Our Girls finished runners-up in the 2019 INTO Mini 7s football competition.
Our girls football team continued their fine year with some outstanding performances at the County INTO Mini 7s Finals in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale today.
Herbertstown NS, representing the South as the division’s champions, took on East champions Roxborough NS, Mahoonagh NS from the West and Gaelscoil Caladh an Treoigh from the City.
In the first game, Herbertstown gave a fine display and had a convincing win against Gaelscoil Caladh an Treoigh.
Captains prior to first game
In the second game, Herbertstown faced off against the Celtic Image Shield holders (county 15-a-side champions) Roxborough NS. The first half was keenly contested and at the break, Roxborough held a 1 point lead. Wind assisted in the second half, the East side pulled away to get the victory.
In the final game, Herbertstown and Mahoonagh NS met having secured a win each at that point. In their best performance of the day, our girls recorded a memorable victory with some crucial goals coming in the last couple of minutes.
Pictures courtesy of Eamon Doody, Skyview Photography
As mentioned, Herbertstown finished as runners-up and it was our best result at a Mini 7s County Final having finished 3rd on two occasions previously. (Boys hurling 2016, girls football 2017). Well done girls!
Our girls were in real hard luck at the South INTO Mini 7s camogie finals were they lost narrowly in two games to Kilmallock NS and eventual winners Knocklong NS. In both games the girls performed very well and in the closing stages were only only a score away from the winners.
They can be very proud of their performances on the day and can now look forward to the 11 a side camogie in May.
Pupils attending South hurling & camogie trials
Good luck to our 8 pupils who are representing the school at the South trials.
Training is continuing ahead of the INTO Mini Sevens hurling and camogie competitions next week. Hospital/Herbertstown hurler Michael Whelan is providing coaching for rest of the term and it is a great help to the school as it allows our camogie and hurling teams to train side by side.
Our girls mini 7s football team will contest the county final on Wednesday April 3rd in Rathkeale. It will be the second time that the school has played in the county football final, the previous occasion being in 2017. Our girls are back training ahead of what will be a great day for the school.
Girls Football Training at LunchtimeINTO Mini Sevens- County Finalists 2017
Herbertstown NS pupils show off their handball skills.
Well done to the four pupils who represented the school today in the South Limerick Primary Schools Handball event hosted by John the Baptist CS. The boys played some great handball and are making great progress in the game. Two pupils came home with South medals in a very competitive U11 division. Congratulations boys.
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.
Members of the victorious Limerick Ladies Football team visited the school on Friday.
Megan O’Shea, Orlaith O’Donoghue and Louise Ryan brought the West County Cup to Herbertstown NS and gave some great advice and tips to the children. All three are members of St Brigid’s Ladies Football Club and links were made between the girls who play football in the school and their chances of one day playing in Croke Park. Megan said “when Limerick last won this cup in 2010, I was looking on in Croke Park just like some of you were.”
The pupils asked questions, sang ‘Limerick, You’re a Lady’ and the school’s musicians performed Amhrán na bhFiann.
Megan, Orlaith & Lucy stayed on to allow time for the children to lift the cup and take photographs. They are great ambassadors for their club and county.
The GAA 5 Star initiative aims to support and recognise Primary Schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous Gaelic Games activity per week in a manner that ensures the children will experience fun, friendship, fairness and ultimately improve their fitness. Recognition as a “GAA 5 Star Centre” is awarded to Primary Schools that undertake to deliver a programme of Gaelic Games activity that is age-appropriate and meets the developmental needs of children within the school.
Herbertstown NS is one of a number of schools accepted to pilot this new initiative from the GAA and so far this year we have been making progress on a number of areas. For the next 6 weeks, 3rd & 4th class and 5th & 6th class will be focusing on the ‘Have a Ball’ and ‘Strike It’ elements of the initiative.
Here are some photos of the pupils taking part in some activities earlier today.