Sporting success at St Aidan’s
A great year of sport in St Aidan’s led to teams across all sports reach a number of semi-finals and finals. The school’s success resulted in quite a haul of silverware.
In Gaelic football the U14 boys’ team were the winners of the Gerry Brown Cup, they beat St Joseph’s High School, Crossmaglen in the final and were coached by Mr Pat Lynch and Mr Martin Ross.
Well done to St Aidan’s Under 15.5 boys who defeated St. Patrick’s College Dungiven in the McEvoy Cup Final in a fiercely contested game up in Fr O Brien Park in Brackaville Co Tyrone.
The U14 ladies’ football team reached the Ulster final this year. The girls, coached by Ms Aoife McPhillips, came up against a strong Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney side only to be beaten in the final.
The U20 ladies’ football team, coached by Ms Kerry Nolan, won their Ulster final against Holy Cross, Strabane. The cup is in St Aidan’s for the next year.
In hurling the senior boys, coached Mr Pearse McKenna were beaten in the Ulster semi-final by De La Salle, Belfast. The U16s were Ulster semi-finalists also losing out to St Columb’s College, Derry. Whilst the U14 team made the Ulster final they were beaten by St Columba’s, Stranorlar, both teams coached by Mr Gabriel McQuillan.
Turning to basketball our U19 girls’ team were winners of the North East league but were beaten in the Leinster final by a physically bigger team from Portlaoise College.
In soccer, the first year boys were beaten in the Ulster quarter-final by Largy College.
Coached by Mr David Watters, the U15 boys team beat St Pat’s Cavan 4-2 to win the McEvoy Cup in the Cavan/Monaghan League. The U17 Boys’ soccer team were beaten in Ulster third round by Deele College, Raphoe.
The U19 boys’ soccer were beaten in the Ulster Semi-final by St. Columba’s, Stranorlar. They qualified for the Cavan/Monaghan League final, which they won on a walkover as OLSS, Blayney could not field a team.
Lastly to camogie their U14 girls’ team, coached by Ms Aishling Donoghue, made it to the Ulster Semi-final played in Tyrone GAA Centre against St Benedict’s, Randalstown. A very tough game saw St Benedict’s progress through to the final.
Thanks to all the teachers who coached teams and all the students who participated and long may St Aidan’s involvement in all sports continue.