All-Ireland Chess Success

The Schools' All Ireland Chess Finals took place in Belfast on the weekend of April 25th. The Gonzaga Senior and Junior teams both competed in a competition which sees teams of 6 players compete in 3 matches over the course of the weekend. The winners are the team who score highest out of the 18 possible points on offer.
The Senior section was the tightest in the history of the event with Gonzaga, St Benildus and Methodist College all beginning the final round on 6 points, having canceled each other out in the previous rounds. Unfortunately for the Seniors it wasn't to be as St. Benildus, who beat us in the Leinster final, won the All Ireland title for the first time. Congratulations are due to St Benildus, a school which has, over the years, produced a string of international standard players. It's been a long wait for them and their coach, Mr. Frank Scott, and they thoroughly deserve this title after years of effort.

Congratulations also to our Senior team (in board order): Michael O'Toole, Cian Ruane (captain), David Collier, Patrick Mangan, Conor Casey and Ivan Baburin.
The Junior team with the Leinster title under their belt, were re-united with their Captain, John Flangan (who had missed the Leinster semi-final and final) and Board 1 of the Minor team, Jack Hennessy, who very capably stepped into the extra place that opens up on the All Ireland team. Despite the strong opposition provided by St. Benildus, St. Patrick's and St. Columb's, Derry the entire Junior team went through the weekend undefeated scoring an extremely emphatic 16/18. They are worthy All Ireland Champions and with 4 of the 6 players still eligible for Junior level next year, we are hopeful of further successes.
The All Ireland Junior Champions are (in board order as shown above, right to left): Cormac O'Brien, Marc Lincoln, John Flanagan (Captain), Tim Wyse, Jack Hennessy and Peter Gillen.