Monksland U13 chess team strikes gold at All-Ireland final
By Rebekah O'Reilly
The Monksland U13 Chess team struck gold at the Community Games chess final in Kilkenny on Saturday (July 5).
The competition took place in Watershed, Kilkenny, and was the second year in a row that the local team made it to the All-Ireland final.
Monksland U13 Chess Team is made up of six local kids from Cloonakilla NS, Summerhill NS, and Cornafulla NS: Addhrit Bhushan, Adhiraj Bhushan, Aaron Sheehy, Cuan Ryan, Cormac Gallagher, and Eleanor Neary.
The team also won the Roscommon county final in April of this year, going on to be named the Connaught champions later that month.
The local kids went up against three other teams, which included Navan U13 chess team, who took home silver, Ennis St Johns U13 chess team, who took home bronze, and Cootehill-Bunroe-Kill-Dumgear chess team from Cavan.
"It was absolutely fantastic," said parent Kelly Marie Neary. "The kids were absolutely delighted to win, it's a great achievement and they put on a phenomenal performance.
"It's only their second year to reach the All-Ireland final, so for them to take home silver last year, and now gold this year, it's just unbelievable."
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The Monksland U13 chess team is made up of Addhrit Bhushan, Adhiraj Bhushan, Aaron Sheehy, Cuan Ryan, Cormac Gallagher, and Eleanor Neary.Image 2 of 4
The Monksland U16 chess team brought home the bronze medal at the Community Games National Final. The team consists of Nikodem Zamiar, Kenny and James Perkins, Jake McGuire, and Donnacha Helen.Image 3 of 4
The Monksland U13 chess team, who took home gold at the Community Games National Final, with a Cairns Community Games representative.Image 4 of 4
Addhrit Bhushan, Adhiraj Bhushan, Aaron Sheehy, Cuan Ryan, Cormac Gallagher, and Eleanor Neary.The Monksland team played five rounds in the final against the Ennis St Johns team, winning three, drawing one, and losing one, with the matches going on for well over an hour.
The Monksland U16 chess team also made their mark in the competition, receiving the bronze medal for the mixed U16 category.
The team consists of Nikodem Zamiar, Kenny and James Perkins, Jake McGuire, and Donnacha Helen.
"It was a very tough match for the U16 team," Kelly said, noting that the teens were up against last year's winners, the Cork U16 team.
"It was their first year competing at the final, and they took home bronze. It was a very good achievement for them."
Kelly extended her thanks to the Monksland U13 coaches, Paula Sheehy and Purnima Bhushan, for all of their work with the team.
"At our AGM, the coach had to step down due to personal reasons. Paula and Purnima stood up, they did the training, and got garded vetted," Kelly said.
"Without them, we wouldn't have a team, and we certainly wouldn't have gold today."