wanted to risk too much going forward, but both teams were giving it their all defensively. The only real chance of extra time fell to Jack O'Brien in the second half, as he ran through on goal, with the ball at his feet. However playing over a full game of football is eventually going to take its toll and as he went one on one with the keeper, the defender just about caught up, meaning he had to take his shot early. It proved no real test for the keeper who saved easily to his left.
With extra time over it left only one thing, the lottery of a penalty shootout. Whether you love them or hate them, they play a massive part in every knockout competition around the world. With arguably even more pressure on the takers at schoolboy level, the nerve needed to take one is amazing. Many people would back away, but someone has to take one. With the teams takers chosen, it was time to take to the stage. Skibbereen were set to take first. Captain Robbie Minihane was left with the challenge of getting his team off to a flying start. He buried home in the bottom left of the goal. Tramore's taker missed the target leaving it 1-0 Skibbereen. Next up was Isaac Harte. He scored one of the calmest penalties you'll see. He smashed it bottom right, sending the ball through the side netting. Tramore again failed to hit the target, leaving Skibbereen in a very comfortable position of 2-0. As Eoin Murran took his walk to the spot, the pressure was building and building. If he could bury this, it would leave Skibbereen in an exceptional position. However he blasted it over the bar! Tramore's number 3 capitalized and finished right in the side netting, making it 2-1. Still time for a comeback for Tramore. Jack O' Brien knew what he had to do - score to leave his team in a great position. He placed it high to the keepers right. The keeper stood his ground and got nowhere near it. Not the greatest penalty, but it did the job. As Tramore's 4th taker stepped up, he knew the situation - miss and his team was out. He placed it low to Cormac McCarthy's left, only for Cormac to read him exactly and make a diving save to win the match! None of the Skibbereen players realised what had happened as they looked at the ref, waiting for the verdict. The Tramore players however were fully aware of the conclusion. All of them head in hands dreading the long trip home. Once the ref had made sure of the final result, there was a sudden burst of joy (and relief) from the Skibbereen players. They were through to the semi-finals. A fantastic result to add onto this fairytale run. Who knows how far they can go!
Man of the Match: James O' Neill - The central midfielder had a game to remember. He did everything he needed to do. He would have been happy with his first 50 minutes. He was fantastic defensively, great on the ball, very rarely gave the ball away. However, when you add to that the fact he scored an equalizer with 4 minutes to go, just enhances the fact he had a great performance. He had a fantastic extra time, winning every loose ball, winning every physical battle and playing every right pass. His goal had only made him even more determined to win! For the extra time period, he was basically a one man wrecking ball, stopping every Tramore attack. A great performance after getting his team back into the game!
Starting XI: Cormac McCarthy, Eoin Murran, John Leahy, Robbie Minihane, Thomás O' Mahony, James McCarthy, James O'Neill, Jamie O'Driscoll, Jack O'Brien, Isaac Harte, Donnachadh Maguire.
Substitutes: Feilim O'Donovan (Thomás O'Mahony), Jason Nott (Donnochadh Maguire), Tuan Shorten (Jack O'Brien), Jack O'Brien (Tuan Shorten).
A massive thank you to Ardscoil na Mara who travelled all the way down from Waterford to get the game played. They played a fantastic game of football, which really was close. It could have gone either way. Unfortunately the game was decided by a lottery, which is a bit unfair considering how well they played. I'm sure they will go on and give a good go at winning any other competitions they enter.
S.C.S would like to acknowledge and congratulate Skibbereen's U16 team on becoming Munster Champions recently in Thomond Park. Many of the players are from our school and we are extremely proud of their achievement.
First Year class 1E took part in an 'Active Friendship Walk' this week, where all students took time out to enjoy each other’s company and get to know one another. Encouraging friendship is very important to all in Skibbereen Community School. Many thanks to a wonderful first year student, Jack O’Shaughnessy for suggesting it and to Ms. Orla O’Sullivan and Ms. Ann O’Farrell for organising.
Well done to all who took part in our very first Easter Egg Hunt in Skibbereen Community School. Great fun was had by all as students searched the school looking for clues from random places like teacher’s cars to counting lights in the canteen. Interesting information was also retrieved in the responses that include “seven women and one lucky man” who work in the canteen! The school building was seen in a whole new light.
Pictured below are some of the students who took part and who kindly helped to organise the hunt. It was such a success that we hope to make it an annual event. Thanks to our principal Mr. O'Mahony for sponsoring the eggs and to Ms. O’Sullivan’s second year class 2D who created the challenging questions!
