Kilkenny CBS, an all-boys Catholic Secondary School, was founded by the Irish Christian Brothers in 1859 and since then the school at James’s Street has a long and proud tradition in promoting Gaelic games. With more than 150 years of excellence in teaching and learning and a wide range of achievements in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities the school has a highly qualifi ed, dedicated and enthusiastic staff that deliver a diverse and comprehensive curriculum. The school’s motto “Scientia ac Labore” (Knowledge through hard work) encapsulates the spirit of diligence and enthusiasm which permeates all aspects of life at CBS Kilkenny.

The recent announcement by the Department of Education and Skills of a new school for CBS Kilkenny in the 2019-2021 period is a very positive development and an acknowledgement of the need to provide new accommodation for an ever increasing student population on a green fi eld site. It is envisaged that these new facilities will enable the school to cater for the many students who are on the school’s waiting list and furthermore will allow for the development of pitches and student amenities alongside the school buildings on a modern secondary school campus. We thank you for your attendance today at our Under 10 hurling blitz and we are delighted to welcome such a large gathering of clubs, offi cers, members, mentors and parents.

We hope this event will be a happy and memorable occasion for all of you.

M E S S A G E F R O M P R I N C I PA L T O M C L A R K E

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My experience in Kilkenny CBS was a very positive and fulfi lling one, where I enjoyed all aspects of school life. When I cast my mind back to my school days I am immediately met with very fond memories- not only from an academic point of view where teachers worked tirelessly to assist and support us to achieve our potential but also from a sporting viewpoint. Representing CBS at every level from U14 to Senior Colleges was a huge honour for me and one that I often reminisce on to this very day. From the moment we clad the maroon and saffron jersey we were immediately immersed in the spirit of the CBS hurling tradition, a legacy that instilled a love of sport within us and pride in the jersey we wore.

Personally, I was very fortunate to have been part of many successful teams throughout my time in Kilkenny CBS. Captaining the Junior team to Leinster glory in 2005 was one of the fi rst and most signifi cant highlights of my sporting career in the CBS. A Leinster Senior Colleges medal followed in 2006, where both the players’ and supporters’ CBS spirit was evident on that cold Saturday afternoon in Dr. Cullen Park. That medal is one that I will cherish forever.

My greatest hurling highlight and regret came hand in hand in Croke Park in 2007, when we reached the Senior Colleges All Ireland Final. Despite losing by the slimmest of margins and the deep disappointment felt, I will never forget the feeling of leading out a panel of friends onto Croke Park. The support from the students of the time and the wider school community as well as former pupils will live long in the memory.

Thinking back on my sporting days in the CBS, I am left with great friendships that were made as a result of my involvement with hurling in the school. CBS hurling did not place importance on the club you played for or your ability on the pitch. It placed importance on affording opportunities- opportunities to young men to express and challenge themselves not only to be better hurlers, but better people. The togetherness and unity that was to the core of CBS hurling fuelled our success and thus facilitated the school to excel on the playing fi eld.

I was extremely lucky to be coached and managed by teachers who were positive, friendly, determined and encouraging. They reminded us of our duty when representing the school, the pride we should take when donning the jersey, the legacy of our brothers before us and the importance of working as part of a team. This spirit that was generated by these teachers is still evident in Kilkenny CBS today.

Being associated with Kilkenny CBS is something that I am extremely proud of, and it is something that I look back on with fond memories.

M A R K B E R G I N

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Far from breaking tradition in Kilkenny CBS, the school has built on the efforts of previous generations and embellished and enhanced tradition, particularly when we talk about the ancient game of hurling. From 1918, Kilkenny CBS has contested twenty two Corn Ui Dhuill Finals in Leinster. The most pertinent statistic though is that ten of those fi nals have been reached since 2002.

Kilkenny CBS has won this trophy on eight occasions with three of those victories secured since 2006. It is a clear indication of the recent resurgence in the school’s status at the top fl ight of school’s hurling in Leinster. At national level the picture is similar. Kilkenny CBS reached the Croke Cup Final on seven occasions with four of those appearances coming in 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. The past decade has been one of the most successful eras of our school’s hurling history at all levels, but particularly at Senior level.

Reaching Leinster Senior and All-Ireland Finals has become a much more regular occurrence and there is a sense of expectation each year that to progress to provincial and national fi nals is almost a minimum requirement. The bar continues to be set higher and higher each year to compete at the highest level and add to the eight provincial titles and the All-Ireland crown secured in 1981. “No player is left behind”, and no stone is left unturned in the quest for hurling success.

Throughout the school’s long tenure in Kilkenny City many of our past pupils have proceeded to represent Kilkenny at all ages and levels on the hurling pitch. Kilkenny CBS has played a signifi cant role in preparing players for Kilkenny teams. In 2017, former CBS star Mark Bergin has been bestowed the honour of Captaincy of the Kilkenny Senior County squad. We wish Mark all the best in the year ahead.

In a recent interview with the Irish Independent, former CBS pupil and current staff member Matt Ruth stated;

“We boast that no student is left behind. As soon as they come in,anyone that wants to hurl in fi rst and second year hurls every week

for the whole year, and at lunchtime they’re always pucking around,” he said.

Clearly every player counts in this top fl ight Colleges Hurling academy.

“Third and fourth years do core work during lunch and seniors are in the gym.There’s a good buzz around the gym every lunch time with lads pucking

around or bettering themselves in some way.There’s a great hurling atmosphere here.”

Ar aghaigh le CBS!

‘NÁ DEAN NÓS AGUS NÁ BRIS NÓS’

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O’LOUGHLIN GAELS BARROW RANGERS CLARA

Brian MahonDarragh DwyerDavid HennessyDillon CarpenterEimhin O‘HareEoin DelaneyJames MurphyKyle MaherPaddy HanlonPJ McHughRobert PendergastSeamus BrennanShane McDonaldZack Power

Conor BrennanJayden BroadenCian ByrneTJ ComerfordDiarmuid ConsidineEvan DelaneyRíain DelaneyAran DoyleMichael FrostTom GlennonRuairí HanrahanConor HolohanAmin IbrahamSzymon Iwasiuk

David BarcoeJohn BerginTom BoyleSean ByrnePhilip CarriganJames CodySean CookeEoin CorrConor GalvinBill Kealy

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Aidan CrowleyDavid TraversColman DunneLouis LalorCharlie SheehanBill CluneMark ReddyRuairi O’ CasaideCalum MurphyAlan Cunniff eLiam Ireland WallFionn Mahony

Jake MaherDaniel MurphyTom MurphyJames O’BeirnePaul O’BeirneJoe PowerDaniel RyanJay TaylorHugh KellyLuke Lawlor

Tommy HolmesNoah BrabenRory O’SheaJohnny LeahyDylan BreenMicheal O’MahoneyCiabhan MaherCathal GroganJack HennessyDaragh HoganRory BuckleyCillian MurphyBen LeahyCian MaherRyan Maher

AN CLÁRACH DANESFORTTULLAROAN .

BENNETTSBRIDGE ROWER INISTIOGEAN GRÁIG

BÁILE UÍ CHALLÁIN

Tadhg ByrneJames WallaceHugh SheppardHugh LonerganRory O’ConnorJack DooleyEvan CullenAlex O’FarrellLiam KeoghLuke DobbinTony DobbinEoin WalpoleScott Hennessy

Eoghan ByrneDarregh MurphyConor DowneyJames GilsenanOdran McGorryJosh MaherOlan DelaneyPadraig ByrneDonnacha SlatorJack RochePJ MackeyJames Mahon

Sean EastRobbie TectorMarti n BrennanRobbie LynchOwen CahillFrank McCluskeyDavid WaltonAidan CahillShane HoganSean O’HalloranDara BarutJames O’Halloran

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DICKSBOROYOUNG

IRELAND’SGAEIL UÍ

LOCHLAINN

Luke KerwickThomas TraceyAnthony Cliff ordKieran PowerDonnacha HennesseyJames KennyHarry ConroyTom WalshOisin HendersonEoin MooreBen HendersonDan Carroll

Charley PhelanBilly O’Keeff eThomas LangtonSamuel BrennanRuairi PhelanMatt hew MurrayAlex KennyBen DrennanDanny Patt ersonJake KellyMichael HollandFinn Butler

Adam MaherLuke McDonaldDavid McGeeSam McKennaMaksymilian MarFelix MullanDarcy NolanAJ O’Keeff eShea O’MearaDominik OsipovsAlex RochfordConor RyanEldon SheridanBill TrehyJeff Tyrrell

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BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS AN DICSBORO

Michael BarronCathal CooganDaryl Drennan - SmithLogan GoodreadCharlie LennonRory McMahonJake MullenSean O’MahoneyJames RyanKillian RyanRian Sheffl inTiernan Sheffl inTommy WalshDavid KolodziezCaelum Kinahan

Bill O’SheaLouis Raggett Patrick LaceyAidan CullenShane PhelanCharlie RyanBen HoganJack BrennanSamuel John O’SheaConor DeeganRian DowlingSean Carroll

THOMASTOWN

Ciaran CooneConor CooneOisin FarrellConor BarcoeCian DohertyDarragh DackShane FennellyColin O’NeillTagh McMahonBen NevinRobbie BarronCillian O’Neill

GRAIGUE BALLYCALLAN JAMES STEPHEN’S ST. LACHTAIN’S

Cian DermodyRuairi WalshRonan HanrahanAdam LaniganCharlie GreeneRyan BourkeTuan HylandBen Blanchfi eldCathal RussellJames KellyDarragh PowerPadraig JoyceBill McDermott

Cian DonnellyMichael BerginAidan CrosbyTadhg BolgerJack DaltonColin McGreeLiam Kelly-LandersCian O’ConnorCathal ColcloughBobby DarcyLeo WhiteMarty CampionMichael MurphyJamie Denieff eConor Dowling

Cillian HoyneOran HoyneMichael TynanCian RonanBen McEvoyTony ButlerKeelan LynchAidan GingShane CodyCormac NearyJoshua MaloneSean O’Dea

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ST. MARTIN’SJOHN LOCKES

CONAHY SHAMROCKSEllie ByrneCharlie CarrollCraig ComerfordRory DunneJohn KennedyPatrick KennedyMichael LawlorTommy MulhallDaniel MooneyAdam MorrisseyBrian PhelanJack Rhati ganDarragh Horgan Sarah Webster

G A A C L U B

1 8 8 6

CO

NAHY SHAMRO

CK

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Kian BerginDanny CareyHugh HenneseyJack HenneseyRobbie JackmanJack LennonAlfi e LynchBen MaguireJoesph MoranZak O’HalloranGavin O’NeillEdmund PowerJames PowerRichard PowerTom PowerDylan TennysonJoey Tobin

Luke CahillKeith ComerfordJack CooganSean CorbertDarragh FahyDean HerbertPeter KealyHarry KehoeAaron LawlerThomas McDowellPatrick McDowellTadgh PowerDarragh PurcellHugh QuirkeShane RiceMichael RuaneThomas Shore

Darragh RocheAndrew BrennanAaron DunneRyan MeaneyGreg RuaneConor MilleaDarragh BehanDiarmuid BehanZac ScanlonLarry PhelanConor McEvoyConor Heff ernanJames Bergin

SÉAMUS STIOPHÁIN.

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Every student who enters fi rst year and wishes to represent the school through hurling will be afforded the opportunity to do so. Hurling training commences on the second Wednesday of the school term and continues throughout the academic year. Beginning hurling training so soon allows students to quickly develop new friendships outside of the classroom setting, while at the same time developing the skills of the game required for the busy year ahead.

First year students will have the opportunity to try out for a number of different panels that will represent the school in various competitions throughout the year. Running from February to April, the Rice Cup (U14) is a very prestigious competition that is unique to current or former Christian Brother schools. For the last number of years we have made every effort to enter two panels into this competition. This ensures that every student is given ample game time and gets their chance to participate and compete.

As well as the Rice Cup, there are two further major tournaments that our U14 panels compete in throughout the year. The fi rst of these competitions is our own Jim Langton Tournament. This is a one day blitz held in October and has been a huge success since its inception in 2013. In February we compete for the Br. Anselm Cup. Again, this is a one day blitz and is run by The De La Salle College in Waterford. While the Rice Cup has eluded us in recent years we have had great success in both the Jim Langton and Br. Anselm tournaments.

Our U14½ panel is predominantly made up of second year students but it is not uncommon for many fi rst years to feature throughout the year. This panel competes for the highly competitive Leinster League and Championship annually. Training begins in early September and runs right through until May ensuring all our hurlers are kept busy for the academic year. Our U14 and U14½ panels generally train together on Mondays and Wednesdays under the watchful eye of no less than nine teachers.

Our Junior Hurling (U16½) panels are generally comprised of students from 3rd year and Transition Year. Each year we compete for the prestigious Fr. Cosgrave Cup which is presented to the winners of the Leinster ‘A’ Division in the junior grade. Recently we have had great success at this level winning the competition twice since 2011.

The GAA has recently re-introduced an All-Ireland series at this grade and CBS Kilkenny claimed the title at the fi rst time of asking in 2014. The Leinster competition runs over eight weeks beginning in September and concludes prior to the midterm break in October. Training for all panels takes place every Wednesday afternoon as well as every Monday and Friday after school. We are fortunate to have a new state of the art facility in “The Brothers Field” on which to train.

For those players not representing the fi rst panel, an additional Kilkenny league has been developed involving all of the hurling secondary schools in Kilkenny. We enter two further teams

Juvenile Hurling in CBS Kilkenny

Junior Hurling in CBS Kilkenny.

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in this competition and it runs from mid-October through to the Christmas break. Entering three teams across all competitions ensures that every student who wishes to play hurling at this grade is afforded the opportunity to do so.

In addition to hurling training, all players involved are afforded the opportunity to undergo a functional movement and core strength screening programme. The results are analysed and they are given tailored plans that best fi t their needs. Students are assessed on a regular basis with changes made to their plan if required. The aim of placing students on such programmes is to reduce the risk of picking up injuries by identifying movement dysfunctions before they cause an injury.

The past decade has been one of the most successful eras of our school’s hurling history at all levels, but particularly at Senior level. Reaching Leinster and All-Ireland Senior Finals has become a more regular occurrence and there is a sense of expectation each year that to progress to provincial and national fi nals is almost a minimum requirement.

We compete annually in Leinster Senior Colleges ‘A’ Hurling Championship for the Corn Ui Dhuill. In our history we have reached this competition fi nal nineteen times winning the trophy on eight occasions. Eight of those nineteen fi nal appearances have happened since 2002, and three of our victorious days have been achieved since 2006. The back to back Corn Ui Dhuill victories of 2013 and 2014 was the fi rst time the CBS achieved this diffi cult feat. Following the introduction of the ‘back door’ system in the mid noughties, reaching the provincial fi nal has become an even more attractive proposition with both provincial fi nalists advancing to compete for the national blue riband competition, the Croke Cup.

CBS Kilkenny has reached this All-Ireland Final on six occasions and four of those appearances came in 2007, 2012, 2013 and 2014. While unsuccessful in all four deciders, the recent and consistent resurgence of our senior teams cannot be denied and this can only spell further success going forward. The rising profi le of Kilkenny CBS Senior teams has also coincided with a marked increase in the number of our students representing Kilkenny at minor level.

Each year a senior panel is chosen to compete in the Leinster League which usually involves three group games, with the fi nal in December. The real business of the championship commences in January/February following a busy preparation over the Christmas period often involving challenge matches against the leading teams in Munster. Strength and conditioning, core work, stretching and fl exibility training as well as weight training are all incorporated and professionally planned and supervised.

The health and well-being of all of our players is of paramount importance. Injuries are monitored, and treatment and physiotherapy are arranged. The redevelopment this year of the school gym has greatly helped in preparing teams for competition. The development of the Brothers’ Field has also greatly enhanced the training of the panel over the past two years in honing the players’ skills on an excellent playing surface.

Senior Hurling in CBS Kilkenny

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Morning  Session  Time   Pitch  1   Pitch  2   Pitch  3   Pitch  4  

10:00   James  Stephens              V.    O’Loughlin  Gaels  

Séamus  S;opháin    V.    Gaeil  Uí  Lochlainn  

An  Clárach                                                    V.    BenneDsbridge  

Thomastown                              V.    St.  Lachtain’s  

10:30   James  Stephens              V.    St  Lachtain’s  

Young  Irelands                    V.    Danesfort  

Conahy  Shamrocks            V.    Clara    

Gaeil  Uí  Lochlainn                            V.    An  Clárach  

11:00   O’Loughlin  Gaels                        V.    St.  Lachtain’s  

Séamus  S;opháin          V.    Danesfort  

An  Clárach                                                    V.    Conahy  Shamrocks  

James  Stephens                    V.    Thomastown  

11:30   Séamus  S;opháin      V.    Young  Irelands  

Gaeil  Uí  Lochlainn                        V.    Danesfort  

BenneDsbridge                          V.    Conahy  Shamrocks  

Thomastown                                                  V.    Clara    

12:00   O’Loughlin  Gaels                    V.    Young  Irelands  

BenneDsbridge                          V.    Clara    

M O R N I N G S E S S I O N

A,ernoon  Session  Time   Pitch  1   Pitch  2   Pitch  3   Pitch  4  

13:30   Dicksboro                                                    V.    Ballyhale  Shamrocks  

An  Dicsboro                            V.    Barrow  Rangers  

An  Gráig/Báile  Uí  Challáin  V.    Rower  Inis;oge                        

Graigue  Ballycallan                          V.    John  Lockes  

14:00   An  Gráig/Báile  Uí  Challáin                                                        V.    John  Lockes  

St.  Mar;n’s                              V.    Tullaroan  

Ballyhale  Shamrocks                            V.    Rower  Inis;oge  

Graigue  Ballycallan                          V.    An  Dicsboro  

14:30   Barrow  Rangers                                V.    St.  Mar;n’s  

Ballyhale  Shamrocks                                V.    Tullaroan  

John  Lockes                                                V.    Rower  Inis;oge                    

An  Gráig/Báile  Uí  Challáin      V.    Dicksboro  

15:00   An  Dicsboro                                            V.    St.  Mar;n’s  

Barrow  Rangers                  V.    Tullaroan  

Graigue  Ballycallan                        V.    Dicksboro  

A F T E R N O O N S E S S I O N.