Herbertstown NS were the inaugural winners of the Harry Greensmyth cup today.
The cup is awarded to the winners of the Roinn A South Cumann na mBunscol 3rd and 4th class blitz which was played this year for the first time.
Knockainey NS, Ballylanders NS, Kilfinane NS, Galbally NS and Herbertstown NS participated in the competition which was played in Martinstown.
Near neighbours Knockainey NS and Herbertstown NS met in the final which was keenly contested with Herbertstown emerging as winners.
Christina Greensmyth, wife of the late Harry, presented the cup to the Herbertstown captain. Harry’s name was synonymous with GAA in South Limerick and beyond and it is fitting that he is honoured for his service to our national games.
The Anthony Baggott Cup has returned to Herbertstown following a two year absence!
The 2019 Anthony Baggott Cup took place on Thursday June 13th in Anthony Baggott Park in Herbertstown.
As has been the case for the last few years, our neighbouring schools, Hospital NS, Knockainey NS and Caherline NS joined Herbertstown NS to make up the 4 team competition.
This year’s tournament could easily have been the most competitive yet with 4 very evenly matched teams facing off against each other. Round one saw Herbertstown defeat Knockainey while Hospital defeated the 2017 and 2018 winners Caherline.
Round two pitched the South Roinn A finalists against each other once more as Herbertstown edged a very close battle with Hospital. At the same time, Knockainey picked up their first win of the day against Caherline.
Round three saw Herbertstown, who had already secured passage to the final, suffer a defeat to Caherline. In what was effectively a semi-final, Knockainey clinched the all important victory over Hospital.
Before the final , Herbertstown and Knockainey marched behind piper Kathleen Fitzgerald of the Liam Lynch Pipe Band and following Amhrán na bhFiann action got under way.
In what is becoming a habit of our hurlers, an early goal settled nerves and Herbertstown maintained a narrow lead into the half time break. A blitz of goals in the second half saw the boys in maroon celebrate victory on home soil for the first time since 2016.
Eileen Baggott presented the Anthony Baggott Cup to the Herbertstown captain after the game.
Presentations
Some excellent photos taken by Seamus McGelligott, Sport Action Photography
Well done to Seán, Liam and Tadhg who represented the school in hurling at the Primary Schools Skills competition in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale yesterday.
Pupils use measuring skills to check size of local pitch.
Third/fourth class have been studying area and perimeter this week in maths and went outside to draw squared metres.
A further study was conducted to determine the area of the pitch which is next door to the school. Beforehand, a few pupils had stated that they had always been told that the pitch was the same size as the one in Croke Park. This seemed like the perfect time to investigate! It turns out, the pitch in Herbertstown is indeed the same size as the hallowed sod in Croke Park! (if not fractionally bigger!)
The Liam MacCarthy Cup makes its first ever visit to Herbertstown NS!
There were great scenes of celebration and excitement today as the pupils and staff of Herbertstown NS, as well as a good number of local people, welcomed All Ireland winners Pat Ryan and Darragh O’Donovan to the school. The two Limerick stars were accompanied by Alan Feely who was a hurler carrier for the team and Limerick Games Development Officers Noel Hartigan and Ollie Coffey. Perhaps the most welcome visitor of all though was the Liam MacCarthy Cup and it was wonderful to have it here in the school.
The pupils performed music, asked questions and sang Limerick You’re a Lady for their guests before Pat and Darragh spoke to everyone. They pointed out how important their time in Doon CBS Primary School was to their development as hurlers and encouraged the boys and girls to have their hurleys in their hands at every available opportunity.
Afterwards, the players posed with the entire school for what will be a treasured photograph for our pupils and staff.
We are very lucky in Limerick to have such fantastic ambassadors for our county.
Shane Markham & Pádraig O’Dea from Hospital/Herbertstown Bord na n-óg make presentation of playing gear to the school.
Local coaches Shane Markham & Pádraig O’Dea from Hospital/Herbertstown visited the school on Monday and presented the staff & pupils with hurleys, sliotars and gaelic footballs for the year ahead. Thank you to Hospital/Herbertstown for their cntinued support of Gaelic Games in the school.
Well done to our boys and girls who completed in South Cumann na mBunscol finals this week.
Our teams met two very strong Ballylanders NS sides in Martinstown and unfortunately did not bring home a trophy on this occasion. Our teams deserve huge credit though for the way they played and their supporters and mentors were very proud of them.
In terms of Gaelic Games, attention now turns to hurling where 2019 will see teams participate in indoor hurling, INTO Mini 7s, camogie and 11 a side competitions. Before that, the school’s handballers will be in action in November in the South Primary Schools Handball Blitz.
Our girls will also represent the South division in the county finals of the INTO mini 7s sometime in the spring.
The annual festival of hurling which culminates with the presentation of the Anthony Baggott Cup took place today in Herbertstown.
The host school were joined by neighbours Hospital NS, Knockainey NS and Caherline NS in a round robin where each school played each other. Following these close fought games, Caherline NS and Knockainey NS advanced to the final.
A parade led by Kathleen Fitzgerald, a piper from the Liam Lynch Memorial Pipe Band, took place before the final. Caherline, who were crowned East champions 24 hours previous, showed their class to beat the South Champions Knockainey.
Following the final, Eileen Baggott presented the Anthony Baggott Memorial Cup to the Caherline captain. Prizes were also presented by Herbertstown NS principal Carmel Heelan to the players adjudged to be Rising Stars from each panel. Congratulations to Caherline NS who are now champions for 2 years in a row.
