Rugby

U16 Rugby - Omagh Leave Valiant CCS Stuck in a Ruck!

Details: Published: Monday, 12 February 2018 12:33

We were prepared for anything: Gear bags packed, water bottles filled, the finest rugby kits in the school freshly washed, Ethan was coming; we were set. A full squad ready of the top u16 rugby players in the school (also Sean) were going to Omagh to win. Then the match was cancelled and we had to go back to class, despite the protests of three of our players who had missed breakfast that morning. Slightly disheartened, but unbroken, we once again prepared ourselves mentally and physically to play a bit of rugby as a team, despite a change in manager from Mr. McNally to Mr. Spencer. Then it got cancelled and we had to go back to class, again, to the dismay of the players and the manager alike. The next day, tired, and desperate to actually get playing rugby, we headed to Omagh without Ethan (singing his wee heart out at the talent show) or Ronan Kelly (rushed to NowDoc after scraping his knee), taking the wrong kits and a size 4 ball instead of a size 5.

Senior Rugby - Magic Display Takes Years off Mr. McNally!

Details: Published: Monday, 08 January 2018 14:33

Senior Rugby CCS

The senior CCS boys’ rugby team returned with vengeance after their previous defeat to Rainey, when they faced St. Columba’s in the Ulster U18s Trophy Semi-final. From the starting whistle the boys emptied the tanks and played with one hundred per cent commitment to winning the game. The Columba’s team came out with initial bursts of pressure coming from the opposition flyhalf, who kicked more than an angry donkey; but that pressure was handled perfectly by an on-form Darragh McCormick (who played the first decent match of his life).

Senior Rugby - Boys v Men!

Details: Published: Friday, 08 December 2017 12:50

CCS Rugby The boys’ senior rugby team kicked off their season on Wednesday, 29th November, when Mr. McNally retreated from teaching to take the team to Rainey. A young PJ Callaghan was told he was going to the hill and Stephen Kelly was handed a Mars Dar Duo to force them both to play. It was too tempting an offer for Kelly to turn down. The team felt defeated from the beginning when team hero Christopher Gill couldn’t go due to international duty against New Zealand; good luck Christopher!! From the whistle, team captain Finin MacLochlainn, an all-around phenomenal person on and off the pitch, dump-tackled the other captain off the field. The CCS lads piled on the pressure until a mistake caused the Rainey boys to score under the posts. Birthday boy Connor Bambrick retaliated with a compelling run down the wing to score. Runs from Stephen Kelly, PJ Callaghan and Michael Harkin constantly forced the Rainey defence back. Poetry in motion occurred when Stephen got the ball, steamrolled an unsuspecting Rainey prop and offloaded to Finín, who performed a perfectly timed one handed passed to Eoin Hela, who reminded the crowd of a young Michael Flatley, spinning like there was no tomorrow.

Women's Rugby World Cup Visits CCS

Details: Published: Saturday, 13 May 2017 14:17

The Women's Rugby World Cup was a high-profile visitor to CCS on Thursday, 11th May. The school's rugby pitch was a hive of activity, with local primary school pupils enjoying a blitz of catch-and-run. Our own girls spent at least half an hour posing with the World Cup before taking part in a tag-rugby match with the boys. The main event of the day was CCS Girls XV v St. Columba's Girls XV (Stranorlar). It has to be said that many of the spectators in attendance weren't quite ready for the spectacle. There's no doubt that some of the tackling was on a par with anything seen in boys rugby. The game's intensity was notable and every girl on the pitch gave it the whole nine yards...At one point there MAY have been a short recess to let everyone calm down a bit! Fair play to Mr. Spencer for managing to keep a lid on proceedings, while imparting his knowledge of the game in the process. In the end, the CCS ladies ran out 20-10 winners. But as can be seen from the photos, everyone left the battleground with their heads held high. Well done to both teams on a superb exhibition of "the gentleman's game".

Women's Rugby World Cup Visits CCS (photo album)

U16 Rugby - Second Half Masterclass Secures County Title

Details: Published: Thursday, 06 April 2017 11:58

U16 Rugby - Donegal Champions photos

CCS U16s played St. Columba's, Stranorlar for the County Title on Wednesday, 5th April 2017 at Letterkenny Rugby Club. St. Columba's kicked off and the CCS forwards caught and drove forward by securing rucks and strong carries. CCS were camped in the opposition's 22 for the first 15 minutes before a knock-on was kicked downfield by St. Columba's. A penalty was conceded by the Carn men for not releasing at the breakdown. Posts were called and points taken. CCS were infringing at the breakdown again inside their own half and the Stranorlar side took advantage of the position and scored, making it 6 - 0 on 25 minutes.

CCS composed themselves and from the restart made great territory. The forwards flashed the ball out to the backs for centre Dylan Doherty to cross the whitewash for the first try. Conversion missed, 6 – 5. With 5 minutes to go in the first half, CCS conceded yet another penalty and the half ended 9 - 5 to St. Columba's.

In the second half, CCS had the wind at their backs and dominated possession through great work by the forwards and back line. Tries scored by Stephen Kelly, Michael Harkin and finally PJ Callaghan under the post saw the CCS lads winning 26 – 9, with Mark Scott converting three of the scores.

Stephen Kelly was presented with the Donegal U16s trophy by Gerard Doherty and celebrations began; a well-deserved result for the commitment shown by all the players throughout the year.

U16s Squad: 1) Paddy Monagle TYC, 2) Eoin Doherty 5G, 3) Finin Mac Lochlainn 5E, 4) Michael Harkin TYD, 5) James Kelly 2B, 6) PJ Callaghan 5C, 7) Patrick O'Leary 5G, 8) Stephen Kelly 3B, 9) Connor Quigley 5D, 10) Mark Scott 3B, 11) Tony Keyes 3G, 12) Dylan Doherty 5F, 13) Odhran Cavanagh 3B, 14) William John Callaghan 5D, 15) Ultan Doherty 5G, 16) Sean Carroll 3D, 17) Ethan Harkin TYB, 18) Darragh McCormick TYC, 19) Paddy Doherty 5A, 20) Christopher Gill 5F, 21) Caolán Whoriskey 3D and 22) Christopher McDaid 3B.

CCS Wins Donegal Sports Star Award - Best Sports School 2016

Details: Published: Sunday, 29 January 2017 13:43

Donegal Sports Star Award 2016

WATCH Donegal Sports Star Award presentation video

CCS secured Best Secondary School at the 2016 Donegal Sports Star Awards on Friday, 27th January at Errigal Hotel. The school came out tops in a category including Abbey Voc., Coláiste Cholmcille, Loreto Letterkenny and Scoil Mhuire Buncrana. 2016 certainly was a standout year for CCS. The All-Ireland senior boys soccer title was the highlight of highlights. The new wellbeing centre was furnished with an impressive suite of spin bikes, treadmills and rowing machines. There was silverware in golf, and advances in rugby, Gaelic football, camogie and cross-country running. Mr. John McGuinness accepted the award on behalf of everyone who contributed to and participated in sports in CCS throughout 2016. Also to be honoured on the night were current Third Year pupil Lughán Devenny (Under-15 Sportshall Athletics Team) and past pupil Labhaoise Clarke (Special Recognition - Boxing).