Reminder

• 3rd year pre exams will start tomorrow morning Monday 20th.
• Students must be in their assigned seats no later than 8.50 as the exams start at 9.00 sharp.
• The very best of luck with the exams.

On Sunday, February 5th 2023, St. Augustines College Swim Team travelled to the University of Limerick to compete in the Munster Schools Swimming competition. We had a twelve-strong team of competitors who proudly represented their school over the course of a full day’s swimming programme; 9 am start with a 6 pm finish. Our team took part in 37 swim races in total, ranging from individual events to relay events. To say that we are proud of them is an understatement! Over the course of the 37 swims, the majority achieved “personal bests” in terms of their swim times; the confidence boost that the competition has given our swim team is phenomenal. We are already making plans for next year! A huge thank you to St. Augustines College for sponsoring our swimmers, to Brother Lennon and Brother Spring for their ongoing support of swimming, all of our wonderful local swim coaches who volunteered their precious time to help us, our local swim and triathlon clubs who put in the hard hours with supporting our training, Clonea Leisure Centre for pool time, our parents, our school friends and of course our amazing Swim Team who performed magnificently on the day!

St. Augustine’s 5-24 Portmarnock C.S 1-02 

Last Saturday in Ardmore, St. Augustine’s junior camogie team moved to within 60 minutes of winning the school's first-ever camogie All-Ireland title. The scoreline, in the end, suggested a very one-sided game but for the majority,  it was hard-fought and intense with the Friary girls needing all the halftime break to recover from the first-half battle.

Playing with the aid of a breeze, the Friary girls made the brighter start stretching to a 0-7 nil lead inside 10 minutes. Olivia Flynn (2), Lia Harty (1) and Eimear O’Neill (4), two converted frees. When Portmarnock started to settle they made a number of good attacks but were unable to convert with their chances being snuffed out by a hard-working Friary defence. 

Heading for 15 minutes on the clock, a 2-2 blitz in 2 minutes put a massive dent in any hopes Portmarnock had of cutting the deficit before halftime. Goals from Chloe Hearn and Olivia Flynn with points on either side from O'Neill and Flynn again left the score 2-10 to 0-00. It took until the 22-minute mark for the Dublin side to register their first score from a free which they quickly followed up with a second two minutes later.  Two more points for the Dungarvan side, Micha Lyons getting her first of the day and O'Neill converting her 3rd free of the afternoon left the score 2-12 to 0-02 at the interval. 

St. Augustine's continued after the restart where they left off with Rachel Murray netting after 2 mins. Three more points followed from Flynn, Drohan and O'Neill leaving a mountain to climb for Portmarnock. A goal midway through the second half coming as a consolation to Portmarnock for their continued hard work and effort was to be their final score of the day. 

Two more goals followed for the Friary girls from O'Neill and Hearn, followed by a series of points from Lyons, Murray, Flynn and O'Neill left no doubt about their desire to reach their first All-Ireland final. While the forwards often take the plaudits, the Friary backs continued the excellent form they have shown throughout the campaign by snuffing out any attack that came their way. 

Lily Hallanhan led the way in goals making a number of good saves backed up by the ever-industrious full-back line of Sara Donnelly, Grace Moloney and Orla Whelan. Lia Harty was immense at centre back again, beside Aoife Butler and Siun Kiely who together started a number of attacks breaking their lines. The midfield duo of Aoife Lattimore and Eimear O'Neill covered every patch of the field supporting their backs in defence while popping up alongside the forwards making tireless supporting runs. Emma Curran in a new position of wing forward, excelled on the day tirelessly tracking up and down her wing turning defence into attack. 

Overall it was a top performance from Friary girls which now leaves them 60 mins from All Ireland glory. They will face Convent of Mercy, Roscommon Saturday, March 4th. This is sure to be a closer contest with the Connacht side overcoming their semi-final on a very one-sided scoreline also. 

Scores: E. O'Neill (1-12, 6F) O. Flynn (1-4) C. Hearn (2-0) R. Murray (1-1) K Drohan (0-3) M. Lyons (0-2) L. Harty (0-1)

Flying Start for St. Augustine's College At East Munster Schools Cross Country

SETU Sports Grounds, Carriganore, was the venue for the East Munster Schools Cross Country, on Friday 3rd February 2023. Mary and Greg Ashe and a number of helpers, set out an excellent course, for the races.
Minor Girls (1500m) was the first race which started at 12.30pm. In the girls races, six on a team with the first three to count. The Friary team got off to a perfect start bringing home the Gold. This team was led home by Isabelle Gaffney, in 4th place, followed by Saoirse Fitzgerald 10th; Ciara Fennell, 12th: Kyla Flavin, 14th: Sarah Hallissey, 18th; Aimee Ryan19th. An excellent performance with all six of the Friary girls finishing in the top twenty. 94 finished the race.

The Minor boys (2000m) stepped up a gear, with the first three from their team in the top six. In the boys races, there are eight boys on a team with four to count. The Friary first three were packing very well to finish in the first six. The Friary forth man, Paddy Cotter was in 25th place with less than 500m to go, and with true Cotter grit finished 15th. This was guaranteeing Gold medals for the team. Finishing order from the Friary team; Oisin Whelan, 2nd; Michael O'Grady, 5th; Emmet Walsh, 6th; Paddy Cotter, 15th; Aaron McNamara, 38th; Cayden Scanlan, 40th. 121 Finished the race.

Junior Girls also (2000m). In the early part of the race the Friary girls showed great promise, alas only Aoibheann Ryan and Kate Kelly were able to stay up with the pace, finishing 6th and 7th respectively. Caoimhe Connors finished 57th. Holly Walsh and Grace Whelan- Daly, DF. Aoibheann and Kate have both qualified for Munster.

Junior boys race (3000m). Noah Commins finishing in second place, led his team to bronze medals. John Fitzgerald, 23rd; Oscar Hall, 24th; Avarind Nair, 30th; Jude Fitzgerald, 45th; Aaron Phelan 51st.
Inter girls race (3000m). Fia de Poar, did the Friary proud with an outstanding run. Fia led the race from start to finish. Sarah O'Riordan 13th; and Lauren Cliffe 15th; this secured the Silver medals for the team. This was a very brave performance from this team.

Senior Girls race (2500m). Graine Moore representing the Friary finished 7th and qualified for Munster.

Senior Boys race (5000m. Kyle Moloney finished 9th and this was good enough for Kyle to qualify for Munster.

Thanks to Tony Shalloe, he has put fire in the belly of the West Waterford athletes.

Starting with the Minor Girls: Isabelle Gaffney 4th; Kyla Flavin 14th.
Minor Boys: Oisin Whelan 2nd.
Junior Boys: Noah Commins 2nd
Inter Girls: Fia de Poar 1st; Sarah O'Riordan 13th; and Lauren Cliffe 15th.