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Visit the Whitechurch GAA site on http://www.whitechurchgaa.ie
Hurling coaching started on Friday 17th September for girls and boys from 3rd to 6th class.
Training for Younger kids at 12:00 each Satuarday morning.
A History of Sciath Na Scol in Whitechurch (G.O Connell)
Whitechurch N.S. first participated in Sciath Na Scol competitions in September 1978. This coincided with the appointment of Mr. John Brown (R.I.P.) as school principal. The earliest school jersey was a striped red and blue and while early results were not wonderful the team made steady progress. They travelled to away matches (in GREAT numbers) in an old battered Ford Cortina.
Whitechurch won their first Sciath Na Scol title in September 1981. This was the U-13 Hurling Final, which was played in Whitechurch against our old rivals New Inn. This final became known as ‘The Final of the Long Grass’. This was in reference to our unique tactic of allowing the grass to grow to a height of at least two inches before the final, so our star corner forward (who was quite small) could hide in the long grass before suddenly appearing to strike home the winning goal. Between 1981 and 1988, Whitechurch won a succession of finals. This was a great period for the boys Hurling and Football teams. Indeed they were so successful that in one year they won all four finals, U-11 Hurling and Football, and U-13 Hurling and Football. During this period the finals were transferred (from the old home and away basis) to Páirc Ui Chaoimh and this greatly enhanced the importance and sense of excitement generated by the children’s achievement By 1991-92, there were just two boys competitions in that season, and we won them both! The shield competition had been introduced at this time and this pitted all the Sciath Na Scol group winners against each other to determine the best team overall in the county. As our Hurlers were playing in a 13-a-side group, they were not eligible for the Shield Competition, but our 15-a-side Football team qualified. This was our only time in this competition. Despite the small size of our school population, we were quite unlucky to go down in the final to a very good Dublin Hill outfit. In 1993-1994, we made our first tentative steps in Ladies (Girls) Football - little did we know what a wonderful adventure lay ahead. In 1994, we won our first Girls Sciath Na Scol title in a marvellous match against a gallant Ovens side. Since then we have progressed to the top section in Girls Football, and have contested five of the last seven finals, including this year when we won an unprecedented four-in-a-row of title In 2001-2002, our school achieved our first double when both our Boys and Girls Football teams won their respective finals at Páirc Ui Rinn on the same day. In 2000-2001, our Girls teams also completed a double by winning both their hurling and Football Sections that year.The recent introduction of Indoor Hurling/Camogie has created a new interest during the winter period. Whitechurch Community Hall has been the venue for many group finals and county semi-final qualifiers. Our third class boys reached the county final in 2001. We also had the great honour of winning the 2000 county final for fifth class girls in Neptune Stadium. Over the years many talented players form the school have gone on to represent Cork at various levels in both codes. Virtually every year we have been fortunate enough to have a representative on the Cork Primary School’s Teams. Jerry Dennehy was the first way back in 1982, and Denise Murphy our last in 2002. Among the other notable players who went on to represent cork were;
These are just a few of the many wonderfully talented boys and girls who have represented Whitechurch National School with pride and honour, over the last 25 years. As a school we have tried to engender love of all games and insist that the main benefit is to compete in a sporting manner and be dignified in defeat or victory. The benefits derived from participation in the Sciath Na Scol competitions are numerous. We have over the years learned much more from defeat than victory. Friendships have been forged, characters have been chiselled, a positive work ethic has been instilled and great joy has been brought to our school and parish. The memories which have been shared, will remain with those who have shared our Sciath Na Scol adventures, for the rest of their lives. Indeed, many players have gone on to play with the local clubs of Whitechurch, Blarney, Grenagh and Rockbán (Ladies).
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