Apologies, there was an error on the previous match report with regard to the final try scorer. Please see amended report below.

St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise 38 Creagh College, Gorey 7

SCORERS – St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise: Joe Larkin 1 try, con; Dan Downey 2 tries; Shane Foley, Sean Tuohy, Paul Byrne try each; Eoghan Deegan 2 cons; David Timmons con.  

St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise:  Aaron Fitzpatrick; David Timmons, Dan Downey, Eoghan Deegan, Daniel Murrell; Finn Darcy, Paul Byrne; Mark Ging, Ryan O’Brien-McCormack, Jack Dowling, Daragh Lalor, Ciaran Dunne, Odhran Fitzpatrick, Bill Rigney, Shane Foley.
Replacements: Mark Fennell, Harry Redmond, Kallmu Bartley-Bray, Joe Larkin, Alex Walsh, Sean Tuohy, Reuben Plunkett, Jim Hanamy.

St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise 31 East Glendalough 27

St. Mary’s CBS Portlaoise retained the Anne McInerney Cup as they edged out East Glendalough by four points in a pulsating final.

Last Thursday our Senior Players headed back to Donnybrook with the hope of doing the double by winning back to back Anne Mc Inerney Senior Development Cups. They knew heading into the final it would be a tough game as this years finalists were the team we would have beaten in last years quarter final, East Glendalough School from Wicklow Town. The Wicklow lads would want revenge after last years hard fought game in Tougher. The CBS boys came into the game injury free with a full squad to choose from and a headache for management team of Ms Walsh, Mr Ryan and Roy Glynn. Some of these lads would have won the Senior Cup last year and some the Junior Cup so final winning experience and the resolve to get a win was instilled in this group of young men. 

The game started at a very quick pace with the CBS boys first out of the blocks pilling on the pressure which saw quick hands make space for Paddy Reddin to touch down in the corner for an early try. This was followed up by a try for East Glendalough that was converted to give them a 7 to 5 lead. 

CBS rallied and the powerful prop forward Darragh Walker powered over from close range to put the CBS back ahead with Conor Raggett adding the conversion. That was to be that for foreseeable as EGS kicked into top Gear scoring two unanswered trys before half time to leave the score  at 17 -12 to EGS. 

The Wicklow men were first out of the traps in the second half with another converted try giving them a 12 point lead and a mountain to climb for the CBS. It seems no mountain is high enough for these resolute CBS men and huge performances from PJ Larkin at scrum half and Cian Butler and Adam Glynn playing flanker would see them claw their way back into the game. It was some well worked play and big carries from the CBS pack that got them back into a strong position where the on-form Conor Raggett would dance through the EGS defence to get his first try of the day. EGS were weathering the CBS storm well and the sinbinning of Evan Bergin made for a tough 7 minutes for the CBS defence as they had to work very hard for all possession. Some nice foot work by Jake Darcy got him into a good position. From here EGS would turn over the ball but a fantastic block down from out half Daniel Thornton saw him get through to score his try under the posts with Raggett adding the conversion. Game on now and the CBS lads were growing more and more confident. EGS came again and won a penalty that they kicked to lead 27 to 24.

The CBS made some changes which saw some powerful ball carriers enter the game and these lads made a big difference against a now tired EGS. Big carries from Adam Raji and Clinton Eijofor (to name a few) got the CBS back into a good position and from here one of the stars of the day Conor Raggett danced through the EGS defence to score his second try and add his conversion to see the CBS run out winners 31 to 27 claiming back-to-back Senior Development Cups.

A very hard-fought win for the CBS lads with great performances from numerous players on the day such as Captain Adam Glynn, Thornton and Bergin but it was three main men Cian Butler, PJ Larkin and the ever-impressive Conor Raggett who were men of the match as they showed resolve and fight right to the end. 

A huge thanks must go to Roy Glynn for all his work with the lads this year. #fromeachtheirbest

Congratulations to both of our Senior Debating Teams who have charged their way to the Laois Senior Debating Cup final. Both teams encountered very strong Coláiste Iosagáin teams 1 & 2, SCR and Heywood in the preliminary rounds, but remained undefeated. This leads to the excitement of an all CBS final. 

CBS 1 consists of our very eloquent fifth years; Jack Murrell, Adam Raji, Cathal Ging, Kyle Jimmy John and Evan Holden. Kyle and Adam also were nominated Best Individual Speaker in rounds one and two respectively. 

CBS 2 is a combination of our experienced sixth years William Barrett and Nathan Duffy, and our enthusiastic TYs; Andrew Coyne, Jack Fennell and Best Individual Speaker in both rounds Harry McGree. 

The teams have been working hard along with their very proud mentors Ms. Hyland and Ms. D. Carroll. 

On January 22nd, both teams will go head to head in a public venue. One thing is assured, St. Mary’s CBS will be bringing home the LSD Cup! 

All of our 3rd Year students travelled to Dublin recently to visit some of the historically significant sights. The first port of call was the GPO where boys received a guided tour of their excellent Witness History museum. After some much needed nourishment, we tracked along the quays taking in the Woodquay site, the Four Courts and the 1798 memorial garden. There was just enough time to take in the Asgard before ending our walking tour at Arbout Hill, the burial site of 14 of the 1916 martyrs. We hope you enjoyed boys!

The DARE HEAR Application Information Sessions will takeplace on Saturday 13 January 2024. Each session includes a general presentationon DARE or HEAR and how to apply to it, as well as a Questions and Answerssession on how to make a successful application. It will also provide anopportunity for applicants and/or parent(s)/ guardian(s) to meet members of theDARE and HEAR team online and find out how the scheme works. They will be ableto ask questions about the application process through the Q&A function andcan submit questions in advance to be answered by a panel of DARE HEAR Advisors.