Category: Sports

VEC Teachers play a starring role in 2009 Six Nations Rugby Championship

Great excitement as Hazelwood College reach their first Camogie All-Ireland Final

Dromcollogher was the venue on Saturday last for the All Ireland Semi-Final clash between Hazelwood College and St. Brendan’s, Birr Co. Offaly.
Despite the wind and rain the girls from Hazelwood hurled as if their lives depended on it! The score-line does not reflect the intensity which existed throughout the sixty minute game. Despite having much of the possession for the first ten minutes Hazelwood were unable to break through Birr’s tough defensive lines.
Sarah Moloney opened the scoring with a well taken point and shortly after caused the white flag to be raised again. Niamh Cagney then found the back of the net with a rasper of a shot which the Birr keeper had no chance of stopping. Niamh continued her scoring spree with two well taken points.
Sarah Moloney had the game of her life finding the net after twenty minutes, also scoring from both placed ball and general play throughout the game.
Becky Ryan added to Birr’s misery sending over a fabulous long distance point. The back line of Joanne Murray, Sarah O’ Sullivan, Caroline Watson, Loretta Hanley and Katie O’ Sullivan were simply majestic in defence and did not allow the sliotar even touch our goalkeeper, Amy Ryan’s hands throughout the first half.
Niamh O’ Brien was sensational throughout the entire game both in defence and attack. She finished the half adding a point to the score-line from a 45. The halftime score-line read 2-7 to 0-0 in favour of Hazelwood College.
Birr emerged a different team from the dressing room, trying everything to break the Hazelwood defence, however the Hazelwood defence did not succumb to the more physical approach adopted by Birr at the start of the second half. Máire Flanagan and Aideen O’ Flynn covered every blade of grass throughout the game. Kallie Hodgson was a constant thorn in the side of Birr’s defence, weaving and wriggling way from each back that attempted to mark her.
Katie Dillane and Aisling O’ Brien delivered fast and furious ball into the goalmouth and both were very unfortunate on several occasions not to find the back of the net.
The introduction of new players worked extremely well and had the desired effect of diminishing Birr’s dream of reaching an All-Ireland final. Within minutes of joining the field of play, Grainne Sheehy had her name on the score board. Niamh Cagney again found the back of the net in the second half, bringing Hazelwood’s final score to 3-9.
The camogie played on Saturday last was of an exceptional high standard. No matter what Birr tried they simply could not cope with the skill and determination of the Hazelwood College team.
Saturday 28th March is the date for the All-Ireland Final versus St. Pauls, Kilroy, Derry. Despite this great wind each of the players knows that no silver wear has been won yet and the commitment and intensity at training in the past few weeks will have to continue in order to capture this All-Ireland title.
Special thanks to Dromcollogher/Broadford GAA for the use of their field.
Well done to all involved

Panel:
Marie Flanagan – Captain (Milford); Joanne Murray – V captain (Kileedy), Aisling O Brien (Knockaderry), Niamh O Brien, Aideen O Flynn, Katie Dillane, Ciara Fitzgibbon, Helen Bradley, Grainne Sheehy, Kallie Hodgson, Caroline Watson (Milford) ; Gemma Barrett, Orla and Emer Cunnigham (Kileedy); Sarah O Sullivan, Loretta Hanley, Katie O Sullivan (Feenagh- Kilmeedy); Niamh Cagney (Ballyagran); Sarah Moloney, Becky Ryan, Kara Clifford, Amy Ryan, Katie Coughlan, Aine O Sullivan (Newtownshandrum); Norma Kiely (Dromcollogher)

Junior Camogie All Ireland Semi Final

Saturday 7th March @ 1:15 pm in Newtownshandrum is the time and venue for the All Ireland Camogie semi final clash between Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher and Birr Community School, Co. Offaly. Games do not come much bigger than this. Hazelwood have been waiting with excitement and anticipation since their Munster final victory over Laurel Hill on 24th January. All the players on the panel have trained with great tenacity and commitment over the past few weeks. Whilst there is a great healthy rivalry amongst the players at Club and County level, with players from Ballyagran, Feenagh – Kilmeedy, Kileedy, Knockaderry, Milford, Newtownshandrum and Dromcollogher when they put on the maroon and white jersey of Hazelwood College a united team spirit is very evident amongst all the players. This huge diversity of clubs has brought an exceptional level of skill to the school team. It is fabulous to see the great friendship and rapport between all members of the panel. There is no doubt that Birr will be formidable opponents having beaten Colaiste Mhuire, Johnstown, Co. Kilkenny in the Lenister final. This semi final clash promises to be an exciting close affair.

The very best of luck to all of the Hazelwood College Junior Camogie team!

Panel:
Marie Flanagan – Captain (Milford); Joanne Murray – V captain (Kileedy), Aisling O Brien (Knockaderry), Niamh O Brien, Aideen O Flynn, Katie Dillane, Ciara Fitzgibbon, Helen Bradley, Grainne Sheehy, Kallie Hodgson, Caroline Watson (Milford) ; Gemma Barrett, Orla and Emer Cunnigham (Kileedy); Sarah O Sullivan, Loretta Hanley, Katie O Sullivan (Feenagh- Kilmeedy); Niamh Cagney (Ballyagran); Sarah Moloney, Becky Ryan, Kara Clifford, Amy Ryan, Katie Coughlan, Aine O Sullivan (Newtownshandrum); Norma Kiely (Dromcollogher)

Experience of All Ireland Basketball Final from Hazelwood College supporters

After a winning streak, our under19 girls Basketball team departed for the National basketball Arena Tallaght to face Clonlaslee Vocational School Co. Laois.
January 27th , 6.30 am the atmosphere in Hazelwood was electric as five coaches departed for Dublin on that cold January morning. It was a long journey but well worth our while, the ambience at the match was ecstatic. The match was brilliant our Hazelwood supporters by far outnumbered the Clonlaslee gang. There was great emotion from the Hazelwood supporters including the Mexican wave and raising the roof with shouts of support for the team in between each quarter. When Hazelwood scored a basket the cheering in the Arena was ear splitting. We were flying our Hazelwood flags high with pride watching our fantastic U19 girls basketball team.
Even though we weren’t quite as successful as we would have hoped that most definitely didn’t affect our supporters in the slightest. We were still proud of our fantastic girls for getting to the All Ireland Final and getting the opportunity to play in the National Basketball Arena Tallaght.
Beimíd ar ais arís!!

Hazelwood Victorious in Cliffhanger Munster Final

Hazelwood College 3-13
Clonakilty 2-14

Hazelwood College emerged as winners in the nail-biting Senior Munster hurling Final held in the new Mallow GAA complex on Monday. Paddy Sheehy, with literally the last puck of the ball, popped up from Centre-back to score a goal in injury time and secure an historic win for the Dromcollogher School. The Game was played at a fierce pace right from the start with Hazelwood quickest out of the traps. They were leading 0-4 to to 0-1 after ten minutes, Jamie Coughlan opening our account with a pointed free, quickly followed by a great score from midfielder Henry O’Gorman before Coughlan added another two points, one from play and one from a placed ball. Clonakilty responded with two points to bring the margin back to the minimum. Jamie Coughlan sprung to the fore again scoring two fine goals, either side of a Clonakilty point. The first was a fine individual effort, finished with an unstoppable shot after beating his man. The second followed fine interplay between himself and fellow Newtownshandrum man , Gerry lane who was operating in the corner. The last ten minutes of the first half were pretty much all Clonakilty, they racked up 7 points to Hazelwood’s one, which was again provided by Jamie Coughlan to leave Clonakilty leading by a single point at half-time on a scoreline of 0-12 to 2-05. Hazelwood were playing with a reasonably strong breeze in the second half and slowly took control of the game. Jamie Coughlan contributed another four, Henry O’Gorman now on the wing scored another, Patrick O’Regan scored a gem of a point from Midfield, while fellow Feenagh/Kilmeedy man and captain Peter Irwin Scored two fine points. In the first 27 minutes of the second half Clonakilty had only managed a single point, hazelwood looked to be cruising with a 6 point lead. However the game was far from over, Clonakilty scored two goals to leave points level with time up. Agonisingly for the watching Hazelwood supporters Clonakilty then took the lead with a point in injury time, the game looked over but Paddy Sheehy Seized his chance as the ball broke from the Clonakilty full-back and pulled first time – rocketing the ball to the back of the net, with that the referee blew the final whistle to scenes of great celebration. Hazelwood now march on to the All-Ireland final in March after the Ulster champions declined to compete further. The other semi-final sees New-Inn of Galway play a combination of Grauigenamanagh and Thomastown of Kilkenny.

Hazelwood College panel is as follows:
Keith Lacey (Drom/Broadford), Laurence Clarson (Newtownshandrum), Tadgh o’Flynn (Milford), Padraig Cunningham (Kileedy), Seamus O’Connor (Milford), Paddy Sheehy (Tullylease) (1-0), Bryan Hannigan (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Henry O’Gorman (Milford) (0-2), Patrick O’Regan (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Peter Irwin (0-2) (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Padraig Nolan (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Seamus sheehan (Liscarroll), Gerry Lane (Newtownshandrum), Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum) (2-8, 0-6 frees), Jamie Coughlan (Newtownshandrum)
Subs: Darren Lane (Newtownshandrum), Timmy O’Carroll (Drom/Broadford), Ciaran Morrissey(Newtownshandrum), Chris Moxey (Kileedy), Conor O’Brien (Milford), Paul Cantillon (Liscarroll), Micheal Brosnan (Drom/Broadford), Mikey Brosnan (Liscarroll), John Nix (Feenagh/Kilmeedy) Ian Carroll (Liscarroll),

The first photo here is of Seamus Sheehan in action against Clonakility’s Colin Smith.

Second photo is our Captain Peter Irwin (Feenagh-Kilmeedy) receiving the cup from Sean Cooney, fixtures secretary of vocational schools Munster council

Third photo is of the Hazelwood College u/18 hurling team who had thrilling victory over Clonakility Community College on Monday in the Munster Championship.

Hazelwood Win Historic Football Final

Hazelwood College: 3 – 07
Doon C.B.S: 2 – 02

Date: Thursday, 22/01/09.
Venue: Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

Congratulations to Hazelwood College’s first year football team on winning their first ‘Limerick Colleges’ football final. This was a great performance by the whole panel and is a well deserved reward for their hard work and training during the year. The final was a great spectacle with Hazelwood deciding to play against the wind in the first half. Hazelwood got off to the perfect start with a goal in the opening minutes scored by Dylan Kelly. Dylan kicked in a high dangerous ball which deceived the Doon goalkeeper and landed high into the back of the net. Damien Lacey, who was dangerous throughout, scored a good point from the right wing after good support play by Sean Flanagan and James O’Brien. Doon replied with a point but this was soon cancelled out by a free from Damien Lacey which was rewarded after a Hazelwood player was fouled going through on goal. Play at this stage was very intense with both sides trying to get on top. Michael Barrett, Eamon Shanahan and Lee Daly were towers of strength at this stage for Hazelwood. Halfway through the first-half Cillian Cagney who was having a good solid game at centre back picked up an injury and was replaced by James Donegan who went on to give an exhibition in the backs for Hazelwood. Doon and Hazelwood exchanged points, with Damien Lacey again the scorer. With five minutes remaining Hazelwood broke up a Doon attacking movement in the half-back line. The ball was worked up to the Hazelwood full-forward line through James Donegan, James Butler and Jason Sheahan with the ball eventually being given to Damien Lacey who rounded the Doon goalkeeper to score Hazelwood’s second goal.

Half time score: Hazelwood 2-03 Doon 0-02

Hazelwood continued as they left off in the first half with a point from Damien Lacey after good support play from James O’Brien and Ronan Lehane. James Butler who was causing havoc for the Doon half-back line all day hit a purple patch and scored a point and followed it up with a fine individual goal. At this point Hazelwood were really on top with the full-back line of Peter Mulcahy, Philip O’Flynn and Denis Murray giving away no opportunities to the Doon full-forward line. However, with ten minutes remaining Doon threw everything they had at Hazelwood and scored two good individual goals which would have been more but for the efforts of Shane O’Callaghan in goals. Hazelwood immediately replied with two fine points from Dylan Kelly and Ronan Lehane. Shortly afterwards the ref blew the final whistle to the joy of the Hazelwood panel and their supporters.

Gerry Bennis presented the cup to James O’Brien who in turn thanked the team / supporters / management and gave three cheers to Doon. Hazelwood College now march on to the semi-final of the Limerick VEC first year competition.
Team trainers Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Kiely would like to thank Darren Coleman (LCAII) for all his help and assistance with the team preparation.

Team: Shane O’ Callaghan (Freemount), Peter Mulcahy (Deel Rgs), Philip O’ Flynn (Milford), Denis Murray (Killeedy), Lee Daly (Tullylease), Cillian Cagney (Ballygran), Eamon Shanaghan (Deel Rgs), Michael Barrett Drom/Broadford), Sean Flanagan (Deel Rgs), Dylan Kelly (Deel Rgs), James O’ Brien (Drom/Broadford), Jamie Butler (Deel Rgs), Damien Lacy (Drom/Broadford) Ronan Lehane (Liscarroll), Jason Sheehan(Tullylease)
Subs: James Donegan (Drom/Broadford), Colm McMahon (Ballygran), Killian O’ Riordan (Deel Rgs), Sean Fehin (Freemount), Micheal Browne (Drom/Broadford), John McDermott (Ballygran), Daniel Leahy (Drom/Broadford), John Matthews (Drom/Broadford), Timothy O’ Connell (Liscarroll), Diarmuid Buckley (Freemount), Daniel Ahern (Killeedy), Darragh Kiely (Feenagh/Kilmeedy), Declan Stack (Drom/Broadford) Eoin O’ Sullivan, Cillian Fahy (Drom/Broadford) unavailable due to illness

The successful first year football team.

John Cregan presents the cup to first year football captain James O Brien with trainers Denis Mc Carthy and Brendan Kiely.