Hockey News
This year the school had five hockey teams a senior team, junior team, minor team and two first year teams. Coaches this year were Ms. Briody, Mr. Brogan, Ms. Howard, Ms. Dancy and past pupil Vivienne Garry helped assisted occasionally. Training took place on Mondays at lunch time and Wednesday and Thursday after school.
FIRST YEAR HOCKEY
This year we had two first year hockey teams playing in the Leinster School B and C girls 8-a-side league. The B team had a difficult start to the league, losing to Notre Dame, but recovered well to attain two convincing wins; they beat St. Dominic's Cabra and Holy Faith Clontarf. Unfortunately, their following matches proved more difficult and despite brave performances they lost their final two matches to strong Sion Hill and Loreto Bray teams.
The C team began the season with four consecutive wins against St. Raphaela's, St. Joseph's of Cluny, St. Dominic's Cabra and Holy Faith Clontarf. Despite a good second half performance they lost their final last match against Domincan Wicklow.
Well done to the girls for their efforts and commitment during the school year. Meadbh Gallagher and Hannah Coy participated in the first year Leinster development coaching in Dublin. 
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Meadbh Gallagher who was voted the first year sportsperson of the year. Meadbh was a very dedicated player this year and a key player on both first year teams.
Minor
They competed in the Leinster Minor 3 League. The girls won all of their group matches to finish in first place which resulted in them progressing to the quarter final of the competition.
In the group stages of the competition we played, Mount Anville, Teresian, St. Raphaelas, Rathdown and Santa Sabina. The girls played Dundalk Grammar School in the quarter final. It became clear as soon as the match began that this was going to the most difficult game the girls had played. The girls played very well and the game finished 1-1. The game remained all square following two five minute periods of extra time. The protocol then called for one versus one shuttles involving an attacker and the keeper. Unfortunately the girls lost at this 3-2. It was a heart-breaking way to exit the competition but it shows promise for next year as all players’ skill and playing ability improved from the start to the end of the season. Dundalk Grammar progressed on to win the league. We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Eilis Kenny who was selected to participate in the development coaching sessions for Leinster second year school girls. Eilis travelled to Dublin throughout the year for the training sessions. We would also like to commend Ciara Friel who was 2nd yr sports person of the year. Ciara took up hockey for the first time this year and quickly became a vital part of the team.
Junior
The Junior hockey team played Loreto Navan, Glasnevin, Jesus and Mary College and St. Gerard’s.
They played their last group match against Tullamore in early January. Despite going 2 goals down early on, the girls fought back and the match ended 3-3. With a win against Loreto Navan and two defeats in the group, the Junior team unfortunately did not progress beyond the group stages of the competition. We wish all of the third years the best in their exams and look forward to seeing them and the transition years from our squad as senior hockey players next year.
Senior
The senior team trained on Wednesday after school and played in the Leinster Senior 3 League. The girls really enjoyed the season.
The team was made up of students from transition year, fifth year and sixth year. The students in fifth and sixth year found the break and fun of hockey of great help to their studies. Ms. Briody coached the senior team this year and said the girls were a pleasure to work with and she really enjoyed the hockey they played. The girls played some wonderful hockey but unfortunately they did not progress out of their group as they had a mixture of results. The girls played the following schools, St. Andrew’ College, St. Joseph’s Cluny, Mount Anville, St. Columbas and Skerries. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the sixth years all the best in the future and we hope that they will continue to play hockey. The hockey player of the year was presented to senior Tara Cagney in recognition for her commitment, hard work, sportsmanship and ability to spur on and rally her team.
Coaching
Twelve transition year students took part in a two day hockey coaching course run by the Irish Hockey association, these students have been of great assistance to the hockey department with coaching and umpiring.
Transition Year Sports Star of the Year
Well done to Grace McEntegart who was named Transition Year Sports Person of the Year. Grace is a committed hockey player and was a vital part of this year’s Junior Hockey team
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Badminton - Leinster Final
U19 B Badminton Team
On Thursday 23rd January, the U19 B Badminton team headed off to Baldoyle Badminton Centre to take part in the Leinster Schools Badminton finals. The team consisted of Gillian Donohoe, Ellen Fay, Katie Mernagh and captain, Ciara Wall. The girls’ first match was against Eureka College, Meath. Eureka had a strong team but the girls gave it their all and won the match 4-2. Their next match was against a very strong Scoil Mhuire team. The winner of this match was to go on to play in the final and fight for a chance to get through to the All Ireland Finals. The girls battled it out against the Scoil Mhuire team in a nail-biting semi-final. They fought for every point and in the end the score was 3-3. This meant it came down to points and unfortunately St.Mary’s lost out on a place in the final by just 1 point. The final score was Scoil Mhuire 149, St.Mary’s 148. Hard luck girls! Well done for getting that far. Everyone played really well and they couldn’t have given it anymore effort. A big thank you goes to their coach Ms. Kelly and sports assistant/substitute Finóla Cassidy who came to support on the day.
Under 19A Badminton Dublin Schools Final
In the final of the Dublin Schools Badminton League, the St. Mary's Under 19A team travelled to Whitehall Road. The team consisted of Rachel Kinnerk, Caren Lee, Amy Barton and Orlaigh Behan. There, we met our opponents, Holy Faith Clontarf, who were equally eager for a win. 
With a mixture of both nervousness and excitement, we stepped on to the court knowing that every point mattered if we wanted to advance in the competition. Each of the four singles matches were tough but played with great intensity and determination. The scores were close but St Mary's fought for every point and succeeded in winning all four matches.
After securing our place in the Leinsters with the singles, the pressure dwindled during the doubles matches. St Mary's once again played well, showing great skill and sportsmanship resulting in a win in both matches.
Overall the St Mary's team came out triumphant with a convincing 6-0 victory, winning first place in the division 2 final. We will now progress on to the Leinster final next week.
U19 B Badminton Team
Our St.Mary’s U19 B Badminton Team was very nervous going into the Dublin Finals as they were unaware of the ability of the team they were set to play. Our team consisted of Ellen Fay, Ciara Wall, Katie Mernagh and Gillian Donohoe. Unfortunately Gillian lost her singles match, a very tight game ending in 28-30. Ellen, however, kept our hopes alive overcoming her opponent 30-26. Katie was unlucky to be matched against a stronger opponent but Ciara made up for it, winning her match comfortably 30-15. At this stage St.Mary’s was level with their opponents, St.Joseph’s of Cluny. This meant that both our girls doubles teams needed to up their game to even be considered a place in the Leinsters. Ellen and Gillian had an impressive performance with a cracking comeback ending the game 30-26 to St.Mary’s. 
This only meant one thing – Ciara and Katie needed to get as many points as they could to send us through. The girls played out of their skins fighting to the bitter end in what can only be called a nail-biting match but unfortunately they lost out on a single point 29-30. However, it was just enough to edge St.Mary’s B Team into the Leinsters. What a day for the B Team. Each girl could not have simply played any better. It was a fantastic sight, an emotional occasion for St.Mary’s, with their team last winning the Division 3 Dublin Final in 1999. Thank you to our fantastic coach, Ms.Kelly for all her hard work over the past months. Well done girls and best of luck in the Leinsters next Thursday January 23rd.