Presentations to

Ladies Leinster B Champions

and

Boys U16 Leinster B Champions

Wednesday 28th April 2010

Click here for photos of the U16 Leinster B Champions Presentation

Click here for photo of the Ladies Leinster B Champions Presentation

Main slide Show click here

Ladies Slide Show click here

U16 Slide Show click here

MCS honours its GAA heroes in a night of celebration

On Wednesday evening, the 28 th of April, two highly successful football teams were honoured in Moate Community School for their efforts which led to two Leinster titles being won in the name of our school this year. The senior girl’s team, their parents, the under 16 boy’s team and their parents were treated to a delightful evening of memories of the sporting year that was 2009-2010. The talented Galway footballer, Michael Meehan presented each team member with their Leinster medal before presenting the trophies to each team captain.

The evening began with Mr Kevin Duffy welcoming everyone to the occasion in recognition of the dedication, discipline and tremendous talent of our successful young Gaelic footballers in MCS. He commended the commitment of the coaching staff of Ms Fidelma Nolan, Ms Lisa Buggy, Mr Fintan Walsh and Mr Brian Devaney who trained teams in snow, frost, floods and wind, often during holidays and at weekends. He acknowledged that only a true love of the sport and a dedication to nurturing the talent of our footballers could compel anyone to put in this level of effort.

Mr Des Dolan, sports co-ordinator in the school spoke next. He encouraged the successful team members to savour this moment of success as one never knows when it will come around again. He also acknowledged the tremendous effort that goes into the achievement of a Leinster title. It was his pleasure to welcome his former Compromise rules Irish team mate, Michael Meehan, to the school. Meehan, he said is a supremely talented footballer who has earned Club and inter county success with Caltra and Galway respectively. However, Meehan’s first real taste of success came as forward for his school of St. Jarlath’s in Tuam, Co. Galway. Before offering the floor to the coaching team of the senior girls, Mr Dolan thanked most sincerely the teachers who made possible the success of our two teams.

Ms Fidelma Nolan and Ms Lisa Buggy spoke with eloquence and genuine appreciation of the commitment of the girls on the senior panel. The mentoring duo traced the path to the All-Ireland semi final through the floods, the snow and the ice and the various match locations. They spoke on the part played by each member of the team.

Christine Warburton, known to the team as ‘Pringles’, made some outstanding saves throughout the campaign and continues to do so for both Moate and Westmeath.

Lorna Henson , also from the Moate club was the youngest girl on the panel at just 14 years of age. She is a versatile player, having played first at corner back and later in the year at full forward.

Noelle Murray has played in the school colours for 7 years now and was commanding in her position again this year.

Ruth Galvin at corner back was tremendous again this year. A true lady on the corridors of MCS she leaves no step unturned on the field. Such is her passion of the Moate clubwoman, that Ruth will forever be remembered by this team for her powerful team talks in the last two games of the year.

Jill Shotall, also of the Moate club has played in every position on the field in the school jersey and is dedicated to the task at hand always.

Teanna Watts from the Streamstown club and Moate business College was utterly commanding in the Leinster final; a performance which won her the title of player of the match. She continues to show such dedication in the Westmeath colours.

Aisling Claffey showed massive heart for the team with a tenacity that won the Garycastle girl her place on the starting 15.

Kalene McCormack of Maote All-Whites may look timid on appearance but this young lady is a force to be reckoned with on the field of play. She is dedicated to her sport and still very young at 14 years of age so will appear many more times in the school jersey we hope.

Arlene Coughlan, also of Moate All Whites is the epitome of an athlete. She raises standards and spirits with 100% commitment to this and every MCS team she plays with.

Kelly Preston has played for the school for 6 years as an attacker but avid defender. This Moate lady had a superb game in the semi final this year.

Philipa Maher of the Tyrrellspass club was a fantastic captain to the senior girl’s team this year. She is a superb player and a superb person both on and off the field.

Michelle Molloy is living proof of the term commitment. As wing forward or in the backs, Michelle was totally dedicated despite her quiet nature.

Like Michelle, Clodagh Flanagan is from the Moate All Whites club. She gave 100% at all times and scored two fine goals in the Leinster final.

Catherine Lynam was a worthy Vice Captain to this team. The Kilbeggan club woman got a goal in almost every game. Catherine is a great example to others as she has managed to strike a fine balance between her dedication to study and to football.

Grace Coughlan is a young with lady with a natural talent for football. She really came of age this year. She is held in high regard in both her club, Garycastle and in MCS.

Emma Casey of the Streamstown club, again showed her dedication to the game and MCS with her performances this year.

Isabelle O’Neill was very unfortunate this year in getting a bed injury, but remained committed to the last to the sport and her team mates.

Aisling Reid is another student of MBC who played in the wing back position in the early stages of the campaign. The Kilbeggan club woman was utterly dedicated to the team.

Aisling Warburton is one of the team’s true ladies. She was a constant source of encouragement to her team mates and thereby a key member of the panel.

Claire Dolan, like Aisling is a member of the Moate All White’s club. Claire is a highly skilful player with a beautiful right foot who is very accurate in front of the posts.

Known as Princees to the team, Aisling O’Neill learned much this year and developed greatly as a player. She provided infectious positivity to the team throughout the campaign.

Sandra Lynam of the Kilbeggan club was also on the U16 team this year. She has a great future as a footballer as she is an observant player with great passion for the game.

Brenda O’Brien was on the U14 panel this year and we are glad to say has 4 more years of football in MCS.

Emer McManus, like Brenda is also a Moate All White member. She is a committed footballer who is a tremendous defender and thereby a tremendous team mate.

Last but by no means least, Sarah McGuire of the Garycastle club also has a tremendous future in football. She shows superb commitment to the sport and her team.

The tribute paid by Ms Nolan and Ms Buggy was fitting given their tremendous achievements of each individual over the years and particularly this year. Ms. Nolan offered a special word of thanks to the five local clubs from which the girls came to MCs with great skills already on board. A special note was made of the committed PRO, Cian Bradley, who attended all the matches and wrote detailed reports on each game. The parents of the girls were commended for their constant support be it in attending matches, facilitating their children for out of school hours training, washing rain and much sodden gear or whatever small but vital tasks they did to help make this team’s success possible. Finally Ms Nolan thanked the school management for their every assistance and thanked the girls for their unquestioned co-operation and participation. At this point in the evenings proceedings Michael Meehen officially presented team captain, Philipa Maher with the Leinster cup. Representing the team 6 th Year Ruth Galvin presented arguably the most eloquent speech of the night. She hit all the right notes. She was witty, gracious, humble and passionate as she traced the year’s happenings from the point of view of the team. She thanked all the interested parties who helped from the school management to the coaching staff to the parents of the girls. A presentation was made to the two coaches and to the invaluable physio, Triona.

Mr Brian Devaney was under considerable pressure following the performance by Ruth, but he proceeded to recount the path of the U16 boy’s team through the North Leinster final title to become Leinster champions. This was a journey which began four years ago as an U 14 panel. Like the girls this team had trained in all weather conditions and during all holiday periods. Superb and invaluable lessons were learned in all friendly matches, most particularly in a game against the kingpins of Connaught, St. Jarlath’s. On the big day of the Leinster final the team could have been diminished with the early blow of the loss of Cian Bradley to injury. However, the team rallied and follow the game plan. There was incredible fielding by David McCormack who also plays for his county. As the game progresses the plan to get the ball to Lorcan Dolan, whose decisive play was bearing much fruit, became the decisive factor. Mr Devaney paid tremendous tribute to Susan Scott, the team PRO, whose match reports were second to none. Often she was the sole girl in the midst of 30 lads and she was, as always, gracious, patient and dedicated to her task. And next the team were applauded one by one.

Joe Kinahan in goals was an utterly reliable last line of defence. He is not only the goal keeping extraordinare of MCS but also of his county. The Tubber man now represents Offaly also.

Ryan Browne has a passion for the game second to none. The Caulry man managed to lift those around him in every match of the campaign.

Paul Henson of the Castledaly club is a very versatile footballer, who in a crucial moment in the year even filled in as keeper at the last moment when required. Every team needs a man like Paul.

Peter Cunningham, we are told is the Maryland Maestro. Rock solid at corner back, this young man has a big footballing future.

Jack O’Kelly Lynch at half back and indeed on occasion, corner back, is the quiet man of the team who allows his football to do the talking.

Jamie Madden of the Moate All Whites Club made phenomenal progress this year who grabbed his chance and proved his worth on the field.

The big man from Tubber, Jamie Cornally has skill and pace which more often than not punished the opposition significantly throughout the campaign.

Castledaly has provided the school with a tough uncompromising defender in James Farrell. He is a through and through footballer who game much to his team this year.

Another man from Caulry who added considerable skill and dedication to this U16 team is Shane Nugent.

Patrick Holloway at centre back is a brilliant leader amongst a team of leaders. It is fair to say that Patrick from Castledaly didn’t have a poor game throughout this campaign.

Luke Kelly proved to be the Multi million euro transfer from Clara who immediately fitted into the team and added to it greatly.

Lee Colgan was always 5 or 6 yards ahead of his man in every match. The Tubber man is one of the best readers of the game to play for MCS.

Conor Muldoon was a key player on the panel. With dedication to the game he also brought joy and good spirits to the team. Huge kudos goes to the Caulry man.

James Ganly is the ever reliable midfielder from Maryland. His live of the sport is evident in his every movement on the field.

At 6f 1”, Eamon McCabe leads by his words and his actions. The Tubber/Ballycumber man is a fantastic communicator to be looked up to by all aspiring footballer.

Philp Ganly of Maryland is one of the younger members of the team. Brother to James, he will be a very important player for MCS in the future.

Known as Moe to the team, Adam Scanlon had a superb year. The corner forward and sometimes half forward Clara man played with grit and determination all year.

Daniel Digan of Rosemount is an ever reliable footballer and a force to be reckoned with on the field.

Ciaran Allen had a very unlucky injury two days before the final. The Tubber man put in superb performances up to that point.

Also from Tubber, David Fallon showed himself to be a fine footballer this year. He will undoubtedly be a key player for MCS in the years to come.

Again Tubber was a very represented by Brian Sheridan who displayed super dedication to the game and his role in the team.

Robert Gorman of Moate All Whites is a versatile footballer who is 100% reliable and possesses a great mind for the game.

Ronan Farrell of Tubber created great spirit within the group. He is a great participator who was never late for training.

Damien Stone of Castledaly came on in leaps and bounds as a footballer this year and will be a fearure of many MCS teams in the future.

David McCormack was a huge loss to the team two years ago when he suffered an injury. The Rosemount man was a true star for his school this year and continues to be so for his club and his county.

Cian Bradley is a very effective corner forward who plays with craft and guile. The Moate All Whites’ man often won scrappy ball he had no business winning; a real asset to the team.

Lorcan Dolan has pace, power, and skill to burn. This Castledaly man claimed many a goal this year.

Dylan Fitzpatrick was plagued by injury this year but with dedication returned to full fitness this year to score the winning goal against Celbridge in the final.

And last but by no means least, is the captain of the team Jack Linnane. The Moate man holds the respect of all who encounter him. He is fantastic leader and a dedicated honest footballer.

Jack Linnane, as team captain spoke on behalf of the team. A man a few but certain words, he captured the sense of joy the team gained from their victory, but also emphasised the dedication of the panel as seen in the progress which was made in skill and fitness levels over the past eight months. He thanked all of those who worked behind the scenes to made this progression possible and made a presentation to both Mr Fintan Walsh and Mr Brian Devaney. Next of course came the moment this team had been waiting for, the Leinster Cup was presented by Michael Meehan to Jack Linnane.

The final speech of the night was from the Caltra man, Micheal Meehan. With a gentle Galway lilt to his voice, Meehan expressed how delighted he was to be present and part of such a night of celebration. He highlighted how infectious the enthusiasm in the room was. He spoke of the friendship he made during his school footballing days, and like Mr Dolan before him, encouraged the young sportspeople present to savour the sweetness of success and to celebrate it in the moment. He also suggested that staying involved in sports would help lead these young people successfully and safely through life.

Finally Mrs Maura Murray thanked everyone for attending and participating in this tremendous evening of memories and celebration. She paid a particular word of thanks to Michael Meehan who gave so generously of his time to the school in the run up to Galway’s first inter county game of the championship of 2010 against New York. A presentation was made to Meehan in appreciation of his attendance.

If this school year’s happenings are anything to go by, Moate Community School has a very bright future in Gaelic football.