Clonakilty Community College 1 St Brogan's College 2

The junior St Brogan's team got their campaign up and running at the second time of asking recovering from an opening defeat to Kinsale by edging out Clonakilty with a superb team performance. The junior girl’s school league is for students up to and including the junior cert year. This stellar performance was all the more thrilling when you take into account that 8 of the 13 players in the squad were 1st years.

Clonakilty started the stronger and took the lead after 10mins with a powerful shot. The next few minutes could have resulted in a 2nd goal but for some smart and brave goalkeeping by the outstanding Meghan Collins. The Brogan girls then began to find their feet and bossed the rest of the 1st half. The influential captain Chloe O' Leary and 1st year Celina Hickey took over the midfield with intelligent passing and brilliant tackling. The strikers Lisa Crowley and Kelly Harte were causing havoc for the Clonakilty defence with their pace and Lisa was very unfortunate to see a rocket cannon back off the crossbar as Brogans pushed hard for the equaliser. The deserved equaliser 10 minutes before half time was scored by Chloe from a well worked move when she calmly picked her spot from the edge of the box. Brogan's pushed forward for the remainder of the half with Sarah Crowley tormenting Clonakilty with her wizardry and pace on the right wing and hard working Mel Fitzgerald raiding down the left. Clonakilty were very relieved to get to half time at 1-1.

Their relief was short lived though as Brogan's attacked from the outset of the 2nd half and took the lead that their play merited when Kelly Harte squeezed a shot in at the near post. Brogans pushed hard for the 3rd and had to put aside the disappointment of missing 2 penalties that were won through the excellent work of Lisa Crowley. The missed chances didn't prove to be costly as outstanding 2nd year Chloe Lynch marshalled the defence with the help of the excellent 1st years Maura O Sullivan, Lydia Coveney and Siobhan Harte who admirably stood up to the physical challenge posed by their more experienced opponents. Substitutes Perdita Burke and Amy O Connell played their part upon their introduction with Perdita nearly scoring and Amy helping to shore up the defence whenever Clonakilty attacked in the dying minutes. The St Brogan’s girls held firm and collected the three points that their whole hearted performance deserved. 

Team trainers Mr Jamie Wilkinson and Mr Michael Connern entered a girls soccer team in both Senior and Junior grades last year organised by the Munster branch of the FAI.  Our senior side were also entered into a cup competition for the Cork area.  Both teams competed very well throughout the league campaign.  Our Senior side narrowly lost out in the semi-final of the cup to a determined Buttevant side 1-0.  They also lost their league final to Carrigaline in a high scoring game (6-4) after showing great heart and determination in coming back from trailing 4-0 at half time. Our Junior side did very well in winning their league final 2-0 against Presentation Convent Ballyphehane.

There has been a strong tradition of Gaelic games since St. Brogan’s College first opened its gates.  Each year the school enters Cork County Vocational Schools and Munster Vocational Schools competitions at First Year, U-14, U-16 and U-18 grades in both Hurling and Football. 

St. Brogan’s have been very successful in both codes having won many Cork County and Munster competitions through the years.  One achievement in particular is worthy of special mention: The 2004 Team.  That year St. Brogan’s won a unique double at U-18 grade winning both the All-Ireland Vocational Schools Senior A Football and Senior A Hurling titles. 
 St. Brogans is  the only second level school in Ireland ever to have won an ’A’ double in either Colleges or Vocational Schools.

In 2007 St. Brogans won the O’Callaghan Cup (Cork Schools Senior A Hurling) ensuring status as the top second level hurling school in Cork. 

Each year students from the school are sent forward for trials with the Cork Vocational Schools Intercounty Hurling and Football teams.  St. Brogan’s continue to make up a significant portion of both these teams.  Some of our most talented sportsmen have represented Cork at Minor, Under 21, Junior and Intermediate level again in both hurling and football.

While we are fortunate to have enjoyed success at the highest level in the past it is our emphasis on enjoyment that prevails.  Gaelic games are open to all pupils in the school with training focusing on Basics, Ball and Fun.

Cork County V.E.C. Senior A Football semi-final. 4th November '09

Clonakilty C.C. 1-15           St. Brogan’s College 2-7

St. Brogan’s put up a gallant fight against reigning champions Clonakilty Community College in Ahamilla today.  The facilities at the new home of Clonakilty GAA are top class and maybe suited the homeside as the raced into an early lead.  Brogan’s conceded an early goal to fall four points behind after 10 minutes but regained their composure to go in level at the break.  Brendan Cullen and Pauric O’Donovan worked hard around the middle and got great help from Joe Harrington at wing forward. 

Clon made the most of the wind on the resumption and opened up a 6 point lead.  However, Brogans replied with a brilliant goal from the impressive Mark Sugrue and by the time Rob Moore added a second goal there was only 1point between the sides with 5 minutes remaining.  The prospect of a grand stand finish was quickly dashed by Clon finished the stronger to win four points.

Brogan’s Best on the day were John Shannon, Gary Farrell, Brendan Cullen, Joe Harrington, Rob Moore and Mark Sugrue.

St. Brogan’s College 5-21  Hazlewood college 1-5

St. Brogan’s proved too strong for the Dromcolligher outfit in Donoughmore today.  Four goals in the first 15 minutes from James McSweeney, Jason Crowley and Declan Harrington(2) pushed Brogans into an unassailable lead. Gary Farrell and Mark Murphy dominated midfield and chipped in with a point each before half time.   Hazlewood to their credit battled back and trailed by 4-9 to 0-5 at the break. 

Eoin McSweeney replaced namesake James at half time and scored 1-1 as Brogans continued to dominate.  Hazlewood College grabbed a goal before the end but it was little more than a consolation as St. Brogans ran out easy winners on a score of 5-21 to 1-5.

D. O’Driscoll, S. Hartnett, J. Lynch, C. Harrington, M. Courtney, P. O’Leary(0-1),D.  Canty, G. Farrell(0-3), M. Murphy(0-3), M. McNamara(0-2), C. Nyhan(0-3), E. Ryan(0-3), J. Crowley(1-1), J. McSweeney(1-0), D. Harrington(2-3) subs E. McSweeney(1-1), C. Crowley,  C. O’Neill(0-1),  A. Shorten(0-1) M. O’Brien,

St Brogans College 2-16  Kinsale Community College 3-6  Wed 9^th September

The senior footballers got off to a winning start in this challenge game with Kinsale C.C. at Riverstick today. Brogan’s ability to convert scoring chances into points on the scoreboard ensured victory on the day.

 All 24 players got at least 30 minutes game time with last years under 16 team making up the majority of the team.  Bandon’s Stephen Lynch and Joe Harrington marshalled the defence with the defence with Valley Rovers’ Joe Lynch at full back.  Up front Mark Sugrue(Bandon), Seánie Ryan(Newcestown), Alan O’Sullivan(Kilmurray) and Rob Moore(Valley Rovers) accounted for the majority of scores with excellent link play throughout.

The seniors are next in action against Kerry outfit Causeway Comprehensive on Wednesday 30^th September.  This will be the first round of the Munster Championship with CLonakilty C.S., Causeway Comprehensive and St. Brogans in the group. 2 teams will qualify for the semi-finals. 

Lunchtime leagues

The transition year students are currently running off a lunchtime Gaelic football league for first year and second year pupils.  Mr. Murphy helped to set up the league and organise the groups and fixtures.  Games last for 20 minutes with the results recorded and at the moment Leitrim and Clare are topping the groups.  Seán Ryan, James O’Leary, Joe Lynch, Grace O’Callaghan, Gary Farrell, Pádraig O’Leary,  James McSweeney, Mark Murphy  and Jamie O’Brien are among the students helping to run the league.

The senior football team are continuing preparations fro the next round of the Munster VEC competition.  Players are making great efforts to attend each training which improves the quality of the sessions.  A typical training begins with a warm up followed by ball drills and a match or conditioned game to finish up.  The emphasis is put on mastering the basic skills and getting as much contact with the ball as possible.  Mr. Murphy is delighted with the commitment shown by this group.