U16 GAA Ulster Final

Ulster Bank Arthurs Cup U16 Vocational Schools final:

Excerpt from The Irish News, published 23 February 2012 by Kevin Kelly.

St. Joseph’s High School, Coalisland (Tyrone) 1-9 Virginia College (Cavan) 2-9 (AET)

Virginia College, Cavan won their first-ever U16 Vocational Schools Arthurs Cup title when they edged out holders St Joseph’s, Coalisland in a thrilling final that required extra-time at the Athletic Grounds Wednesday 22 February. St Joseph’s held a three-point lead going into the final 10 minutes from normal time but Virginia hit back with a goal from substitute Ryan Mannion, and it was the Tyrone champions who required a point with the last kick from Macaulay Quinn to force extra-time.

In extra-time, the Cavan champions had more spring in their steps as the holders visibly tired, and three unanswered points saw them take the silverware in a cracking encounter. Coalisland dominated the opening quarter as they established a 0-4 to 0-0 lead, with Ronan Fox converting a brace of long range frees after Cahir and Macaulay Quinn had both registered.

It took the winners 18 minutes to open their account via Lewis Cooper, but three minutes later they were in front when Sean McDermott converted a penalty after Rhys Quinn was penalised for touching the ball on the ground. That goal stung the holders into action and in the 24^th minute they got a major of their own when Gerard Woods showed great strength to get past a couple of challenges before firing low to the bottom left hand corner of the net.

Fox then weighed in with another well-struck free to leave St Joseph’s 1-5 to 1-2 in front at half-time.

Cahir Quinn increased their lead on the restart with an outstanding score from out on the left wing and after both sides missed chances. Points from Jason McMahon and Captain Conor Bradley left it 1-7 to 1-4 with nine minutes to play. Two minutes later, Mannion reacted first to a loose ball to send to the net, and when Daire McEnroe and McDermott weighed in with the points, Virginia looked to have it won. Deep into injury-time, Fox slotted over a free and after the next kick-out, Quinn fired over the equaliser. The momentum appeared to be with the holders but they failed to score in either period of extra-time, while Virginia added points from McMahon, McDermott and Bradley as they won a titanic battle.

Virginia College: C Cahill; P O'Connell; N Farrelly; N McEnroe; E Somerville; M Magee; J McMahon; (0-2) C Flanagan; P Gargan; B O' Connell; C Maguire; S McDermott (1-2); D McEnroe (0-1); B Magee (0-1); A O' Reilly; Subs: L Cooper (0-1) for M Magee; R Mannion (1-0) for B Magee; C Bradley (0-2)for A O' Reilly; E Brady for Cooper; S Brady for C Maguire; L Caffrey for P Gargan

Ref: G Corrigan (Down)

French Exchange Final Days

Hi all,

Finalising our last video blog and remaining photos of the students. Hope to have them all up ASAP. Students just had breakfast and are now saying their final goodbye's before the return leg.

Come back for our final update later on tonight.

Au Revoir!!!!

French Exchange Day 7

Hi again,

Another video (recorded by the students this time). Pretty short and quick i'm afraid but we're editing a long one for our final day here.

Trying to get everyone into photos but as you can see, some are camera shy while other are not (Sean Brady). We were very fortunate in our travels. The bus company also run the buses for the ASM professional rugby team who we met yesterday and our usual bus was getting serviced. To our delight their team bus pull up to take us on our merry way. Leather seats that recline, a leather foot-rest and tables for playing Texas Hold'em (no cash involved!!) Our first stop was a trip to a natural spring and cave but there was a problem with the tour so we'll just say things didn't go to plan. Later we stopped at a skiing village for some lunch. It was a proper medievil town (I forgot my camera hence the lack of photos) and the scenery was magnificant. From here we went to a farm where they make Saint Nectaire cheese, one of the biggest brands in France and even other countries in Europe. After seeing the production and buying some to take home we were back on the coach. With the U16 game on the day of our return we got permission for some of the lads to train in the school PE hall to keep them on their toes and burn off the McDonalds from the day before.

This was recorded by the students!

French Exchange Days 4-6

Hi all,

Rule 1 of French Exchange 2012: Do not eat the yella schnow (yellow snow).

Cold and 'schnowy' weekend. Everyone had a good time with their families where some went skating, some laser tagging while others (Thea) went to Au Paris! Finally got my hands on most of Friday's videos and some from today. Still one or two remaining but we'll edit them into later videos.

The temperature in Riom 

 Training ground for ASM Clermont Auvergne training facility

 Meeting the Professional Players!!