CBS Roscommon wins Irish Schools Senior Golf Championship
Caption l/r: Thomas Higgins, Fionn Hoare, Simon Walker, teacher Mark Hodgins, Kevin Connaughton, Alan Connaughton and Cian O’Connor at the presentation of the winning trophy.
Flogas-sponsored CBS Roscommon, representing Connacht, claimed its second win in three years at the GUI 2020 Irish Schools Senior Championship Finals in Macroom, Cork on Tuesday 18th August 2020. It is the School’s third year in a row to represent Connacht at the Finals, which they won in 2018 and were semi-finalists in 2019.
Commenting on their win, Donal Moran, the local Flogas representative, said, “Congratulations to CBS Roscommon on behalf of Flogas, we are absolutely delighted with their win. I had the pleasure of meeting them all a few weeks ago and they are a terrific bunch of lads. It’s great to see that all their hard work has paid off.”
The school was represented by brothers Alan Connaughton (18) and Kevin Connaughton (17) from Roscommon town, 6th year and TY students respectively; 6th year student Michael Corcoran (18) from Kilteevan; TY student Thomas Higgins (17) from Ballybride; TY student Fionn Hoare (17) from Golf Links Road; TY student Cian O’Connor (17), Knockcroghery and 6th year student Simon Walker (19) from Roscommon town.
Having seen off the challenge of the Munster team, Colaiste Choilm from Ballincollig in Cork, in the morning semi-finals, the Roscommon hotshots came up against formidable opponents in the shape of the Royal Belfast Academical Institute, representing Ulster, in the afternoon final.
Fionn Hoare put a point on the board early on for CBS Roscommon, with another 6&5 win, this time over Michael Glasgow. Alan Connaughton added a second point with victory over George Craigan 4&2 while wins for Simon Walker over Darcy Hogg (19th) and Cian O'Connor (2&1) on Robert Craigan closed out the victory by four matches to one.
Teacher Mark Hodgins, golf co-ordinator at CBS, was delighted afterwards and credited the success of the team to parents and Roscommon Golf Club. Mark said, "There's a big sporting tradition in the school, between football and lots of other sports. This has come on a long way in the last few years and obviously golf has become really successful in the school over the last four or five years. We have to credit the parents really and the local club for the success that the team has had."