Captain, Ian Carthy, receives the trophy from the legendary, Pat Henderson.                                      Good Counsel, New Ross...5-11 
   St. Peter's, Wexford....2-3
Our U-14 Footballers retained the South Leister Schools juvenile football championship ‘A’ title for the third consecutive year with a convincing win over old foes St. Peter's of Wexford in the decider at St. Patrick's Park on Friday afternoon.
The victory puts them through to the Leinster Semi-final, and the chance to continue their quest for a remarkable hat-trick of Leinster titles at U-14 level.
Mikey Dwyer opened the scoring for ‘the Counsel’ in the first minute after a great run from left wing forward which was followed up by an equally impressive major from Adam Mansfield in the eight minute. Another point from O’ Dwyer (11min) was followed quickly by a point from one of our two first year players on the starting team, Tadhg Cody (17min). Some impressive forward running and support play resulted in a Joe Sutton point (22min) and another Adam Mansfield goal (23min) before St Peter’s registered their first and only score of the first half, a pointed free (26min). The Good Counsel defence and midfield performed very well as a unit with individual battles being won all over the field. The outstanding performance of capt’ Ian Carthy at centre back and the courageous block of full back Adam Winters (17min) to prevent an almost certain score, were defensive highlights in the first half worth noting. The first half score was 3.4 – 0.1 in favour of Good Counsel.
St Peter’s restarted with intent and caught the Counsel out with a well taken goal in the first minute of the second half. This seemed to spark our boys into life however, and straight from the kick out the ball made its way to Adam Mansfield who appeared to ‘lob’ the keeper from thirty yards at the end of yet another threatening run. The crowd went wild! With our defence on top and our Midfield pairing of Daragh Lyons and Martin Fitzharris in flying form, our forwards found opportunities aplenty. Mikey Dwyer scored an excellent brace of points from distance (36 & 40min), which was followed by a pointed free from substitute Mark Rossiter (48 min). St Peter’s first point from play(51min) was followed by an Adam Mansfield point(52min) before perhaps the point of the day, a Mikey Dwyer long range point that seemed impossible when being tackled by up to three St Peter’s players at the time. The final St Peter’s point (54min) was again followed up by an Adam Mansfield point (56min) before Joe Sutton stormed through for a cracker of a goal after some very good approach play (57mins). Darragh Lyons scored the Counsel’s final score of the day, a point from play which was a good reward for his work on the day (57min). It seemed that the Counsel had started to celebrate too early however when St Peter’s struck for a goal in the final minute of the game. Although the team and subs performed very well on the day they will need to improve somewhat on their teamwork in the final third and get a greater return from their possession, as their wide count of (16) is far too high if they are to go any further in this competition. Well done to all concerned on a job well done and a fantastic result for our school. Also, many thanks to the teachers and parents who accompanied our second year students as supporters on the day.
Counsel Team/Panel:
1. Cian Ó Connor (Cloughbawn) 2.Conor Crosby (St James) 3. Adam Winters (Taghmon) 4. Sean Barden (Adamstown) 5. Evan Murphy (Adamstown) 6. Ian Carthy (Taghmon) 7. Eoin Higgin (Rathnure) 8. Martin Fitzharris (Gusseranne) 9. Daragh Lyons (St James) 10. Michael Dwyer (Fethard) 11. Paul Manning (Tullogher) 12. Adam Mansfield (Mullinavat) 13. Tadhg Cody (Cushinstown) 14. Luke Sinnott (Taghmon) 15. Joe Sutton (Fethard) 16. Mark Rossiter (Gusseranne) 17. Richie Waters(Fethard) 18. John Roche(Gusseranne) 19. Shane Doyle(Taghmon) 20. Eoin Porter(Cushinstown) 21. Daire McGrath(Tullogher) 22. Ciarán Conway(Gusseranne) 23. Liam Stafford(Adamstown) 24. Ore Mojoyegbe(Tullogher) 25. Sam Wall (Gusseranne)26. Martin Doyle(Fethard) 27. Mark O Neill(Gusseranne) 28. Andrew Walsh(St James) 29. Clem Rossiter(Bannow-Ballymitty) 30. Daire Bolger(Cushinstown) 31. Rory Higgins(Rathnure) Continue Reading...

On the 2nd of March the division one Under 14 badminton team won at the Leinster finals in Baldoyle in Dublin. The team of Noel Dunne, Jack Dunne, Ian Carty and Stephen O'Gorman outclassed all of the schools at the event. The team now go on to the All Ireland Finals in Gormanstown College on April 6th. Well done to the boys and to their coach Ms Karen Byrne. Best of luck in All Ireland Final.

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Good Counsel College U-14 Leinster Football Champions 2011
Our U-14 Footballers won their second successive championship on Friday 11 March in Stradbally (Co Laois) against St Josephs Rochfordbridge (Westmeath). It really was a pulsating final with many twists and turns before the final outcome was decided in the fourth minute of injury time by a scorcher of a goal from our towering full forward William Treacy. This is the ‘fifth’ U-14 Football Leinster championship success by our school (1995, 1996, 2002, 2010, 2011). This places our school in second position behind Gormanstown College and Scoil Aodháin (with six titles each) as the most successful school at U-14 level over the last fifty years. Considering that all our success has come in the last fourteen years, this is truly a remarkable achievement.

With over two hundred and fifty first and second year supporters travelling to the final, kindly accompanied by Ms Bolger, Mr Coffey, Mr Flynn, Mr Lyne, Mr Leigh O’ Brien and Mr Declan Wall, a great atmosphere was evident as the team took to the pitch. Indeed the supporters were proudly showing the college colours in their flags and banners which brightened up an otherwise miserable day. St Josephs started out as favourites on the day after beating all their opposition by high scores on the way to the final. Good Counsel started admirably however and after playing into the breeze in the first half, found ourselves trailing by only a single point at half time. Our first point was scored by William Treacy who showed some of his soccer skills when opting to kick from the ground while under pressure from the defence. Our second point was a pointed free from about thirty metres by the faultless Mikey Rowe. Steven Stafford scored our third point when the ball found its way to him in the centre forward position after some concerted pressure from our forwards. It was a day for defences with the greasy conditions forcing many basic errors on both sides.
The second half started off with a point for St Josephs which brought the score to 0-3 to 0-5. Thankfully our forwards started to interlink better in the second half but were frustrated by the St Joseph’s defence who tried to stop our runners early in their tracks with the consequence of conceding many frees. The high tempo of the game and the pressure on both sides meant that opportunities were few and far between but a blistering run from Jason Dunne lifted the spirit of the crowd and forced a fantastic save by the St Joseph’s keeper with the ball going over for a point, 0-4 to 0-5. Halfway through the second half St Joseph’s corner back was given a second yellow and subsequently a red card after a rugby tackle on our corner forward Pat Lyng, yet the hope that this may turn the game in our favour was short lived, with a dubious penalty being awarded to St Josephs within a few minutes. This was duly converted and followed by another point which pushed St Joseph’s five points in front, 0-4 to1-6. With about ten minutes remaining Good Counsel regrouped and attacked with vigour drawing many fouls which created some scoring opportunities for our free taker Mikey Rowe. Four points were converted before the end of normal time leaving the score 0-8 to 1-6 in St Joseph’s favour.            
As is the Good Counsel tradition, the team never gave up, and in the fourth minute of injury time a determined run by substitute wing back  ‘Joe Sutton’ delivered the ball to our full forward William Treacy, who dispatched the ball to the top of the net with venom. With two minutes left to play the team kept its focus and attacked until Mikey Dwyer was fouled on the twenty one yard line allowing Mikey Rowe to convert our final score. The Final Score, Good Counsel College 1-9, St Josephs Rochfordbridge 1-6. At the final whistle jubilant celebrations were witnessed when our captain Donncha O Connor received the Cup from the Comhairle Laighean representative. Well done to all our boys and to coaches Mr. Bates and Mr. Kehoe on a fantastic days work. 
Up the Counsel!

The Starting team was:   Continue Reading...

Corn Ui Chaomhain  ( Keevans Cup)

1st Year Football Blitz.

The ‘Corn Uí Chaomhain’ (Keevans Cup) first year football blitz took part on Wednesday 13^th October in Páirc Gharman. The eight teams competing were Enniscorthy C.B.S., St Peters College ‘A’ & ‘B’, Ramsgrange C.S.,Gorey C.S., Wexford C.B.S. and Good Counsel College ‘A’ & ‘B’. Seamas Keevans would indeed have been proud of the large attendance at the event with an impressive amount of first year footballers eager to represent their schools on the day.
Teams were divided into two groups of four.  On one side of the draw were Good Counsel College ‘B’, Enniscorthy C.B.S., Ramsgrange C.S and St Peters ‘A’, while on the other side were Good Counsel College ‘A’, St Peters ‘B’, Gorey C.S. and Wexford C.B.S. After some very exciting games on each side of the draw Good Counsel College’s ‘A’ team progressed to the semi-final against Enniscorthy C.B.S while Good Counsel College’s ‘B’ team, who had surprisingly managed to beat the St Peter Colleges ‘A’ team along the way, progressed to the other semi-final against Wexford C.B.S. After two cracking games both Good Counsel College teams progressed to the final for the first time in the competitions history. The Shield final between Enniscorthy C.B.S and Gorey C.S resulted in a victory for Enniscorthy C.B.S on a scoreline of 2.10-1.5.
The Cup final proved to be the best game of the day with Good Counsel College ‘A’ team coming out on top by a single point. After going in 2-4 to 1.0 down after the first half the ‘B’ team did well to fight back and level the scores deep into injury time. After a dubious free was awarded to the ‘A’ team, Mikey Dwyer (the Captain of the ‘A’ team) stepped up to the task and calmly slotted the ball over the bar to give his team ultimate victory. The final scoreline was Good Counsel College ‘A’ 3-8, Good Counsel College ‘B’ 4-4.
Luke O Hanlon, who coordinated the Blitz, presented the ‘Corn Uí Chaomhain’ trophy to Good Counsel captain Mikey Dwyer(Fethard) and paid a fitting tribute to the late Seamas Keevans for all the work he put into organising the first year blitzs for many years. He also thanked referees, James Flood, Eric Molloy, Brian O Leary and James Murray for their excellent work on the day. The Good Counsel Teams for the final were…..

‘A’ Team;
1.Peter Farrell(Rathnure)2.Martin Doyle(Fethard)3.Adam Winters(Taghmon) 4.Conor Crosbie(Ramsgrange)5.Seán Barden(Adamstown)6.Daragh Joyce(Rower Inistioge)7.Eoin Higgins(Rathnure)8.Ian Carthy(Taghmon)9.Ronan Waters(Gussserane)10.Joe Sutton(Fethard)11.Paul Manning(Tulllogher)12.Richie Waters(Fethard)13.Clem Rossiter(Bannow)14.Mikey Dwyer(Fethard)15.Donagh O Connor(Cushinstown).
Subs; 16.Maurice Walsh(St Martins)17.Barry Óg McGrath(Taghmon),18.Robert Kehoe(Cushinstown)19.Ryan Harris(Horeswood)

Scorers; Mikey Dwyer(1-4),Paul Manning(1-1),Donagh O Connor(1-1),Daragh Joyce(0-2)

‘B’ Team
1.Bryan Grace(Rower Inistioge)2.Donal Kiely(Gusserane)3.John Roche(Gusserane)4.Ciaran Conway5.Daire McGrath6.Adam Mansfield(Mullinavat)7.Evan Murphy(Adamstown)8.Robert Whitty(Cloughbawn)9.Jack Burford(Gusserane)10.Martin Fitzharris(Gusserane)11.Jason Dunne(Cushinstown)12.Mark Rossiter(Gusserane)13.Ronan Whelan(Cushinstown)14.Patrick Carthy(Ger O Hans)15.Daire Bolger(Cushinstown)
Subs; 16.Dylan Farrell(Rower Inistioge)17.Alan Lambert(Rathnure)18.Jack Costello(Fethard)19.Mark O Neill(Gusserane)20.Daniel Holden(Mullinavat)21.Damian Aylward(Mullinavat)22.Christopher Molloy(Fethard)23.Eddie Cummins(Horeswood)

Scorers; Rob Whitty(2-0),Jason Dunne(1-3),Mark Rossiter(1-0),Alan Lambert(0-1)

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The 8th annual Madigan Cup was held in the college on Wednesday 21st April with victory going on this occasssion to the Wexford lads. Kilkenny were going for 4 in a row but were thwarted by a superb performance from the Matthew O'Hanlon captained 'Yellowbellies'.

They led from the start and never really looked in danger although a typical Kilkenny rally briefly looked on when Sean Lyster netted midway through the second half. The Wexford lads, who had seen an 11 point lead overturned last year, made no such mistake this time round and held on for a comfortable win.

Members of the Madigan family  were on hand to present the Cup to winning captain Matthew O'Hanlon.

Kilkenny still have the balance of power in the overall stakes having lifted the trophy 5 times to Wexford's 3.

Goalmouth action from the Madigan Cup.



A dissappointed Kilkenny side.


Presentation of the Cup to captain Matthew O'Hanlon as Kilkenny captain, Joe Lyng looks on.

The All Ireland Inter Schools Hunter Trials Competition hosted by the Good Counsel Equestrian Committee from New Ross Co. Wexford took place in Curracruit Bagenalstown on Saturday last March 13th at Martin Fenlon's course. Given the fact that most of the best arrangements between God and man have been re-arranged due to inclement weather in the past year it proved to be one of the most reliable and safe courses that we can remember in recent years. The course which hosted a very successful Hunter Trials for the Carlow Farmers the previous Sunday with an outstanding entry proved itself to be the most accomodating one could expect. Martin Fenlon and his staff are to be commended on the condition of the fences and the ground.

The competitions commenced at the early time of 8.30 am  with the Good Counsel Team Blue the first to participate and Fr John Hennebry, school Principal,raising the famous Good Counsel Blue and White flag at the start to the resounding sound of the hunting horn blown by Mr Martin Marshall who was Starter for the day.

The day continued in the same fashion, thankfully with no incidents to report throughout. The team event which involved teams from as far apart as Athenry and Charleville continued at one minute and thirty second intervals. This event culminiated with the first three palces being awarded to Kilkenny College who had an unbelieveable entry of nine teams under the very watchful eye of Mr Paul Cuddihy. Paul is every parent's wish when it comes to organising equestrian events for students and much credit is due to him on his endless energy.

 
Winning Kilkenny College Team.

Good Counsel are Leinster U14 ‘A’Football Champions

Good Counsel College 7 - 9   ..........   St Mels 3 - 5

Good Counsel College blitzed St. Mels with a stunning second half display in O Moore Park, Portlaoise to capture the Leinster juvenile ‘A’ football title.  Good Counsel regained the title for the first time since 2002. The game started at a frantic pace with St. Mels forward division looking very dangerous. St. Mels didn’t take long to raise the first flag. Within two minutes Mels had raced into a 1-1 to no score lead. St. Mels no.11 drove through the centre of the Counsel defence to score a fantastic goal. St. Mels completely dominated the first 15 minutes of the game. Mels full forward was proving very hard to handle. Good Counsel slowly began to get a foothold in the game with some great work for Counsel’s Lee Norris who defended well and drove out of defence with the ball on a number of occasions. The winners’ first score came in the form of a free from Aaron Diskin who at this stage was deployed as an extra man in defence to curb the effect of the threatening Mels forwards. Continue Reading...

Good Counsel College are U14 South Leinster Champions.
Good Counsel College 2-7........Naas CBS 1-3.
Good Counsel College beat Naas CBS yesterday in a very exciting game in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow. Good Counsel may have won by 7 points but this game remained in the balance right up to the last few minutes. Continue Reading...

Congratulations to the GCC Under 19 Badminton team who won the Wexford Championships defeating St Peter's in an exciting 6-0 final. This team consisted of Alan Nolan, Thomas Power, Nicholas Murphy & James Whitney. The lads enjoyed their fourth U19 Wexford title in a row. Well done to them and to their coach, Mr. Coffey! Continue Reading...

Good Counsel College’s U16 hurlers were unsuccessful in their attempts to qualify for any silverware in a year that promised much but ended up delivering little due to an unfortunate turn of events in their final game against a strong Castlecomer side. Continue Reading...