Mr. Moran has started the Gaelic training.Boys go playing Gaelic from 3^rd ,4^th ,5^th and 6^th . There are 34 boys who go training down to the Mall.

St. Michael’s is affiliated to Cumann na mBunscoil which organises competitions in Gaelic games for all schools in County Longford. Current opponents in Division One, League and Championship, are Melview, Mostrim, Killoe, St. Emear’s, Columcille and Newtownforbes.

The 9-a-side Blitz in played during first term, the County League in second term and the County Championship in summer term. Victories in the Championship were achieved in 1987 – captain Damien Smith; in 1989 – captain Oliver Warnock; in 1993 captain David Mulligan and in 1995 with Brian Flyann as captain. League success was achieved in 1987, 1989, 1993 and 1995. Memorable finals were the Championship Finals of 1993 and 1994 – in the former St. Michaels beat Columcille after extra time in a replay; in the following year Columcille emerged victorious during extra time, also in a replay. We won the 9-a-side Blitz in 1991 and 1995, defeating Ballymahon and Columcille.

Longford Slashers Minor Club organises a league for school teams in the local parish, all teams playing each other on a league basis with the top teams playing in the finals. We were victorious in 1995 and were defeated in this year’s final.

The players always look resplendent in their sky-blue jersies generously donated by the Glennon Family in memory of past principal Liam Mac Gleannain.

A Visit to Croke Park.

A CLOSE ENCOUNTER

TRAINING

Every week, about three times, our Gaelic Team go down to Co. Longford Sports and Leisure centre to train. First we get togged out and then Mr. Moran our trainer blows the whistle and we all run over and make a circle. Westart running around in a circle and when our trainer says right or left we hit the ground with our hands. Then we do exercises so we don’t pull a muscle or get a cramp when we’re playing. After that we do two laps of the pitch and then we pick two teams. The teams are always fair and we play about twenty minutes a side and our trainer throws in the ball and we get started. It’s good football to watch with Steven Devlin pointing the ball from way out and Joe Coady going on runs and scoring. Also Stephen Deely making spectacular saves and Phelim O’ Halloran blocking the ball down.

Every year we train in hail, rain, or snow. This year we have trained in snow and treacherous rain and we are proud of ourselves because we went on to win hard games. We don’t mind playing in rain because it’s fun and it helps us to be able to pass more because you wouldn't be able to go on runs because the ground would be too wet. Our training starts at a quarter past three and ends at a quarter past four.

By Phelim O’ Halloran.

Under 10 Parish League
By Peter Malone, Sean Munnelly and Daniel Kearney.

We had two matches at the weekend. We played Stonepark and Emers. We beat Stonepark 2 goals to 1 goal and 2 points. And we plated St.Emers. We beat them 3 points to two points, so as you can see were pretty lucky to get through to the semi finals. We will face Stonepark in Slashers on Friday the 19 of June at 7 o’clock. So if we beat Stonepark we will be playing Melview in the final. We have a very strong team and I think we might win out the parish league. The team is me, Peter Malone, Andrew Lynch, Jason Kelly, Gareth Hughes, Kevin Carberry, Eoin Meenaghan, Kevin Carey, Damien Rhatigan, Marc Ennright, Thomas Brennan, Brian Murphy, James Brady, Bryan Nolan, David Hughes, Liam Hand. Andrew Lynch is the captain of our team and Mister Walsh is the manager. Oh yeah, and I forgot Daniel Kearney and Sean Munnelly, Patrick McDonugh and Shane Gill, who were excellent!