Every year, Glór na nGael organise a blitz in Carlow to promote both Gaelic football and the use of the Irish language beyond the classroom. This year’s edition was held in Éire Óg over two evenings during the last week of May.

The girls were first up on Tuesday evening the 24^th. As the smallest school entering the competition this year, the girls’ looked to be up against it. However, by the end of the blitz, our girls had very definitely shown that they could compete with and beat the ‘scoileanna móra’!

The first game saw the girls take on Castledermot’s Scoil Diarmada. There was not much between the teams in the first-half but Ballyconnell pulled away in the second half to win by 1-4 to no score. Megan Ní Mheirtenach hit 1-1 while Sorcha Nic Eochaidh, Chloe Ní Luain and Millie Ní Néill all chipped in with points too.

Cluiche 2 saw us pitted against Carlow’s Scoil Mhuire gan Smál. The girls played fabulously in this one and won in the end by 1-6 to 1-0. Megan Ní Mheirtneach was once again on form, hitting 0-2. Her partner in the full forward line, Creah Ní Dhúill, added a further 1-1, while midfielder Sorcha Nic Eochaidh scored 0-3.

That victory sent Ballyconnell into the semi-finals against Graiguecullen’s St Fiacc’s. The girls went into overdrive here, hitting 4 goals in a 4-5 to 2-0 win. 3 games in and still no points conceded! Erika Ní Ghrádaigh got the all-important first score of the game which really took the pressure off. Chloe Ní Luain really hit form, hitting 0-3 while Creah Ní Dhúill also scored a point. Sorcha Nic Eochaidh (2), Ella Ní Neill and Áile Ní Lása all raised green flags for Ballyconnell in a great victory.

To the cluiche ceannais then! We were to take on the mighty Gaelscoil. In the first half though, it was mighty Ballyconnell with Creah Ní Dhúill, Megan Ní Mheirtneach and Sorcha Nic Eochaidh all hitting points to make it 0-3 to no score at half-time. The Gaelscoil started the second half with determination and hit 2 goals within 2 minutes to take the lead. Ballyconnell came down the other end and Sorcha Nic Eochaidh found the net to level matters at 1-3 to 2-0. It looked to be heading for a draw but Gaelscoil hit 1-1 in the last few minutes to take the title on a scoreline of 1-3 to 3-1. Nevertheless, Ballyconnell could be very proud of their achievements. Organiser Bríde de Róiste complimented the girls on a great, silver medal-winning performance.

The boys headed to Éire Óg on Thursday the 26^th of May with high hopes of emulating the girls’ performance. The first game pitted Ballyconnell against a very strong Scoil Diarmada side. Despite their obvious strength, Ballyconnell trailed by just 2 points at the break 1-2 to 1-0, the goal a poacher’s finish by Jack O’Connor. However, Scoil Diarmada pushed on in the second half to win the game and gain revenge for their girls’ defeat on Tuesday evening.

The boys’ second match saw the boys take on Bennekerry, knowing a win would take them into the semi-finals versus Askea Boys. In this game, we dominated possession but just couldn’t get the scores on the board, allowing Bennekerry to take the victory.

That was the end of Corn Peile Ghlór na nGael for 2022. Apart from the quality of the football, what was most heartening to see, or rather hear, was the amount of Irish spoken by Ballyconnell NS students. The organisers said that we were almost like a Gaelscoil! Maith sibh, a bhuachaillí agus a chailíní!

Na Buachaillí