Local school celebrates big sporting success

A NORTHSIDE school was celebrating recently when its GAA team won both the Dublin and Leinster Championships, and made it to the final of the All Ireland, while the hurling team won the Dublin Colleges final.

A newcomer to the post-primary schools GAA scene, Gaelcholáiste Reachrann, celebrated their success in style.

Dublin star Philly McMahon presented the senior football team at the Donaghmede school with their Dublin Post Primary Colleges ‘D’ medals and Leinster Post Primary Colleges medals. 

The team won the Dublin ‘D’ Final in February and marched on to take the Leinster title beating Avondale Community College, Wicklow, in the final. 

The Munster champions, Scoil Phobail Bhéara, Casteltownbere, County Cork, presented a tougher challenge but once again Reachrann prevailed. However, the Mayo boys from St Joseph’s CC, Charlestown, had other ideas and stopped the ‘Rockies’ in their tracks winning a very competitive final by four points. 

The football team is managed and coached by former Kerry player, Daithí Geaney, whose brother Michael and first cousin, Paul, are on the current Kerry panel. 

Daithí has done a fantastic job with this team whose players come from no less than 10 clubs – Raheny, Scoil Uí Chonaill, O’Toole’s, Fingallians, Sylvester’s, Trinity Gaels, Vincent’s, Whitehall Colmcilles, Craobh Chiaráin and Parnells. 

The team is no doubt strengthened by their three intercounty stars, Seán Mac Mathúna, Dublin Under 21 footballer and also the Dublin minor stars Jack Ó Rua (football) and Conor Ó Riain (hurling). However, it was their teamwork and collective spirit which stood out throughout the season.        

John McCaffrey, former Dublin senior hurling captain, presented the senior hurling team with their Dublin Colleges C1 medals. 

Both the hurling and football teams are comprised mostly of the same players as Gaelcholáiste Reachrann is a small school with 350 pupils, and more than half of these are girls.          

There is no doubt that Gaelcholáiste Reachrann are making a name for themselves. Who would have thought that expertise from the Kingdom would be having such a positive influence on football in the capital?