Junior GAA
Junior A - 2023-2024
The Junior A panel was made up of boys from Mr. O’Mahony and Ms. Quinn's 5th class. This was a very special year for this group as they won their Go Games South 2 league. This group have now added this title to the Oatlands hurling blitz they claimed back in 3rd class.
They started their league campaign with an excellent victory away to St. Laurence's Kilmacud. In round two of the league they faced old rivals Hollypark BNS in Cornelscourt. This proved to be an epic battle and the boys from St. Brigid’s BNS held on to secure a four point win.
Next up the boys were on the road again when they faced St. Michael's College. The team performed admirably and with a strong first half showing they ran out comfortable winners.
In the final two games the boys faced St. Mary's Booterstown and St. Colmcilles Knocklyon. Another two excellent team performances the boys were victorious and topped their league with five wins. The boys will receive their medals at the school assembly on Friday 20th of October. This is a very talented group and an exciting year awaits in 2024 when they go on to compete in the Cumann na mBunscol competitions.
Mr. Melia and Ms. McManus had the pleasure of working with this team and they would like to express their thanks to all the parents for bringing the boys to the away games and coming down to watch the team play their home games in Cornelscourt. A special mention to Geraldine Moran's GPO Johnny Magee who puts in a lot of hours in St. Brigid’s BNS with all classes from Junior Infants to sixth class.
Junior B - 2023-2024
The Junior B footballers, comprised of boys from 4th class, got their first taste of representing the school in the Cumann na mBunscol competition this year.
The boys played four games in total, giving them great experience going into next year. All of the boys developed as each game passed, and they look like they will be an exciting team to watch going forward.
We would like to thank Mr. O’Dwyer and Mrs. Keating for working with the boys this year.
Senior GAA ‘23-’24
Where to begin? What a few months for this special group of boys.
Our senior GAA footballers have had a fantastic year. They won three out of three games in the group stages, using twenty-four players across all games.
The boys began their campaign with a trip to play Scoil Lorcáin, and started as they intended to go on, playing direct football and working hard for each other. They followed this win up with arguably their best performance against Divine Word NS in St. Enda’s Park, and then finally overcoming a tough St. Olaf’s side at home in Cornelscourt.
In the quarter final, they produced a magnificent first half attacking display, coupled with a resilient second half effort defensively, to overcome a tough St. Laurence’s side on a scoreline of 4-08 to 1-04.
The team, made up of five fifth class boys, and twenty sixth class boys, made it to the semi-final of Corn na nGealtarach competition as a result of that win, which is the second highest division in Dublin.
They played St. Marnock’s NS of Portmarnock on Tuesday 17th October, and they produced their most complete performance of the year, and showcased all of their talents, courage and bravery. That result meant the boys booked their place in the final of the Cumann na mBunscol competition, where they would play in Croke Park.
Scoil Thomais, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, awaited the boys in the final on Monday 23rd October. A day and date that will live long in the memory for each boy involved in the team and each boy that was there to witness the great occasion.
After getting off to a flying start in the final, scoring 1-3 in a matter of minutes, Scoil Thomais pulled the game back and the teams went into halftime with only two points between them, on a scoreline of 1-05 to 0-06. After repelling the initial few attacks of Scoil Thomais early in the second half, the boys grabbed a couple of goals in quick succession and put the game out of reach of their opponents.
What followed the final whistle can only be described as scenes of sheer joy and jubilation. Family, friends and players couldn’t wipe the smile off of their faces and the boys were welcomed back to school as heroes.
We are extremely proud of the boys and we know they are enjoying every minute of playing with their friends and representing St. Brigid’s.
Mr. Melia, Ms. Sheehy, Ms. O’Neill and I would like to say a special word of thanks to the parents of all of the boys involved, as they have organised lifts to and from the away games, whilst also being on the end of a call to bring in forgotten gear on the day of trainings and games. Without all of these little actions, the boys would not be where they are today.
Míle buíochas,
Brian Neary