During last June the boys won the competition for 3rd & 4th class among South Limerick Schools. They defeated Knockainey NS and were awarded the cup which is named after Harry Greensmyth.
At today’s assembly they were awarded their well deserved medals. Congratulations boys!
Our boys football team took a step further than any previous team in the school’s history to represent South Limerick in the County Football Finals. In the semi-final Herbertstown were paired with the City champions Ballybrown NS. Despite a spirited performance, a few second half goals saw the Clarina school pull away and get the win.
Our Anthony Baggott Cup hurling tournament returned on June 16th following a three year absence. The large crowd in attendance were treated to a festival of hurling from the four participating schools; Caherline NS, Hospital NS, Herbertstown NS and Knockainey NS. There was also an exhibition game featuring the junior and senior infant pupils from Herbertstown NS.
Following the round robin games, Knockainey NS and Herbertstown NS qualified for the final. This was a meeting of two of the South’s most impressive teams of 2022. Knockainey NS – the Roinn A football and hurling champions. Herbertstown NS – the Premier football champions and Premier hurling finalists.
It’s little wonder then that the final was very competitive with the standard of hurling was at a very high level. When the dust settled, Knockainey had got the crucial scores and had done enough to claim the honours. Afterwards Eileen Baggott presented the Anthony Baggott Cup to the Knockainey captain.
Sincere thanks to everyone who helped to prepare the field, who donated food and helped with the tea and refreshments on the day. Thanks also to Hospital/Herbertstown GAA for their continued support. It was a great day for the school and the community.
On Friday, our final fixture of the year took place. Our team travelled to Knockainey to play our neighbours in a competition for third and fourth class pupils. This South Limerick Primary Schools event is an opportunity for the younger pupils to showcase their talents. With numbers a little tight, our third and fourth class boys were bolstered by the addition of the boys in second class. After an exciting, sporting game with Knockainey NS, Herbertstown edged a narrow win.
In the moments after the game, Christina Greensmyth presented the Harry Greensmyth Cup to the Herbertstown captain. How fitting that a cup named after Harry is presented to many players who were playing for the first time for their school when Harry himself did so much to promote gaelic games over many decades.
The school’s hurlers travelled to Kilmallock on May 24th to participate in the top hurling division of the South for the first time in 34 years. Any thought that this talented bunch of players would not be able to compete at this level was quickly dispelled after a quality performance in the semi-final. Herbertstown ran out convincing winners over Bruree NS to set up a meeting with Kilmallock in the final.
Kilmallock NS 1.07
Herbertstown NS 1.06
Fitzgerald Park in Kilmallock was in immaculate condition for the final and shortly after referee Josh Dineen threw in the ball, all in attendance quickly realised that the teams were very evenly matched. Points were exchanged in the early stages and midway through the first half the scores were level at 3 points each. Kilmallock then edged in front and looked to be headed into the break with a two point lead. A long delivery from their goalkeeper managed to split the Herbertstown defence and a Kilmallock forward pounced to rattle the net. The two point deficit had suddenly become 5 and Herbertstown were left with a minor mountain to climb. H/T: Kilmallock 1.05 Herbertstown 0.03
Such has been the belief of this bunch all through the year, the team in maroon came roaring back into the game in the second half. The Kilmallock lead was chipped away and with only moments remaining the scores were level. The game would be decided when a Kilmallock defender won a free and their freetaker, to his credit, held his nerve to split the posts. The final whistle would sound shortly afterwards.
Herbertstown scorers: Ciarán 1.03, Jack 0.02, Darragh 0.01
Tremendous credit is due to the Herbertstown team who came within a whisker of completing a South Premier double.
Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach.
Neville Cup
Last Thursday our girls, Molly and Sinead, played in the Neville Cup final in Bruff. Unfortunately West Limerick were to prove too strong for the South on the day. It was a great achievement for our girls to play in both games and well done also to Ms Mann who coached the team.
Larkin Shield/Sarsfield Cup
On the football front, the South have qualified for both finals following victories today in Martinstown. Well done to Niamh and Eimear who were part of the South team who beat the City and also to Robbie and Jack who played with the Boys team who also beat the City.
The finals will be played on Thursday in Bruff. At 2pm the South boys meet East Limerick and this will be followed by the girls’ final where it’s East vs South once again. Good luck to all our players and also to Mr Franklin who is coaching the boys’ team.
Primary Game
Congratulations to Molly and David who have been selected to play in the upcoming Primary Games for Limerick following their performances for South Limerick last week.
Well done to our boys and girls teams who played our neighbours Caherline NS today in the first inter-school matches in 2 years.
It’s great to be back!
Our first full after school training session in the ‘post-pod’ stage of the pandemic was a memorable one thanks to the visit of past pupil Conor O’Grady.
Conor is the first past pupil of the school to win a Fitzgibbon Cup medal. He was part of the victorious University of Limerick panel who defeated NUIG in the final last month. The famous cup was a big hit with the pupils and, who knows, some one of the pupils who was present at training could return with it again in the future.
*Joe Condon from Herbertstown was a Fitzgibbon Cup winner with Maynooth in the 1973. Joe attended national school in Lough Gur.
The boys lost to a strong Hospital NS side in the opening game but followed this with a draw against Bruree NS and wins against Ballylanders NS and Athlacca NS. Well done boys.
Attention now turns to the camogie which takes place next Tuesday.
Jack, who is currently the goalkeeper for John the Baptist’s Harty Cup team, gave some great tips to the children about the importance of practising the skills of the game at home.
The cup has been awarded to the Munster Minor hurling champions since the 1940s and one victory of note was that of the 1958 Limerick team who featured Herbertstown man JJ Bresnihan in the full line. Who knows, perhaps in a few years time one of the pupils present to meet Jack today might be picking up the cup themselves.
Best wishes to Seán, our representative on the Limerick Primary Game team, who will play during the half time interval on Sunday.
