Hockey

For a long number of years Hockey has been the main sport for girls in the school. Grandmothers and Mothers who previously played for the school, now see their young daughters and granddaughters play on a fully equipped Astroturf surface – A far cry from the days of shale.

The girls compete at various levels;

Senior A and B
U-16 A and B
U-15 A and B
1st year A and B.

Teams compete in the Connacht League. With more schools now playing Hockey, competition in both leagues is of a high level. The girls have the opportunity to travel to other schools, meet new people and, importantly, enjoy social team contact with their peers.

2022 – 2023

PLAYING FOR IRELAND

Sligo Grammar was thrilled to have one of our students representing Ireland on the Irish hockey team over the Easter break. Maebh McLoughlin represented Ireland on the U18 hockey Team as it played a 3-game series against Poland Development Squad, Poland U18s and Austria U18s. The series was played at the Olympic Campus in Walcz , Poland and is part of the Ireland U18s preparations for the upcoming European Championships in Germany this summer. Maebh scored her first international goal v Austria. Well done, Maebh!

PLAYING FOR CONNACHT

Well done to SGS Hockey players Meabh Gillmor, Lara Swann, Maebh McLoughlin and Saoirse Lawley who played on the U18 Connacht Team v South Leinster in Athlone on Sunday 30th October. Also kudos to Eabha Daffy who played on the U16 team and to Aoife Cradock who was a reserve on the U16 team. Both U18 and U16 teams won against South Leinster on the day. Pictured here in Athlone are the SGS hockey players with DP Jimmy Staunton.

Fixtures and Results 2022 /2023

U15A Lupton Cup

23rd Jan: SGS v Taylor’s Hill, Galway: 0 – 1 (loss)

30th Jan: SGS v Seamount College, Kinvara: 0 – 3 (loss)

U15B Sweetnam Shield

30th Jan: SGS v Seamount college, Kinvara: 2 – 6 (loss)

1st Yr B Blackmore Cup

23rd Jan: SGS v Taylor’s Hill, Galway: 0 – 0 (draw)

30th Jan: SGS v Seamount College, Kinvara: 0 – 5 (loss)

18th April: SGS v Seamount College, Kinvara: 0 – 1 (loss)

Senior A Palmer Cup

SGS v Coláiste Iognáid (Jes), Galway: 2 – 1 (win)

SGS v Salerno Secondary School, Galway: 0 – 1 (loss)

Senior A Costello/Thornton League

SGS v Salerno Secondary School, Gaway: 0 – 2 (loss)

SGS v Colaiste Iognaid (Jes), Galway: 0 -1 (loss)

SGS v Taylors Hill, Galway: 9 – 0 (win)

SGS v Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone: 5 – 1 (win)

Senior B Ward Cup

SGS v Colaiste Iognaid (Jes) Galway: 2 – 4 (loss)

SGS v Seamount College: 1 – 0 (win)

SGS v Mercy College, Sligo: 2 – 2 (draw)

U16 A Griffin/Tighe League

SGS v Colaiste Iognaid (Jes) Galway: 0 – 5 (loss)

SGS v Taylors Hill, Galway: 0 – 0 (draw)

SGS v Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone: 1 – 2 (loss)

SGS v Salerno Secondary School, Galway: 0 – 3 (loss)

SGS v Ursuline College, Sligo: 1 -1 (draw)

U16 B Howley Cup

SGS v Colaiste Iognaid (Jes) Galway: 0 – 3 (loss)

SGS v Seamount College, Galway: 1 – 1 (draw)

SGS v Mercy College, Sligo: 2 – 0 (win)

HOCKEY INTER-PROS

Well done to our Hockey players who have been selected to represent Connacht in this year’s Interprovincial Series. The girls who will play at U18 level are Saoirse Lawley, Sophie Swann, Lara Swann, Meabh Gillmor and Maebh Mc Loughlin. At U16 level the SGS girls are Eabha Daffy and Aoife Cradock.

IRISH HOCKEY CAP

Special congratulations go to Maebh Mc Loughlin who was the only player chosen from Connacht to represent Ireland at U16 level. She played against Scotland twice in a Home Nations Series and played against England, Scotland, Austria, Holland and Spain in an international tournament in Spain during the summer. One of the biggest sporting achievements ever in our school…the last Sligo player to represent Ireland at Hockey underage was former SGS PE teacher, Elayne Mc Dermott.

2021 – 2022

Kudos to TY student Maebh Mc Loughlin who is the first SGS player to represent Ireland in Hockey. She’s pictured here in the front row, second from left, with Irish U16 Hockey squad. Fantastic achievement!

HOCKEY CHAMPIONS!

On Monday 17^th January the SGS U16 Hockey Team finished a fantastic campaign by winning the U16 Connacht Schools Cup Final, having gone unbeaten all season. They met Salerno Secondary School, Galway in the final which was played in SGS. The Sligo team twice came back from behind, at 1 – 0 down and 2-1 down to win 3-2 in the end. The goals were scored by Kathrina Lambrecht (2 penalty corners) and the winner came from one of the youngest players on the team, Aoife Cradock. This is the first time a Sligo school has won the Griffin Cup since the 1980s, and then it was the Ursuline College who claimed it. This is a fantastic achievement for SGS, and particularly as we are a school with less than 230 girls in total. Well done all!!

Below are some photos taken by proud parent and photographer, Eddie Lee!

TERM 1 HOCKEY NEWS

The Senior First Team had a super start to the season coming 2nd in the North-Western League with a fantastic result of 2-0 against Raphoe, Donegal, with Maebh McLoughlin and Rachel Elfaki scoring for SGS. Unfortunately, the Costello League didn’t go as smoothly as the team lost against Salerno Secondary School, Galway, but made a comeback against Coláiste Iognáid (Jes), Galway, after losing against them away, drawing 2-2 at home. We wish them the best of luck in the new year for the Palmer Cup. The Senior Second Team got off to a rocky start in the North-Western League but they showed resilience and came 2nd in their group in the Ward Cup, beating Salerno and Jes. They unfortunately lost in the semi-final against
Seamount College, Galway but put up a great fight. The U16s had their first matches as a team in the Griffin Cup, marginally losing to Jes 1-2 but beating Seamount 3-2. 1st yrs had an amazing victory against our local rivals the Ursuline College where they won 1-0, and they will have many more matches to come in the new year.
Thanks to all our coaches Ms McDermott, Mr Graham, Silas and Sebastian for putting in an enormous amount of work and effort.
Well done to all the teams, 1st years, U15, U16 and Seniors for their commitment to the sport and their hard work

SGS HOCKEY NEWS SEPT 2021

We are delighted to welcome our new hockey coaches, Sebastian and Silas who are very experienced players having played at high levels in India and Germany. They will no doubt be a great addition to the SGS Hockey Club and will help to continue raising the standard and interest in hockey amongst the girls. Best of luck guys! Congratulations to Saoirse Lawley, Sophie Swann and Maebh McLoughlin who have been selected to play hockey for Connacht at U 16 level, a fantastic achievement. The girls worked hard during the summer, trialling and training in Galway and Athlone. Well done, also, to Meabh Gillmor and Lara Swann who have been selected on the Connacht U 18 hockey squad. Having five players from the school playing at Interprovincial level is a great achievement, and it is the biggest number of SGS girls ever selected to represent Connacht in hockey. Well done girls and best of luck for the year ahead.

FIRST MATCHES AWAY 2021

Senior I and Senior II Hockey teams travelled to Omagh for first trip away in a long time. Great day and great performances!

2020 – 2021

HOCKEY WRAP-UP

Friday 28th May saw the final day of hockey for the unusual season 20/21. Despite the uncertainty of the year, the girls and their coaches persevered and continued to train when Covid-19 regulations allowed. The summer term was filled with after school hockey which saw great dedication, effort and fun from everyone. On Friday two named playing shirts were presented to the most dedicated 6th year players, Hadley Scott and Ciara Lindsay who set an example by playing and training right up to the last day. We also announced our in-coming Club Captain, Saoirse Gillmor and wish her the best of luck and fun in her role. The most dedicated player award went to Sophie Swan who, despite being injured, never missed a session. Most improved player award went to Éabha Daffy, a committed and much improved 1st year player. We look forward to next year, hoping to travel to games and get a chance to wear our new playing kit. Thanks again to our sponsors and remember, sponsors are always welcome!! Happy summer to all the players and keep active.

THANKS TO OUR HOCKEY SPONSORS

Sligo Grammar School hockey players were welcomed back to school after Easter to find their new hockey gear waiting for them. Many thanks to our sponsors who stuck with us throughout Covid-19 restrictions. Their sponsorship has helped enormously in adding to the enthusiasm to get back on the pitch.

Many thanks from our teams and Head Coach, Ms. Elayne McDermott. Your support is greatly appreciated.

OUR SPONSORS

• O’Connor Moore Dental practice

• Accounting Anytime

• O’Grady & O’Neill Solicitors Strokestown

• Riverstown TotalHealth Pharmacy

• Mr Bryan Whelan

• Terrachem Ltd

• Lynoslife

The summer of 2020 was a very successful one for SGS hockey players. Seven of our U16s were selected to go forward for Connacht Hockey trials for the Connacht U16s team. Jessica Greer, Rachel Elfaki, Maeve McLoughlin, Lara Swann, Sophie Reynolds, Roisín Gillmor and Meabh Gillmor all went to Galway for trials. This was the largest number of SGS girls ever selected to go for provincial trials and ultimately three of our students made the squad. The successful girls were Meabh Gillmor, Lara Swann and Maeve McLoughlin. Well done to all the girls and huge thanks to coach, Ms McDermott.

Hockey Report 2019/2020

The Connacht junior hockey season gets under way after Christmas each year. The First Year and U15 teams had been training hard all year since September. A big thank you to Mr Frazer who helped out greatly in coaching the 1st year squad. Another big thank you to Hadley Scott and Saoirse Gillmor who helped coach the younger players every Monday and Wednesday after school. The 1st year team had their first outing as a squad at the Ursuline College Blitz. The girls played matches against St. Mary’s Bower, Athlone, Coláiste Iognáid (Jes), Salerno Secondary School and Taylors Hill, all in Galway, as well as Seamount College, Kinvara. They also played in a local derby against the Ursuline College, Sligo. They learned a lot as a team and some of the girls improved so much that they were promoted to play on the U15 team. We look forward to building on the experience of this year.

The U15 squad worked hard all season with one aim in mind; to get to the Connaught Finals of the Lupton Cup. As a first-year group they suffered a lot of defeats, but this was turned around this year.
The Junior squad remained unbeaten in the North West League against schools from Raphoe, Derry, Omagh, and Cookstown. In the Connaught League the girls still remained unbeaten before Lock- down. The most notable results in this League were a 2-2 draw with Coláiste Iognáid (Jes), a 1-1 draw with Salerno Secondary School and a 3-2 win over Taylors Hill, all Galway teams. And we DID make it to the Connaught Semi-Finals! Unfortunately, though, we never got our big day out due to Covid19. What a fantastic season for a dedicated and committed team and we look forward to season 20/21. Well done all.

Our Senior A Girls Hockey Team emerged as winners in the Halliday League against Salerno Secondary School, Galway. Having lost no matches all season the team met Salerno on Friday 17th January at home in SGS. In what was a tense final, with Salerno receiving a short corner early in the game, the SGS girls managed to successfully hold the opposition off, with goals from Saoirse Gillmor and Lara Swann. Despite the freezing conditions the senior school turned out in force to support the girls and the final score was 2 – 0 to the Grammar School. What a great way to end their school hockey career for 6th years Imogen Wray and Erin Nielsen (captain)!

HOCKEY GIRLS SAY “HI” FROM LOCKDOWN.

INTERPROVINCIAL HOCKEY
Congratulations to Lara Swann who is seen here being presented with her first interprovincial hockey cap at U16 level. Sligo Grammar School haven’t had a player represent Connaught at this age for many years. It is a credit to Lara for her commitment and ability.
Connaught beat Munster and South East, drew with Leinster and lost narrowly to Ulster, the most successful outing for the under age provincial team in 10 years.
Well done to Lara for her part in this successful run.

Previous Years

HOCKEY TEAM VISITS ITALY

This Easter the girls had their turn for a sporting trip abroad. Just before the school broke up for the holidays the Junior Hockey Team and staff members, Elayne McDermott and Patricia Henry headed off to Italy. There they were hosted by Potenza Picena Hockey Club where they played matches with the local club. As well as playing hockey the girls visited Frassasi Caves, met the Mayor and were spoiled with some great Italian food! A great time was had by all and the girls want to thank Ms McDermott and Ms Henry for making it all possible.

HOCKEY 2019
The new year’s hockey leagues got under way on Monday 14th Jan. Our 1st year and U 15 hockey teams got their first run of 2019 in their leagues, with games played in Sligo Grammar School. Although they lost narrowly to Athlone today, both teams played well. The players have shown wonderful commitment and positivity to date, training twice a week.
On Tuesday 26th March the first Year Hockey Team and the U15 Hockey Team both came away with impressive wins against Dominican College, Taylor’s Hill, Galway in the last League game of the season. The SGS teams travelled to Galway for the matches. The first years won 4 – 0 while the U15 team won 2 – 0. The Junior Girls are now looking forward to their Hockey tour to Italy in April where they will play against Potenza Picena Hockey Club.

HOCKEY HEROINES!
Sligo Grammar Schools Senior B hockey team played in the Ward Cup final on Tuesday 25th November against Seamount College, Kinvara. Despite the horrific weather conditions both teams showed a great display of hockey.
After a very tight first half, the score remained 0-0 at half time. After a serious motivational speech given by Mr Graham, the Grammar School came back fighting hard! It wasn’t long before the Grammar took the lead, with Keely Lindsay scoring two goals in quick succession! Captain Grace Burke accepted the Ward Cup on behalf of all the team. A special thanks to Mr. Graham for all his coaching, the umpires on the day and to the dedicated supporters from the school who cheered them on until the final whistle. Well done girls!!

2017/18

SGS has presented hockey pins to the students who have been capped for the first time for SGS. We hope to continue this next year for hockey players who show commitment and dedication to the school teams. Well done girls!

Well done to the U15 B Hockey team who won the Sweetnam Cup on Tuesday 24th April. They beat Salerno Girls Secondary School, Galway at Sligo Grammar School. The final score was 1 – 0 to SGS.

Our Senior girls faced Seamount College on Friday 16th March in SGS for the final of the Connacht B Cup hockey. The game was played in excellent conditions on the school’s astro-turf pitch. The teams were very evenly matched and both fought hard to gain the upper hand. The score at the end of the match was 2 – 2, the Grammar goals scored by Sarah McCormack and Jayne McCormack (no relation!). The game went to extra time and still no winner emerged, so a penalty shoot-out was called. SGS penalties were scored by Juno Ellison and Sarah McCormack. After the penalty shoot-out the teams were still even so the game went to sudden death. SGS missed and Seamount scored, so the cup went to the visitors. Bitter disappointment for our girls and their coaches after a brilliantly fought match. Clips from the match are on our Twitter page so have a look at the highlights.

The first term was good one for Sligo Grammar School hockey. The Seniors had a great season this year, making it to the final of the Connacht B League. They started out well against Salerno, managing to get six goals past the Galway girls. Unfortunately they missed winning by one goal. The U16 A’s unfortunately developed a habit of losing by one goal, but spirits are high for their graduation to senior rank. The U16 B’s are going really well in the Howley Cup, the girls will be trying to retain the shield. The first years are flying at the moment. They are looking forward to playing in Dublin and the team trip to Belfast. Well done to Sarah Mc Cormack who made the Connacht training squad

2016/17

Well done to Sligo Grammar School’s U16 Hockey Team who won the Howley Plate in Galway on Friday 27th January, in a match against Salerno Secondary School, Galway. The final score was 1 – 0 to the Grammar School with the winning goal being scored by Rebecca Harte, 2nd Year. A hearty congratulations to all on the team!

Jayne McCormack

Congratulations go to Jayne McCormack who has been selected to play for Connacht in U18 Hockey. Jayne has been playing hockey with the Sligo Grammar School since she joined the school in first year. Throughout her time in the school Jayne has proven herself on the hockey field, becoming one of the most talented and hardworking of players. Last year she was also selected to play for Connacht so, clearly she is keeping up the good work on the hockey field! Well done, Jayne.