PBC Cork - 2018 Munster u16½C Hurling Winners

Press Release given to Media on the occasion of winning the Rebel Óg Monthly Award December 2018

History of GAA in Pres

According to the recently published 140th Anniversary PBC Book written by Brother JM Feheney, it would appear that the start of organised hurling at PBC was in 1918.

There was some success over the next 10 years but it appears the 1928 Cork Senior Schools Hurling title was the last GAA championship won by PBC. The school continued to field hurling teams but appears to have stopped in the 1930s.

On Gaelic football, the book gives evidence of a Cork Colleges Junior Football Championship 1st round match played in 1946 but no further details on any championship matches.

More Recent History of GAA in Pres

In 1992, the late Ray Kelleher (originally of Dohenys club and later a Blackrock coach) organised a First Year blitz against Christians Brothers College where 3 teams from each school took part.

In 1996, Con Murphy (former president of the GAA) asked Lord Mayor Jim Corr to sponsor a hurling cup to be played for by Pres and CBC in a one day blitz. This Lord Mayor’s Cup later expanded to include other non-GAA schools like Bandon Grammar and Gaelic Football was also added.

Teachers involved in Pres GAA during this time included Damien Philpott, Caleb Sheehan, Enda O’Regan, Micháel Jones, Colmán Ó Tuama, Enda Ronan.

In 2014-2015, the Cork Board took over the Lord Mayor’s Cup competition and all GAA schools were invited to compete plus the previous participating schools.

In January 2016, the PBC u16 Gaelic Football team took to the field in Carrigaline for a Cork Schools match which marked the revival of PBC in a GAA championship.

In September 2016, PBC Senior Football teams took part in Cork and Munster. The PBC Senior Hurling team took part only in Cork. No under 16 teams.

2018 Munster u16½ Hurling Season

While Pres had Senior Football and Hurling teams in the last couple of years, it was felt we could accommodate a younger team in hurling from September 2018 so we entered the 18 team Munster u16½ hurling competition.

We received a bye in the first round and our second round match was against Colaiste an Chroi Naofa, Carrignavar. We came out on the right side of the score and faced into a quarter final against Colaiste An Phiarsaigh, Glanmire. In an epic duel, the teams were level after normal time but Pres prevailed by 1 point after extra time.

Scoil Ruain Killenaule awaited us in the semi final. Originally called off at the last minute, the refixture was a tight match with us 1 point ahead in injury time when we scored a goal to win by 4 points.

A huge day followed when we travelled for the final against Borrisokane Community College. We found ourselves only a goal ahead early in the second half but, driven on by the large group of Pres pupils and parents in the crowd, we made it over the line to win our Munster title sparking joyous scenes.