CBS reach Munster senior hurling final
Mitchelstown CBS saw off the challenge of Ennistymon CBS in an entertaining Munster senior C hurling semifinal at University of Limerick’s 4G pitch on Saturday, emerging victorious eventually by 11 points.
Ennistymon enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and indeed were first on the scoreboard with a point from play. Mitchelstown replied with an excellent score from Ben Carey before Ennistymon took the lead again, their second from play. Scores were level shortly after with Luke Keating’s first free of the day, before excellent interplay from Cathal Walsh, Darragh O’Brien and Luke Keating led to Evan Hickey pointing to put CBS in the lead. This seemed to signal a purple patch for Mitchelstown CBS, with Adam Barry and Cian O’Brien doing well in defence and the forwards beginning to find space. This was augmented by strong support play from midfielders Charlie English and Darragh O’Brien, both very prominent throughout. Ben Carey, back on form in this game, fielded excellently and scored direct from a CBS puck-out. Luke Keating pointed from a free, followed quickly by Charlie English adding an excellent score from play. Good work by Matthew Fitzgibbon and Shane Looney led to a goal chance from which Oisin Ryan was quickest to react and he crashed the ball to the net; the CBS lead was now 5 points and the game had turned. Ennistymon scored their first in 10 minutes, a pointed free, but Darragh O’Brien replied quickly from play for Mitchelstown. The sides exchanged pointed frees to leave the score at 1-07 to four points with 20 minutes gone. It was 1-08 to four points shortly afterwards. Cathal English, preparing to take a free from distance, spotted Cathal Walsh unmarked; he gave a pin-point pass to the wing-back who obliged with a fine point. The CBS defence were diligent in their marking duties, the Ennistymon forwards were not finding space and were made to work very hard for their scoring opportunities. The next two scores were frees from the very reliable Clare free-taker, before a key moment in the game and a first goal-scoring opportunity for Ennistymon. The initial shot was saved by keeper Eoghan Geary who then showed incredible bravery in preventing the rebound hitting the net. From the clearance Charlie English pointed to put Mitchelstown 1-09 to 0-06 ahead, a 4-point swing and at a crucial time with the break approaching. As if to underline this, Ennistymon added two frees before the break to leave four between the teams at the whistle.
The CBS management team of Mr. Willie Duggan and Mr. Anthony Nash made a number of positional changes at half time with Darragh O’Brien moving to full forward, Luke Keating to centre forward, Ben Carey to midfield and Shane Looney to wing forward. Ennistymon however started the second-half in similar vein to how they finished the first and scored the first point of the half, a fine point from play from their centre forward. Luke Keating replied with a huge free from well inside his own half to leave four points between the teams again, cancelled out by Ennistymon and their centre forward from play soon afterwards. The game was finely balanced at this point. Good work by Shane Looney and Luke Keating resulted in a free for CBS which Luke Keating pointed and then one of the scores of the game from the Kildorrery man, a fantastic score from the right under severe pressure to put CBS five points ahead. The lead was stretched to six points by Charlie English following on good work in defence from Diarmuid O’Brien and Ben Carey at midfield.
With Carol English imperious in defence Ennistymon were finding it difficult to make a significant breakthrough. Their centre-forward, given increased licence by his manager to roam, was the main threat and he added a further point from play which was immediately cancelled out by Darragh O’Brien. From the resultant puck out Ben Carey fielded and scored, the score now reading 1-15 to 0-11 points. Ennistymon were on target from a free following brave defence by Jamie Fogarty at fullback, but this was cancelled out by another Ben Carey point from play. A Luke Keating free was sandwiched by two points from the Clare team and with 20 minutes gone the gap was again six points. A goal effort from the threatening Darragh O’Brien was superbly saved by the Ennistymon keeper to keep them in the game but another free from the excellent Luke Keating made the gap seven points. At this stage Ennistymon needed goals and bravery by Jamie Fogarty and Eoghan Geary to block efforts kept the Mitchelstown goal intact. The greater spread of scoring power was a key factor for CBS and this was further underlined by the contributions of subs Cian Coughlan and Cian Ryan, each of whom added points from play as the game headed to injury time to leave the score at 1-20 to 14 points. Another fine save by Eoghan Geary maintained the gap. Cian Coughlan was alert to a rebound off the post to add his second point from play, and the superb Cathal English capped an immense performance by scoring from play from his own 65. A further Ennistymon pointed free followed, but sub Kevin Cotter pointed to leave CBS leading, well into injury time, on a scoreline of 1-23 to 0-15. There was to be one further moment of drama, an Ennistymon penalty following a foul by CBS keeper Eoghan Geary, but he made amends with a fine save.
There was delight for CBS of course at the whistle but also a keen awareness that a very stern challenge awaits in the form of Pallaskenry in the Munster final. The Limerick side has impressed throughout the campaign, posting big scores in many games, and were identified early on as favourites for the title. The CBS boys have shown great character when faced with challenges throughout the year and they will relish the opportunity to take them on. It is expected that the final will be played on Saturday February 4th, though we await confirmation at time of writing.
For now though, the next challenge facing many of the panel will again come from Ennistymon as they face the same opponents in the Munster Senior B Football semi-final this Saturday.
Team: Eoghan Geary, Diarmuid O’Brien, Jamie Fogarty, Adam Barry, Cathal Walsh, Cathal English, Cian O’Brien, Darragh O’Brien, Charlie English, Ben Carey, Shane Looney, Evan Hickey, Matthew Fitzgibbon, Luke Keating, Oisin Ryan. Subs used: Conor Walsh, Cian Coughlan, Cian Ryan, Kevin Cotter.
Pictures one to four: Senior Hurlers at the Munster Semi-Final in YL
Pictures five, six and seven:
Awards Night
Last Friday CBS Secondary were delighted to welcome pupils, past and present, their families and staff to the school for the annual Awards Night. With awards ranging from academic, sport and leadership to active engagement and extracurricular, the whole spectrum of school life was acknowledged. Huge congratulations to all recipients and many thanks to all who helped in the organisation and delivery, especially John White for the photography, John Sheehan and Declan Masterson for setting up the room, Mr Whelan for helping on the night, Mr Duggan for citations and Mr Acheson and Ms Hannon for facilitating the evening. The school would especially like to thank their sponsors, Credit Union, Mitchelstown and their representative on the night Andrew O’Regan, our esteem guest and past pupil, Donal Coakley, but most importantly the awards recipients and their families. Congratulations to all.
Pictures eight to twelve:
Wellbeing Week 2023
Last week was Well-being Week in CBS Mitchelstown where nutrition, self care, life skills and mental health was to the fore. It was a week with something for all groups and had fantastic feedback. Many thanks to the two Ms Ryan’s for organising the week.
Picture Eight: Alex Walsh from Personal Safety Ireland who spoke the first and second years as part of Wellbeing Week
Picture Nine: Gillian Cannon and Anne whelan, Cork ETB , gave a very informative talk on Apprenticeships to the 6th year students
Picture Ten: The 5th and 6th years got a highly informative and relevant talk on nutrition by Niamh at Wellness Clinic
Picture Eleven: the junior students got an informative and relevant talk on Cyber Safety
Picture Twelve
: The TY students completed a two day driver education course, consisting of a mock theory test, driving lesson and driver education