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POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS

2003 was an historic year for Coiste na nIarbunscoileanna.  Many positive events occurred including the continued development of our competitions and the participation of a record 19 schools, the latest being the new school in Kilcoole, Colaiste Craobh Abhainn.  Any new member of the fold is to be sincerely welcomed and we wish them well in the years ahead.  It is good to see the positive contribution of the County Board and Leinster Council in providing the newcomers with jerseys and equipment.  One should also acknowledge the equipment provided each year by Leinster Council for all schools taking part in their competitions.  This was augmented this year by an excellent first aid kit but it is to be hoped that the necessity to use these will be kept to a minimum. Another positive aspect of the year was the contribution of our new Development Officers Tom Byrne and Linda Byrne.  They made a major input into running Transition Year coaching programmes in conjunction with Hugh Kenny, as well as running hurling and camogie competitions, a referees course and many other activities. On the other hand there were a number of areas where improvement is necessary.  Too few schools take part in hurling and in B camogie competitions.  Some progress was made with internal schools leagues, with Hugh Kenny providing polo shirts for prizes but this area needs to be developed more so that all students in a school have an opportunity to play our national games. Coiste na nIarbunscoileanna suffered a big blow during the year with the departure of our long serving secretary Colm Kirwan of Avondale Community College to his native Kerry. Colm was the guiding light and inspirational worker and will be extremely difficult to replace. The Coiste made a presentation of a wood carving by our Treasurer Martin Browne St. Kilian's Bray to Colm at the AGM. Donal McGillycuddy, chairman of the County Board who generoulsy hosted the night, presented Colm with a painting of Glendalough.

BOYS  FOOTBALL

De La Salle College Wicklow retained the Martin Gleeson Cup when defeating St. Kevin's Dunlavin by 1-14 to 1-6 in the final in dreadful conditions. St. Brendan's College Bray won the Senior B title for the first time when defeating Blessington CC by 0-9 to 0-8 in a great game in Laragh. A great year for St. Brendan's was made even better by their junior footballers.  In the B final they defeated St. Kilians by 2-10 to 3-5. They went on from there to overcome Wicklow De La Salle and St. Kevins Dunlavin to reach the A final.  Here they defeated a highly rated team from Scoil Chonglais Baltinglass by 1-10 to 0-11 in Aughrim. St. Brendan's won another title, the first year B football defeating Blessington by 6-2 to 5-4 in Roundwood.  Blessington had already won the first year C 10 a side championship by beating Arklow CC by 5-10 to 4-7. A fine Colaiste Bhride team from Carnew won the First Year A final and the Godfrey Timmons cup by defeating Abbey CC Wicklow by 2-15 to 3-5 in Aughrim.  The winners were coached by former county star Noel Keoghane who had been striving for this for many years.

CAMOGIE

The big success story here was the emergence of Dominican College Wicklow under the guidance of Anita Hughes.  Five schools competed in the Senior A competition with 13 matches played in all. Dominican College won an excellent final in Pearse Park Arklow when defeating the holders Scoil Chonglais Baltinglass by 6-7 to 2-4.  The Senior B title race had only three entrants but it also produced an excellent final with St. David's Greystones getting the better of Avondale CC by 5-2 to 4-2. Scoil Chonglais retained the Junior A championship with a powerful second half display to defeat St. Mary's College Arklow by 9-5 to 3-1 in the final.  There was no junior B played as only two schools were willing to take part. The withdrawal of three schools reduced the first year competition to four teams.  The final was well contested with Colaiste Bhride Carnew defeating St. Marys by 6-2 to 4-2 after extra time. For the first time an indoor competition for first and second years was five schools producing a total of eight teams.  It was well run by Tom and Linda Byrne with St. Mary's defeating Avondale by 12 goals to 7 after a great day of sporting endeavour in Arklow.

GIRLS  FOOTBALL

Eight teams entered for the Senior A 11 a side competition but only five participated.  The final was an absolute thriller in Pearse Park where it took extra time to seperate two fine teams.  Colaiste Bhride Carnew shaded it over Loreto College Bray on a 5-11 to 6-6 scoreline. St. Mary's Arklow making a first apperance in girls football won the Senior B 7 a side competition defeating Avondale CC and St. Kilians Bray in the final. The first and second year A competition had seven participants and some really exciting games.  Colaiste Bhride were also successful here proving too strong for Avondale CC by 3-9 to 0-8 in the final.

HURLING

Once more it was disappointing to see the low level of interest.  Only three teams competed in the 11 a side Senior competition which was won comfortably by a combined Bray schools side over Abbey CC and Avondale CC. At Minor (first and second year) level only three of the five entries took part.  Abbey CC had a very easy 8-15 to 5-1 win over De La Salle College in the final.

LEINSTER  COMPETITIONS

Eleven schools from the county played in Under 16 and Under 14 while seven took part in Senior football.  Five played in hurling while Colaiste Bhride Carnew were our sole standard bearers in girls football. Pride of place goes to the Under 14 football team from Colaiste Bhride under the guidance of Padraig Donoghue who won the South Leinster D Championship by defeating Ramsgrange CS by 4-16 to 2-1.  They narrowly lost the provincial semi final to Presentation Killina of Offaly by 1-5 to 1-8. The Bray schools Under 16 hurling team reached the Dublin Colleges B final but went down to St. Benildus. A number of other schools reached South Leinster finals.  De La Salle College Wicklow lost both the Senior football C 0-6 to 3-11 to Presentation Carlow by 3-11 to 0-6 and the Under 16 hurling to Mooncoin by 1-10 to 3-1. Two teams from the county reached the South Leinster Under 16 football finals. Colaiste Bhride went down in the C decider to Bridgetown VC while Abbey CC Wicklow lost narrowly to Bunclody VC in Craanford. St. Kevin's Dunlavin reached the South Leinster Under 14 C final but went down to a strong team from Wexford CBS.

HANDBALL

Colaiste Bhride Carnew players had a most successful year.  Killian Gregan and Christopher won the All Ireland Vocational schools Senior A 40x20 doubles in Croke Park. Martin O'Neill and P.J. Mulhall won the Leinster Colleges A first year doubles (60x30). Jerome Willoughby won the Leinster VS Junior singles 40x20 and Shane Hennessy and Damien Cullen won the Leinster VS Senior doubles B 40x20 title.

COUNTY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS TEAM

Once again Wicklow reached the Leinster final but for the third time in four years they were beaten in the provincial decider. The quarter final was played in Baltinglass and Wicklow were successful by 3-7 to 2-5.  Two weeks later it was back to the same venue for a semi final meeting with a Carlow team that included a number of Wicklow lads who attended Carlow schools.  It took an all out effort for the Wicklow boys to end up on top by 2-6 to 1-4. In the final we faced an excellent Longford team who had won the All Ireland B and gone on to overcome Meath and Dublin. Our first attempt at playing the game had to be called off at late notice as Portarlington was waterlogged.  Days later it was off to Walsh Island where Longford were comfortable winners on a 3-13 to 1-7 scoreline.  They went on to win the All Ireland in convincing style. It was good to see Ken Browne emerge from retirement to coach the team with the other mentors, Colm Kirwan, Jim Murphy, Kevin Kelly and Frank McGee.  A special mention must be made of Lucy Mooney who was a great help in transporting the players from Dunlavin school.  This was her son James' third year on the county team but he was not to achieve the Leinster medal won by all his brothers. The lads were well looked after in gear thanks to the generous sponsorship of the VEC per Hugh O'Brien and Michael Lawlor, O'Kellys of Bray, the County Board and the TUI.

REFEREES

A great debt of gratitude is due to the referees who officiated at our games.  People like Eamon Murray, Christy O'Rourke, Martina Kelly and others often went out of their way to facilitate the Board.

SKILLS

The county skills finals were held in the county grounds Aughrim organised by Hugh Kenny and Linda Byrne.  There were eight categories in all with St. David's Greystones and Avondale CC taking the lions share of the awards. County skills winners with former Kerry star Mike Hassett, St. David's Greystones and Paddy O'Sullivan Avondale CC.

TRANSITION YEAR COACHING COURSES

A total of 240 students from 10 schools took part.  The courses were very well organised by Tom Byrne, Hugh Kenny and Linda Byrne.  Bray coach Conor Johnson has also became involved so the number of participants looks like being even higher for the present school year.

YOUNG REFEREES

Tom Byrne organised this on four successive weeks with an exam to follow.  It is hoped that this will lead to extra referees at juvenile and hopefully adult level in the near future.

GREAT CO-OPERATION

Once again the Coiste was delighted by the help received from the County Board in so many areas.  Jimmy Dunne and Donal McGillicuddy have always been most supportive. A word of thanks also to the officers of the Minor Board, Camogie Board and Ladies Football Board for their support and help. A special word of thanks must go to the VEC for not alone providing a team jacket and kit bag for the county team but also for sponsoring the annual fixtures booklet. With the continued willing co-operation of so many Gaelic games can maintain their important place in our schools.