Wednesday 10
Boys' Hockey
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September / October 2009
Wednesday 30th September the Boys’ Junior A Hockey team played against Villiers, away.
Over the weekend of 2nd/3rd/4th October Jeremy Duncan played in the Leinster Under 16 Inter-provincial series. Sammy Willis and Margaret Byrne played for the South East under 18, and Under 16s- Susan Shirley (Capt), Nessa Cooper-Millet, Amanda Haslam and Anna Boland played for the South East.
On Wednesday 7th October: Junior A drew with St Andrew's 3-3;The Minor B drew with St Andrews 1-1;
On Wednesday 14th October: Senior A league v St. Andrews at home and an U13 friendly v St Andrews; and the Minor Bs are away to Drogheda in the league.In a recent trip to Mt. Temple the Senior A won 4 - 1 and Minor B won 4 - 0 - both league matches.
The St. Andrew's senior league has been postponed to the 2nd Dec.
The Junior A and Minor team travel to Limerick to Villers on Wed 30th for friendlies.
The senior boys have secured an automatic berth in the annual all-Ireland Schools’ Tournament.
This year the event takes place in Ulster on 22nd – 23rd October.
There already has been matches with Ashton and Villiers.
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2008/09
Dutch Hockey Tour 2009
On the 15th March the boy’s senior hockey squad travelled to Holland for its first tour in many years. In total 18 players travelled with coaches Richard Willis and Brian Gray. It was an early start on Sunday morning as the squad, captained by Billy McEnery assembled at Dublin airport at 7am. It was a smooth trip to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport and from there the party headed to Rotterdam hockey club where they watched a top Dutch club game with both sides packed with international players. This was hockey played at the highest standard and a great incentive for young players to develop their game. Much of the background of those on the pitch was provided by Marcus Blake whose vast knowledge of world hockey was impressive. It was an entertaining game involving 8 goals. That evening the squad checked into the hotel in The Hague and went out for a meal.
The next morning found the squad on the double decker train heading to Amsterdam. The morning was spent wandering the city during which there was a humbling visit to the Anne Frank house.
In the evening the squad prepared for its first game against a Rotterdam club side. It is possible that the club had underestimated the strength of the Kilkenny College side because the final result was a resounding 9 – 0 to KCK. Although the competition was not great it did allow Coach Richard Willis to give his full squad a run except for goal keeper George Smyth who was nursing a sore shoulder.
Tuesday found the players back at Rotterdam hockey club being coached by two international Australian players. After the coaching clinic the squad observed the Rotterdam club training and played a second game in the evening which the College also won with a final result of 6 – 2.
That evening they visited a multi-purpose indoor facility which included climbing walls, a ski slope and an ice skating rink and while there demonstrated their racing skills around the go-kart track with Colin Harper proving victorious.
First thing on Wednesday morning the squad headed out to a top Dutch hockey store known as Decker Sport where sticks, shirts, shoes and socks were all purchased.
Next thing on the agenda was a transfer to KZ Hockey club for a coaching clinic with one of Holland’s most experienced coaches. A coach trip took the squad back to Schipol airport and from there a return flight to Dublin.
Overall it was a busy four days with a mixture of watching, being coached and playing hockey. If there was one disappointing aspect it would have been the level of opposition which given that Holland is the Mecca of hockey was a little surprising.
It was also an opportunity for the boys to explore a major European city and get a feel for its culture with our own Dutch interpreter Paddy Smeele.
Thanks must be given to David Williamson for his organisation and support during the trip and appreciation must also be given to the parents and all those involved in and contributing to the fundraising.
Lastly I would like to compliment the boys on their attitude and behaviour, their commitment throughout the year has been exceptional and it has been a pleasure to be involved with this squad.
Richard Willis
THE DUTCH HOCKEY ART GALLERY!
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Wednesday 25th February
SENIOR AND UNDER 13 BOW OUT OF LEINSTER CUPS
In Ballinteer on the new astro-pitch Wesley College won their replay against Kilkenny College. Within 10 minutes of the start the visitors found themselves 3-0 down and remained so for the first half.
In the second half Kilkenny possesion was good but it was deep into the game before Ben Wallace struck home for his side. Wesley responded immediately with a goal and the final tally was 4-1.
Earlier in the afternoon the under 13 side lost 1-0 to St Andrew's College out in Booterstown, the goal coming in the first mintue of the second half. Kilkenny's best chance came in the first half when Skipper David McClure missed a shot on goal.
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Wednesday 11th February
Kilkenny College U13s followed on from their opening victory in the
Boys U13 Cup when they hosted Sandford in a sun drenched Kilkenny
College on Wednesday last.An impressive first half performance from the Kilkenny boys saw them win 8-0 thanks to goals from David McClure (2), Ross Stedman (2), Josh Glass (2), Nick Dool and Colm Varian.
The boys now face St. Andrews away in the semi final in what will be
an extremely tough game against one of the kingpins of Leinster
Schoolboys Hockey.The Junior under 16s narrowly lost 3-2 to Sutton Park in their cup tie.
The Senior replay against Wesley College is now most likely to be Wednesday 25th February.
Wednesday 28th January
Leinster Schools' Cup at Kilkenny
Senior v Wesley 2-2 aet (see separate account)
U13 in KK v John's Scottus won 5-0
4th Feb
Jun A in John's Scottus - Junior cup 1 p.m. at Pembroke.
Jun B in Kilkenny v's Sandford in league11th Feb
Min B in KK v's John's Scottus in leagueBOYS HOCKEY TRIP TO HOLLAND
Fund-raising over half term included bag packing in Dunnes, McDonagh.
Easter egg raffle, boys looking for sponsorship for the egg.The boys’ trip, now estblished as Sunday 15th March to Wednesday 18th will see them arrive in Amsterdam and travel to see a top club match in action (HCKZ v SCHC) followed by a match themselves against a youth side from HCKZ. Day two will be spent sight seeing in Amsterdam (Anne Frank’s House, Van Gogh and a trip on the canals. In the afternoon another match, this time with HGC. Day three will be a move to Rottherdam to the Hockey Stadium for a clinic with first team players and a fixture with HCR. The final day will include a visit to Dekker Sport (Top Dutch hockey store) and some optional activities
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Wednesday 9th December
Minors B v Wesley won 2 - 1
Junior B v Wesley lost 1 - 4Wednesday 3rd December
Senior A v Ashton away in league won 4 - 2
Junior B v High School away in league lost 1 - 2
Minor B v St. Killian's away in league lost 0 - 3Wednesday 26th November
Junior B v Newpark in league KCK lost 1 - 7
Senior A v High School in league. KCK won 2 - 0
Coming:
Wednesday 3rd December
Minor B away to St Killian's (to be played in UCD) in league. Start time 2 p.m.
Junior B away to High School in league. Start time 1.15 p.m.
Senior A away to Ashton in league. Start time 1 p.m.
Thursday 4th December
Junior A at home to Mt Temple. Start time 2 p.m.
-------------------------Wednesday 12th November
Senior A's played Wesley in the league (away) and lost 3 - 2. Excellent performance and close match.
Junior A's played Ashton (away) in a friendly and lost
U13's had a blitz in Villiers with the other Munster schools. KCK won 8 games, drew 2 and lost 1......................
Congratulations to Jeremy Duncan, a member of the Under 16 Leinster Boys’ Hockey team, winners of the inter-provincial Championship two weeks ago. Jeremy has now been selected for Irish trials in January.
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All-Ireland Schools' Tournament
Kilkenny Senior Team travelled to Limerick to take part in this annual tournament. In their pool matches they lost 4-0 to both St Andrew's College and Cookstown High School. In their final match the College overcame Villiers Schools 4-0 with all goals scored by Captain Billy McEnery.
The College attended the Tournament Dinner in the Castletroy Hotel along with the 15 other schools. The following day the College played a friendly match against RBAI. The two semi-finals was an all-Southern line-up with Bandon facing Wesley College and St Andrew's College against Ashton. In the Final St Andrew's beat Wesley 2-1 winning the trophy for the seond time in their history.
Kilkenny College: George Smith (GK), Andrew Corrigan (GK), Stuart Bradley (VC), Paddy Barrett, Howard McDonnell, James Lannon, Edward Healy, Stephen Willis (VC), Billy Dore, Billy McEnery (C), Andrew Hopkins, Eoin Finnegan, Ben Wallace, Colin Harper, Matthew Moore, Evan Matthews. Coach: Richard Willis. Manager: Brian Gray.
We would like gratefully to acknowledge the support of our sponsors:
Kilkenny College Parent’s Committee
Duggan Profiles & Steel Service Centre Ltd.
Young Motors, Kilkenny Business Park, Kilkenny
P & A Supplies Ltd, Clogh, Castlecomer
Dama Construction, Cuffesgrange
Grange Inn, Cuffesgrange
JM Steel, Cuffesgrange and Kilkenny Welding Supplies .
Presentation of a cheque for €640 from the Parents' Association Recent results:
Senior A lost to St. Andrew's 1 - 3 in league
Junior B lost to St. Andrew's 0 - 3 in league
Minor A (playing in B league) beat St. Andrew's 2 - 0 in league.
U13A beat Villiers in friendly 3 - 0
U13B beat Villiers in friendly 6 - 0The senior boys began their 2008/2009 league campaign with a win over Sutton Park (5-3)
The senior boys hockey have qualified for the annual all-Ireland schools tournament which this year takes place in Limerick from 22nd -24th October. They beat High School and are pictured here at Marley after their qualification. They have already had a successful trip to Munster where they won all three matches against Ashton, Midleton and Villiers.
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2007 - 2008
Leinster Cup time:
Junior Boys battle it out with Wesley College
Having reached the Final of the leinster Junior Under 16 Cup Final and not having played in the Junior league the side was somewhat of an unknown quantity to their oppoistion Wesley College. The KCK side had beaten the King’s Hospital easily in the semi-final and travelled to Dublin, to the Three Rock Rovers Grounds in Rathfarnham seeking the cup that had eluded the College at that age group since 1998.
The Wesley side with many of their team already experienced on the senior side were tipped to gain an easy victory over the Kilkenny lads. But in the ifrst minute Kilkenny showed their intention by gaining a penalty corner and very nearly making a shock start to the match.
Wesley quickly replied but also failed on a corner but they did press hard and only for the Kilkenny keeper George Smyth and his swift reaction Wesley would have been on the scoreboard. However halfway through the half it was the College who opened the account with a scoop into the Wesley net following a penalty corner. And so it stood 1-0 to KCK at the break despite constant presssure from the Dublin side. Into the second and had Kilkenny been successful on another corner it might have been another story for the finish. But as it was, it was Wesley who scored first in the second half and then went ahead quickly after that. In the end Wesley gathered 4 goals despite Kilkenny gaining a second but it was too late and Wesley were ultimately the winners and thus took a clean sweep of all four cups the first time it has been done in the schools competitions. However full marks to the Kilkenny side who gave it their all and battled away to the end – many of those players will back to challenge for the senior cup next side.
Team: George Smyth (GC) (VC), David Akinumi, Howard McDonnell, Colin Harper, Byrne Hacking, Nick O’Shea, Evan Matthews, Stuart Bradley (Capt.), Billy Dore, Eoin Finnegan, Matthew Moore, Eamon Walsh, Patrick Smeele, Ben Jacob, Malcom Kidd, Michael Brennan. Coach: Lee Chadwick, Assistant Coach: Brian Gray, Manager: Richard Willis
To reach the final the Juniors won against Mt. Temple in the 1st round 7 - 2. In the next round they beat Newpark 6-3.
In the League Senior B: Kilkenny 3 Sandford 1 and Junior B Kilkenny 5 Sandford 2.
FOR UPDATES ON ALL LEINSTER BOYS' SCHOOLS DRAWS SEE:
http://www.suttonparkschool.com/suttonparkschool/Main/PR_SS_Sports_Leinster_Sen_Res_0708.htm
Minors Under 14: On Thursday 24th January the Minor A team played their first cup match against Mt. Temple in Kilkenny and which was 0-0 at full time but which the College won 3-0 in extra time. KCK went on to win against the High School (5-2) and lost 2-1 ftfer extra time to Wesley College in the semi-final.
Seniors: On Wednesday 23rd January the Senior A team lined out for their Leinster cup match v St. Andrews in Kilkenny and were 2-0 by hal-time. However in the second half St Andrew's came back and levelled the match and got the winner just beofre full time - 2-3.
Under 13s: On Wednesday 30th January the under 13s took on the King's Hospital in the defence of their cup, having had a bye to the second round but lost out 0-3. The under 13s have had very little match experience this year.
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Congratulations to Ross Comerford, Jack Kavanagh and Stephen Willis on their win representing Kilkenny playing for Kilkenny Hockey Club against Clontarf in the Leinster Minor Cup (score 6 – 1)
.........................Staff from AIB presenting sponsorship to Danny Mulligan Senior Boys Hockey captain, Aubrey O'Keefe, Vice Principal, Kilkenny College, Michael Hutchinson, Vice Captain and Richard Willis, Senior Boys Hockey Coach
Before Christmas matches:
Senior B v Newpark lost 1 - 8, league
Senior A v High School won 4 - 0, league. Scorers Ben Wallace - 2, Paddy Barrett - 1. Danny Mulligan - 1.
Billy McEnery got his 50th cap for the Senior A today.
Senior A league games are now all played.
Next week we have Senior B and Minor A against Wesley away, both league.
First Wed back, Wed 9th Jan we have Senior A and Minor A friendlys at Kilkenny against Middleton.
Results from last Friday, all against St. Columba's
Senior B lost 2 - 3
Junior B won 1 - 0
Minor A lost 1 - 2
12th December its Senior A v High School and Senior B v Newpark, both away.
Two friendlies against Villers.
Junior B won 7 - 1
U13 won 4 - 1
There was also a 7 aside tournament with Senior Boys and Senior Girls mixed
teams which went down very well.
Some mixed fortune recently with the Senior A winning Kings Hospital 2 – 1 but losing to Wesley 0 – 3.
The Senior B won against Kings Hospital 3 – 1 and drew with St. Andrews 1 - 1
The Junior B drew with High School 1 – 1 and Minor A lost to St. Andrews 0 - 3
A series of friendlies against is planned against Villers.
All Ireland School Boys 2007
The Senior boys rattled top seeded Bandon today before going down 4-2. KCK opened with an early open play goal from Ben Wallace. 20 minutes late Bandon equalised from a penalty corner. In the seond half KCK again went ahead from a coverted penalty stroke from Skipper Danny Mulligan. In the closing stage while resisting relentless presssure from Bandon and great saving from Goalkeeper George Smyth the Cork side ploughed in two more goals to make it 4-2.
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In the second day the Senior boys took on Wallace High School and came out with a creditable draw at 2-2 having been down 2-0. Goals from Danny Mulligan and James Lannon dragged the game back on par. In the final game of their group KCK went down 1-0 in a tight match with Sullivan Upper.
In a friendly with old pals Raphoe a light-hearted game was played on the final morning.
Bandon who won the group went out 4-3 to Cookstown in the semi-final, the Cork side having been 3-0 up at half-time. In the other semi-final Wesley College drew 2-2 in a thriller with Banbridge. Banbridge emerged winners 7-6 on strokes. In the Final Cookstown beat Banbridge 4-2 for their first ever all-Ireland title, having only gained the final once before in 1994.
Wednesday 24th October
14.00 Cookstown v Ashton Banbridge v Raphoe RBAI v Campbell xxxx
15.30 St. Andrews v Midleton Wallace v Sullivan Wesley v Kings Hospital Bandon v Kilkenny (at Wesley)
14.00 At Sutton Park: Sutton Park V Friends
Thursday 25th October
10.00 Banbridge v Midleton St. Andrews v Raphoe RBAI v Kings Hospital Wesley v Campbell
11.30 Sutton Park v Ashton Cookstown v Friends Wallace v Kilkenny (at TRR back pitch) Sullivan v Bandon
14.00 RBAI v Wesley Raphoe v Midleton Kings Hospital v Campbell Banbridge v St. Andrews
15.30 Sutton v Cookstown Ashton v Friends Wallace v Bandon Kilkenny v Sullivan (at Wesley)
Friday 26th October
10.00 Friendly 1 Semi 1 Semi 2 Friendly 2
11.30 Friendly 3 Friendly 4 Friendly 4 Friendly 6
14.00 FINAL
GROUPS
A COOKSTOWN - ASHTON - FRIENDS - SUTTON PARK
B BANBRISDGE - RAPHOE - ST ANDREWS - MIDLETON
C RBAI - CAMPBELL - WESLEY - KH
D WALLACE - SULLIVAN - BANDON - KCK
..................................................2006 - 2007
LEINSTER CUPS
KILKENNY STRIKES AGAIN!
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UNDER 13 CAPTURE LEINSTER CUP!
For the second time this term a Kilkenny College team has beaten the odds as for the second time in the history of the school and indeed the competition the under 13 boys have lifted the Archie Hampton Perpetual Leinster Schools Cup and not unlike certain recent events at Donnbrook against Blackrock, the College beat the odds in dramatic fashion.
The inexperienced squad with a mere half a dozen matches under their belt cruised through the Under 13 Leinster Cup knock-out competition by overcoming The King’s Hospital, Newpark and most importantly Sutton Park in the semi-final to
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land into the Final against a very fancied St Andrew’s College side who had beaten Mount Temple, The High School and significantly Wesley College in the opposing semi-final. Many of these players have been involved in hockey far earlier in their career at Monkstown Hockey Club than their counterparts in Kilkenny.
As the spring sun shone down on the front pitch at Rovers, the loyal busloads of black and red invaded to give vocal support to the young pretenders and all was set for the battle that ensued.
From the outset it looked as it would be just a matter of time before the St Andrews would have the goals rolling in as their big forwards ploughed up the field into the
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Kilkenny defence. However the KCK lads had not seen the set script and set about harrying and clearing the ball away every time there was an onslaught backed by loud cheering from their fans.
Corner after corner and foray after foray into the Kilkenny circle yielded nothing for the Dublin side who, as time wore on, began to feel the frustration. Not least from man-of-the-match Gary Condell in the Kilkenny goal who refused to be beaten and pounced on everything that was thrown at him. If he didn’t parry the ball expertly from the boot, he flung himself headlong in the way preventing certain ball from crossing his line. Like the defence against Blackrock, the Kilkenny defence was resolute and defiant – there was no way through for the plunderers.
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And so it was to half-time with no score and on into the second period with the same dangerous line from KCK as parents, supporters and staff strode up and down fighting back threatened heart problems. Still no score at the end of full time and on into extra
time it went with this lopsided game which seemed to be being played always at the end Kilkenny was defending, apart from the occasional long ball cleared up field but with no concerted attack on the St Andrew’s den. The big lads of Kilkenny cleared ball, the small ones scurried around busily, not phased by the occasion and if not gaining ball, ensuring that midfield was not given a whole lot of room.
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Into the last period of extra time with the inevitable horrendous penalty shoot-out looming.
Then…in one of the few entries into the St Andrew’s circle, Kilkenny missed a chance to shoot and still on the offensive the ball broke to the top of the circle with Jeremy Duncan perfectly placed to pull on it and with a classic full length shot powered the shot through everyone over the line passed the keeper with a resounding bang against the backboards to give Kilkenny the goal, the game and the championship.
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What happened next was confusion as the Kilkenny boys fell in a delighted heap in the middle of the park with the opposition in tatters. The umpire didn’t signal the goal or a restart but Kilkenny knew they had won and indicated was to be no more play. It emerged that there were in fact only seconds left on the clock.
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There must be something in the Kilkenny College air this year to come the right side of drama more than once. This victory emulated John Brennan’s goal that won the Under 13 for Kilkenny in 2000 for the first time and not for the first time the College has come to Dublin to overcome the favourites and claim the booty and the glory.
It is interesting note that in the four Leinster schools’ cup finals, Kilkenny College (who appeared twice) and John Scottus School were the only schools to feature in the finals apart from the dominance of St Andrew’s and Wesley College.
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Daresay there will be a chip stop onthe road home for the under thirteen Kilkenny boys who will savour this day for many years to come.
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TEAM:
Gary Condell (GK)
Byrne Hacken (Capt.)
Matthew Wallace
Chris Dick
Jordan Donald
Jamian Butler
Jeremy Duncan
Sam Morrow
Eamon Walshe
Liam Mulligan
Brendan Dowling
Jonathan Atkinson
Jamie Walshe
Andrew Atkinson
Jason Smyth (GK)
Charlie Hogg
Ian Stanley
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Coach: Stephen Ashmore
Assistants: David Lalor/Lee Chadwick
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The Junior Under 16 team reached the semi-final after the battle with Dundalk and played John Scottus in Dublin and despite taking the lead in the first half, the Dubliners levelled the match and KCK wwent out 2-1 in extr time.
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MINOR CUP FINAL
THE Under 14 Minor Cup team reached the Cup Final by overcoming Newpark in the semi-final and faced Wesley College on Wednesday 7th March at the grounds of Three Rock Rovers in Rathfarnham.
The match began evenly with both sides probing their opposition's defences. It was evident that the Wesley side outweighed the Kilkenny side, however the Kilkenny forwards made nippy work around the Dublin defence urged on by mide-fielder Billy Dore. Wesley was the first to open the account making it 1-0 but Kilkenny replied within minutes with a penalty corner and the score stood 1-1 at the break.
In the second half the Wesley team began to assert themselves more noticeably and ran out eventually winners 4-1, the final goals coming at the end of the match and not reflecting the stalwart efforts of the Kilkenny men.
The team was loudly encouraged from the sideline by some busloads of supporters and offering consolation at the conlcusion.
Minor Boys Cup Team
1. Peter O'Connor (GK)
2. Malcolm Kidel
3. Burn Hacken
4. Patrick Smeele
5. Nicholas O'Shea
6. Michael Brennan
7. Billy Dore (Capt.)
8. Matty Moore
9. Michael Murphy
10. Ben Jacob
11. Adam Merry
12. David Nuzum
13. Cillian Ryan
14. Austin Shaw (V)
15. Sergei Barry
16. Simon Staunton-Collins
Coach: Lee Chadwick
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The Junior Cup team finally got to play Dundalk at AILSAA on 15th February and came away with a 4-2 victory with goals from Patrick Barrett (2), Billy Dore (1) nad Owen Finnegan (1) bringin them into the semi-finals.
The seniors bowed out of their Cup campaign on Friday 9th when they lost 5-2 to St. Andrew's College at Kilkenny.
The Minor Under 14 Cup team play Newpark Comprehensive on Tuesday 13th February in Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock at 2 p.m.
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JUNIORS TRAVEL TO THE FROZEN NORTH!
The Junior Cup team along with the Senior Bs travelled to AILSAA grounds in North Dublin on Wednesday 7th February to meet Dundalk Grammar only to find a covering of snow on the pitch rendering it unplayable. After some serious negotiations, it was decided to refix for Thursday 15th but not before the two schools did achieve a contest - albeit with snowballs rather than hockey balls!
KCK 0; Dundalk: 0 !!!!! "Snowgoals"
Whaddawedonow?
SENIOR BOYS ADVANCE TO SEMI-FINAL
On Wednesday 31st January the seniors again lined out in cup mood for the battle against Newpark Comprehensive who travelled down from Dublin accompanied by well known hockey names Mark Cullen and Peter Murphy.
However Richard Willis and his crew were ready for action and brought the game stoutly to their opponents and within 15 minutes Michael Hutchinson had opened the College account. Continued pressure didn’t realise any further progress until just before half-time when skipper Eddie Dore confounded the Newpark defence in a penalty corner, defying the dummy set-up at the top of the circle he was fed at the side and let fly from that acute angle to squeeze the ball into the Newpark goal to make it 2-0 by the break. Not, it must be noted, without some sterling work from KCK Keeper Edwin Corrigan and Danny Mulligan in defence from dangerous Dublin breakaways.
Into the second half and young Billy Dore, continuing the dynasty, made it 3-0 with a deft flick in the circle and nicely wrapping the quarter-final to the delight of the large home crowd of College staff and pupils.
The semi-final against St. Andrew’s in Kilkenny has been changed to Friday 9th February at 1 p.m.
Team: E. Dore (Capt.), B. Dore, E. Corrigan, G. Smyth, A. Corrigan, R. Fleck-Byrne, Z. Mahfoud, D. Mulligan, M. Hutchinson, J. Lalor, G. Hill, J. Kavanagh, S. Bradley, B. McEnery, S. Willis, J. Lannon, T. Brabazon-Gibson, D. Chandler, A. Hopkins, S. Charles, E. Finnigan, H. McDoinnell, C. Harper, E. Healy, E. Matthews. Coach: R. Willis. Umpire; L. Chadwick.
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The Senior team played a robust first round Leinster Cup match against St. Columba’s Collage. The match was played in Rathfarnham and was a very tight encounter. With both sides having scoring chances it was the College who opened the account with goal swept in by Eddie Dore following a penalty corner. However within seconds of the second half St. Columba’s had equalised and a draw and extra time looked likely until Eddie struck home again and brought a pleasing victory to KCK.
The under 14 Minor Boys beat the High School 4-0 in their first round and also won 2-0 away to the King’s Hospital on Thursday 1st February.
The Junior under 16s beat the High School 3 – 1. Billy McEnery scored 2.
The U13 played the King’s Hospital on 24th January in Palmerston winning 4-0 and then went on to beat Headford 9-1.
Thus it is unprecedented that all four age divisions in the boys hockey have progressed to the second round of their respective cup campaigns.
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KCK BOYS HOCKEY AND RUGBY INVADE CAPITAL
Recently a large contingent of rugby and boys hockey teams travelled the Rocky Road to Dublin and laid siege to teams in Palmerstown and Blackrock. The casual passer-by at the grounds of the King’s Hospital would have been forgiven for thinking he was in Kilkenny as the pitches abounded with the familiar black and red strip of the players accompanied by a number of KCK staff supported from the sideline by the headmaster Mr. Gray and Mrs. Gray. The first XV were lining out against their KH counterparts in the first League match and which the College were the victorious. This while the senior seconds hockey teams were doing battle on the adjacent Astroturf. The senior hockey firsts had penetrated deeper into city territory to take on the blue and white of Newpark Comprehensive.
Since that succesful encounter in the Capital the Senior Rugby XV have beaten High School and Gonzaga in the League. Infact on Wednesday 11th October the College won all eight of its rugby matches at home.
Wesley Carte has been selected to play on the Leinster Schools Under 19 Team to play Ulster on18th October in Donnybrook. Kieran McArdle and Neville Copeland are listed as substitutes.
We wish the senior boys hockey team all the best as they travel to Ulster to take part in the 25th annual schools’ tournament. Their group opponents will be St. Andrew’s College, Cookstown High School and either Methodist College Belfast or Raphoe.
LEINSTER CUP COMPETITIONS
The under 13 boys were most unfortunate not to reach the Leinster Cup Final when they played St, Andrew’s College at home in the semi-final and went two goals up by half time. But the visitors fought back equallising in the seond period and snatching the winner from a penalty corner on the stroke of full time.
The seniors had a bye to the second round and played St. Andrew’s College on 1st February.
On a grey Wednesday the familiar black and red lined out against the equally familiar strip of blue and white of St. Andrew’s. It has now been several times that this cup fixture has played out at the College grounds. Still carrying their star player, Alan Sothern, the visitors were hopeful for an easy victory.
However Kilkenny at home is never an easy turnover and in the first half the pressure was on the KCK defence with Herbie Bagnall, in an unprecedented 50th cap for his school refusing to allow the ball to cross his line.
Halfway through the half, St. Andrew’s set up a searing attacking run which ended in the Kilkenny circle and eventually rebounded into the goal giving Herbie no chance.
In the second period Kilkenny brought the attack to their opposition and were very unlucky not to level the match as time concluded and to force extra time, but it was not to be and for the first time for many years the seniors go out of the competition after only one game.
The Junior under 16s won 3-1 against The High School and advance to meet the King’s Hospital away on 8th February at 2.30 p.m.
The Under 13s won 4-0 against Sandford Park; their next opposition as yet unknown.
The Minor under 14s lost closely 2-1 against St. Andrew’s College.