Cricket was present for the second year running at the annual South Dublin County Council Primary School Sports Blitz held on Thursday, March 14th at Clondalkin Leisure Centre.
It is held every year to raise awareness of the European ‘Week Against Racism’. Fairness, equality and sportsmanship are the values that the day promotes and re-inforces among the schoolchildren of the SDCC area.
All areas of the county including Tallaght, Balgaddy, Neilstown, Walkinstown and Adamstown were represented by the eight participating schools, each representing a different nation. The SDCC Cricket Development Team had spent the previous two weeks delivering introductory cricket coaching sessions in each of the schools in order to make sure all schools were well prepared for the eagerly awaited event.
Lucan Educate Together representing the Czech Republic on the day came out winners after a fun and competitive day’s cricket. They were presented with the Mayor’s Cup by SDCC Mayor Cathal King. St Damien’s, Perrystown representing Estonia were also impressive.
Kenny Carroll, Amy Kenealy, Paul O’Hara and Ciaran Divney made sure the tournament ran smoothly as they coached, umpired and scored for the duration of the event. This blitz was the first day’s cricket of the year in the SDCC area with much more cricket activity to look forward to.
It was the first time many of the schools had played the game and the pupils and teachers enjoyed it immensely with many receiving further coaching visits from the SDCC cricket development team in the coming months.
Participating teams included:
Archbishop Ryan SNS, Balgaddy
Lucan Educate Together, Willsbrook
Scoil Iosa, Tymon North
Holy Family, Rathcoole
St Damien’s, Walkinstown
Devine Word, Marley Grange
St Peter the Apostle
Scoil Caithlin Maude, Killarnden, Tallaght
Kenny Carroll
South Dublin CC/Cricket development officer