Just a reminder to all parents/guardians of 3rd years that their son's parent teacher meeting takes place this Monday from 4.15-6.45. 

Also, to all parents that classes will end at 3.45 if you are collecting your sons, you can come a bit earlier if you wish. 

Have a lovely weekend all. 

Our 2nd year footballers travelled to Kilcullen for their first match of the year. In wet and windy conditions, the two teams served up a very competitive match with the CBS winning by the closest of margins, 3-10 to 4-6.

Kilcullen won the toss and played with a strong wind in the first half. They dominated the exchanges over the first ten minutes, moving into a lead of 1-1 to no score. During this period, Ryan Haslem and Ryan Keane and Denis Browne were relentless in their tackling and thwarted many Kilcullen attacks.  CBS eventually opened their scoring from Ross Dunne, after Eoghan Deegan intercepted a Kilcullen pass. Deegan found Joe Larkin whose passed it to Dunne to slot over.

Sean Tuohy caught the resulting kickout, passed it to Joe Larkin and he scored the second point for CBS. Kilcullen responded with a point to leave the score 1-2 to 0-2 after 17 minutes.  During this period our backs were outstanding, constantly frustrating attack after attack from Kilcullen. Andrew Whelan was the stand-out performance at this time as he contested every ball that Kilcullen played to their talisman full-forward, and won the overall battle with his talented opponent.

Eoghan Deegan won many short kickouts from Conor Dunne, winning possession that was vital against the strong wind. After picking up the ball near the sideline, Davy Delaney ran straight for goal and launched a rocket of a shot to the back of the net. Kilcullen responded with two points and then Davy Delaney found Sean Tuohy with a lovely cross-field ball in behind the Kilcullen backs which Tuohy finished to the net.  Joe Larkin added on a point for CBS and then with the last attack of the first half,  Kilcullen scored a goal to the top corner, giving Conor Dunne no chance. This left Kilcullen with a lead of 2-4 to 2-3 at half time.

CBS started the second half strongly, with Ross Dunne and Mark O’Connor stepping up a gear and driving the team on, with Davy Delaney pointing a free and then another point. But fierce Kilcullen tackling kept them in the game and each time CBS threatened to pull away, Kilcullen responded with more scores, and tagged on 2-2 in the second half. CBS continued to create opportunities up front and were regularly fouled, leading to four converted frees, two from Delaney and two from Danny Gavin. Delaney finished off a good move with a goal and with the game dead-locked at 3-9 to 4-6, Sean Tuohy found himself in on goal and was fouled. Delaney slotted over the resulting free to leave the CBS one point winners.  Thanks to John Dunne for the great pictures. 

St. Mary’s CBS U19 soccer team travelled to Athlone Town’s stadium to take on Athlone CC in the last 64 of the Leinster Senior A Cup. The wind had a massive impact on the game and the CBS were playing against it in the first half.

Despite playing into the strong breeze we had plenty of possession in the first half and created a few half chances. The CBS had most of the possession in the first half but found themselves 1-0 down at half time after the Athlone number 10 tapped the ball into the net, despite a great save from Kacper Banasik. 

The second half started and it was more or less the same as the first with the CBS dominating possession and creating chances. Our lads came close with a great strike from Sean Keane but his effort was just off target. But the CBS kept pushing and they won themselves a free kick just on the edge of the box. Kieran O’Donnell stood up to take the free kick and he whipped the ball beautifully over the wall and into the top corner giving the keeper no chance. This goal came around the 80th minute but it’s nothing less than cbs deserved. Moments later O‘Donnell took a shot from way out and rattled the crossbar but unfortunately went just over. The game finished 1-1 and we went to extra time. 

Extra time was the same as normal time with the CBS on top and Athlone with a few chances but the CBS defended very well. The game finished 1-1 AET and penalties were needed to separate the sides.

But it was victory for the CBS whowon on penalties with Kacper Banasik making three great saves and Sean O’Sullivan and Sean Savage slotting two in. A hard fought but well deserved win for St. Mary’s CBS as they progress to the last 32 of the Leinster Senior A Cup which had a whopping 109 entrants. 
This was a massive team performance from the starting 11 and substitutions in very difficult conditions.Kieran O’Donnell and Kacper Banasik were equal contenders for MOTM after putting in huge shifts. Well done all   ️

Thanks to TY students Danny Farrell for the Match report and Paddy Fitzpatrick for Photography.

After signing their terms of war last week (as they put it themselves), on Tuesday, our senior debaters visited Scoil Chriost Ri to oppose the motion that ‘The modern world is a more difficult place for men than it is for women’.  Fantastic speakers on both sides. Photo 9 shows our team L to R; Captain Luke Walsh, Adam Baiju, Nathan Duffy and William Barrett. Managed and motivated by Ciarán O’Brien McCormack. Well done to William Barrett who was best speaker on the day. Thanks to Ms. Hyland, Ms. Carroll and Ms. Griffin from SCR for organising this.  TY’s are up next!