We lost the coin toss and they decided to bat first.  Despite not having a full attack we used Yuvaraj and Ram to good effect.  With the limit of 3 overs each we could have used only 6 bowlers but gave everybody a chance and ended up with 8 of the team taking an over or 2.  Mohammad bowled the pick of the early overs taking a wicket but Ismail, Ibrahim, and Cian all bowled well early on with Akhil the pick of the later overs and Sheharyar bravely taking on the last over when all the batmen want to do is belt the ball to the boundary.  They finished on a very challenging 105 for 5 wickets lost.

We opened as before with Shahrukh and Ibrahim both were watchful in early over but began to score well as they got used to the pace and the bounce of the new wicket.  Ibrahim crossed the boundary rope with quite a few shoots before falling to a good ball and in was Mohammad again for his last innings for the school and it was a corker.  Excellent contributions from Ismail and Shahrukh brought us quick runs with Ismail loosing his wicket just before the total was reached.  In came Luke Courtney for his first ever innings in cricket.  A convert to the game he scored the runs that took us level and was at the crease not out when a wide took us past their total with almost 5 overs to spare.

Neil Bronks

Douglas Community School cricket team won their first match of the season against Bandon Grammar. The match was a Twenty over a side encounter that brought great performances from both sides. We lost the toss and were put in to bat. Our openers of Sharukh Nawaz and Ibrahim Khan made a steady start and accumulated well with some lusty blows from Ibrahim. They lost their wickets around the 8^th over and in came Mohammad Ali and Ismail Khan both played well with Mohammad Ali sticking the inning together with a real captains knock staying in until almost the end of the innings and was the top scorer of the match. Even the lower order played well with Javed and Azim Bhayla adding runs and Cian Hurley contributing in his first school match. We set a target of 87 a good score but not enough to be safe.

We started with Azim who bowled well and the second over was bowled by Mohammad Ali who took a fine caught and bowled to dismiss their opener. This proved a mixed blessing as it brought in their star player and wicket keeper who went on to get more than half their runs. However Ismail, Ibrahim, Javed, Cian, Sheharyar, Azim and Akhil all bowled very well to hold them down and steadily work through the order taking wickets ever few overs. Fielding was excellent with good catches taken by Azim in particular and excellent work by Luke at 3^rd Man and Emmanuel at Short Cover to keep the scoring low. Down to the last wicket and they were winding up for a close finish needing 14 off the last 10 balls. Their best man at the crease a decent ball was cracked towards the boundary only to be brilliantly caught by Sheharyar Nawaz to win us the match. A very good natured and friendly game ended with handshakes all round.

The team was Mohammad Ali (Capt), Shahrukh Nawaz(VC and W/K), Azim Bhayla, Luke Courtney, Ibrahim Khan, Ismail Khan, Akhil Chellapuri, Emmanuel Oladunjoye, Sheharyar Nawaz, Javed Bhayla, Cian Hurley and Kyle Twomey.

Neil Bronks

On Tuesday 22 March at Pike Rovers Grounds Limerick, our senior soccer team captured the Munster Youth Cup with a magnificent 2-1 victory over Crescent Comprehensive College of Limerick.

The first half was a tight affair with neither side having many clear cut chances and both defences coming out on top. Josh Kra and Eoghan Murphy were looking extremely solid in their centre half partnership while Stephen Bunney was getting through a trojan amount of work in midfield and was a major physical prescence throughout the tie. He broke up play very well and also distributed the ball efficiently.

At half-time manager Mr Kevin Ronayne urged his team to attack more and try and be more creative in possession. The lads clearly set about their business with far more energy and attacking guise in the second period. We were rewarded for our excellent football with a brilliant goal ten minutes into the second half when the industrious Bunney won a header in midfield, the ball broke to Eoin Cremin and with a delightful through ball he set up Rob Lehane for a one-on-one with the Cresent keeper. Rob didn’t panic and as the keeper advanced to narrow the angle Rob lofted the ball over him with a superb chip. A brilliant goal from an outstanding player, his 13th goal of a wonderful year for the school.

The second goal arrived courtesy of man-of-the-match and undoubtedly player of the year, Eoghan Murphy. Graham Cullinane, who was orchestrating the midfield from the first whistle delivered an excellent free kick and Murphy’s finish was in keeping with the standards he had set all year, a sublime take down and volley that was truly superb.

Cresent snuck in for a dubious consolation goal but our team had the belief and determination necessary to see the game out for a memorable victory. Our back four of Jack Wilkins, Eoghan Murphy, Josh Kra and Captain fantastic Andrew Lehane were immense throughout, and even when they were breached on the odd occasion Cian Hammond was alive and alert to snuff out any possible danger. In midfield Cullinane and Bunney were excellent; on the wings Luke O’ Sullivan was a constant threat going forward while also fulfilling his defensive duties when required. Eoin Cremin was immense throughout, working tirelessly and making incisive runs cutting the cresent back four apart. Up front Darren O’ Sullivan, who recently returned from a serious injury, was back to his brilliant best and was himself unlucky to be ruled offside for a deadly finish to a flowing move. Much has been said and written about Rob Lehane. On this occasion Rob was simply brilliant. His pace was electrifying, his touch sublime, and his ball control and dribbling skills a wonder to behold. Our subs too played a sigifcant part with Shaun Healy, Paul Beale and Cormac McCarthy giving everything when they came on at vital stages of the second half.

Our old friend from Limerick Michael Molyneaux presented the cup to captain Andrew Lehane afterwards to the delight of the squad and the travelling faithful. A big thanks to teachers Mr Sean Fahy and Mr John O’ Leary who accompanied the traveeling support to the game. The squad showed a togetherness and unity that got them this result. They can be extremely proud of their efforts. A County Cup still remains to challenge for and the lads are now fully focussed on this task.

Squad:
Cian Hammond, Jack Wilkins, Eoghan Murphy, Andrew Lehane, Luke O’ Sullivan, Eoin Cremin, Graham Cullinane, Stephen Bunnie, Rob Lehane, Darren O’ Sullivan, Cian Ryder, Cormac McCarthy, Paul Beale, Shaun Healy, Jack Buckley, Eoghan O’ Connell, Andy O’ Connell, Adrian O’ Connell, Billy Davis, Djamal Tirab, Padraig O’ Flynn, Michael Forrest, John Daly.

Kevin Ronayne

Congratulations to Adam Dalton of Third Year who has been doing very well in his chosen sport of gymnastics. Over the past year Adam has competed at the European Junior Championships held in Birmingham and he has also travelled to Romania this summer as part of the Irish training camp. Adam is aiming to make the Irish team that will be competing in the European Youth Olympics in Turkey during the summer of 2011.  Douglas Community School wish Adam all the best in his quest.

John O’Leary

It was a fine day as DCS played its first cricket match of the modern era against the best of the munster schools, Midleton College.  We played a 20 over a side fixture at their beautiful ground.  Mohammed Ali Syed, our first captain, won the toss and put them in (which means we bowled first).  Early overs went the way of the home side with their opening bat punishing our early fast bowlers. But then on came Ismail Khan to bowl.  His first over broke their opening partnership and then he took a wicket in his next two overs to finish with three for 35 – the best figures of the day.  The score was not helped by poor fielding, with two exceptions. Padraig McSweeney kept very well, despite it being his first time doing it, and Otto Cronje frankly should give us all a class in how it is done.  Mohammed , Azim and Abdullah all took a wicket each and the scoring slowed to leave them on 181 after 20 overs – a great score, but not a disaster.
Our turn to bat started with the Khan twins settling to a good rate of singles.  However with such a high total to reach we had to go for it and the wickets tumbled.  Akil and Azim, as well as Javed, all scored freely before losing their wickets while Ibrahim Khan (Ismail’s twin) held up the other end amassing runs and keeping us in the game.  Then in came Paudie Marum for his first match.  He battered the ball to all quarters but we left it too late and despite valliant atempt by Ram in the last over we got 124 Ibrahim on 50 not out and Paudie on 21.
We were very pleased and later found that was the best total any team had got against Midleton College this year.  The coaching staff of Sharuk Nawaz and Mr Bronks were very pleased. Bring on the next match.

Neil Bronks

Kevin Ronayne

Rosanne O’Callaghan

Although Cobh settled quicker into the game, DCS started to impose their passing game and created a couple of good chances. An early cross was met by the head of Andy O’Connell, and his looping header found its way into the far corner.  Douglas Community School continued to push forward, and a long ball out of defence from Jack Buckley was met on the half-volley by Andy O’Connell for a sublime finish from outside the box.

In the second half Cobh again settled quickly into their rhythm, and a missed clearance from a corner reduced the lead to 2 – 1.  Cobh continued to push and got the equaliser 10 minutes into the second half. The DCS midfield again took hold of the game and started to dominate possession. A powerful run from winger Luke O’Sullivan, finished with an explosive shot into the roof of the net, put Douglas Community School back into the lead.  Cobh continued to push for the equaliser but the DCS defence held firm and an excellent recovery tackle from Jack Wilkins in the dying minutes ensured the victory.

Douglas Community School advance to a semi-final, with hopes high of a day out in Turners Cross before the year is finished.

Sean Fahy

After having a very successful year in second year the school was upgraded to A level school. This was going to be a challenge for the school teams. First to play was the U16 team. The boys started a heavy training schedule training at 7.30-8.30 twice a week and on afternoons each week. The national league coach from Blue Demons offered to help with the trainings as his son Alex started to play with the school.

In our pool we played St Aidan’s and Crosshaven away. St Aidan’s game was the first of the session. The boys started badly, letting the opposition run in easy layups and take a substantial lead. In the second half Peter Mullane, Klaus Ozolins, Alex D’Alessio, Darragh Fleming and Kiran Chopra found their form and played solid defence. The baskets finally started to drop, in the end the team only lost by five points.

The Crosshaven game was a great defensive game. On offense we fought for every basket. Fast breaks then saw Darragh, Klaus, Alex, Kiran and Peter run in some easy scores. It was great to see dedicated players like Kevin O’Leary, Simone Alade and Robert O’Reilly getting some court time. Douglas won convincingly in the end.

After the pool the team qualified for the semi-final, where we had to travel to Ballincollig to face Colaiste Choilm. The team played well, playing strong defence and attacking well also, but Colaiste Choilm were too strong for our young side. The Douglas team never let themselves down with Peter Mullane putting in a very impressive performance.

U19 team

As we only had 4 players playing U19 this year we decided to play challenge matches and prepare for next year.
Our first challenge match was against Crosshaven, it was great to see Stephen Neville and David Barrett don a school jersey. Michael Keating had his greatest game ever for the school scoring from all angles and making some great steals. We hope to have a Blitz later in the year for these players.

Rosanne O’Callaghan