Sports Roundup January 27

TOP STORIES
Congratulations to the Senior Cup Team on their hard fought, well deserved victory 15-0 victory over Kings’ Hospital in

the semi-final of the Vinnie Murray competition. While we have now reached the final of the Vinny Murray Cup we will now face Pres Bray in the first round of the Senior Cup on Wednesday next, February 1st in Templeville Road.

RUGBY
The Juniors finished their run of “friendly” matches with a win at home. This is the fourth match in four weeks against a Limerick school and I think the previous three matches stood to Newbridge on what was always going to be a game of two halves. Newbridge had a wind behind them for the first half and, where possible, Jimmy O’ Brien (captain) tried to use it to keep Glenstal in their 22. Ill discipline at times allowed the Limerick side gain territory but a bit of patience and skill led to a try by the captain and Gavin Burke added the bonus 2. The pack had to defend a lot before half time which they built confidence from. It’s good to know that going into the Cup they won’t be fearing the bigger teams. The score at half time stood at 7 – 0 and playing into a gale for the second half, it was going to be tough to create tries and defend the lead. In fact, Newbridge didn’t score again and allowed Glenstal to score a try right on the final whistle. Luckily it wasn’t converted and the final result was 7 – 5 to the home side.

HOCKEY
Well done to our Minor A’s who beat Loreto Bray 4-1 this week. The minor A's have won all their league games to date and have qualified for the quarter finals as group winners. Well done to all the players involved.

Other results: Minor B 0 Tullamore 2; Junior B 1 Mt Sackville 3; Junior A 0 Mt Sackville 1

ATHLETICS
Michael Healion stole the show at Clongowes Wood College when he demolished the field in the Under 17 Boys race in the South Leinster Regional Cross Country Championships. Sensing that he had the measure of the field he took the lead after just a third of the 4500m race and, despite the gale force winds, forged on alone to win by almost 500m and was the most emphatic winner of the day.

His sister Claire returned to competition after almost a year's absence and looked to be nearly back to her best with 3rd place in the Under 17 Girls event, just in front of Hannah Quinn who had her best race yet in 5th. The 3rd team member, Aoife Murphy, unfortunately aggravated an injury in the race but carried on bravely in considerable pain to bring the team home in 4th place.

Under 15 Girls team had better luck when finishing 3rd for Bronze Medals and qualification for the Leinster Championships (tops 3 teams and 15 individuals qualify) with an excellent run from Caoimhe Murphy in 10th place, backed up by Nessa Briody, 20th, and Louise Scully, 24th. Not far behind in the big field were Sarah Barrett, Megan O'Neill, and Charlotte Quinn.

3rd place and Leinster Final Qualification also for the Under 14 Team with excellent running from Roisin Crowe and Anna Nurse in 11th and 12th places, well supported by Ciara Kiely, Janna Brannock, and Maeve Fennin.

The Senior squad were most unlucky not to qualify despite all finishing well up - Amy Downes, 15th, Vicky O'Brien, 22nd, and Hannah Sutton, 23rd, for another 4th place, an excellent performance in vile conditions.