Leinster Championship Community Games 2016 u-13 by Aisling Ní Laighléis.

Yesterday, 2nd July, after months of practice, the Malahide u 13 community chess team headed down to Carlow for the Leinster Championship Seim-finals and Finals. We were all a little nervous but very excited at the same time. We had won the Dublin Community Games and had then won the first few rounds of the Leinster Championships. Malahide had won the Dublin, Leinster and the All Ireland Championship last year and we were hoping to repeat this in 2016. Our team lost two members Amily Learny and James Cavanagh as they were too old this year but our 2 new players are both very strong, Cathal and Matthew Coogan. The rest of the team was Finn Elinboe, William Hackett, Isaac Flynn, me- Aisling Ní Laighléis and Adam Gardiner.

The games took place in the Carlow Institute of Technology and there was a genial atmosphere there from the moment we arrived.It was a lovely venue to host the Community Games. There was a feeling of competiveness but also great sportsmanship in the building. Jimmy Denagher, our coach showed us the Leinster Cup and told us we had to bring it back to Dublin. The semi-final started at 11:00 and although our opponents played very well we beat them 5-0. Maith sibh!

Onto the finals. The games started at around 1:10 and the atmosphere was very tense in the room. We played Meath in this game and although all of the games were very close we won 3.5 / 5 and regained the Leinster Cup. Bhí athas orainn ar fad. We all had a great time and can’t wait to go to the All-Irelands in Athlone in August.

We have to thank out two coaches, Tom OSullivan and Jimmy Denagher for all the work they have done for us. Go raibh míle maith agaibh!

Leinster Championship Community Games 2016 u-16

Dublin Under 16 Community Games champions Foxrock won the U16 competition last Saturday in Carlow and will advance to represent Leinster in the national final in Athlone in August.

Attached is a picture of the team who are as follows (L-R):

Harry Glynn, Ross Beatty, Eoin Farrelly, Hugo Maguire and Richard Kitskan