The ceremony celebrated the academic, artistic and sporting success of students at local, county, inter-provincial, national and international level.

In her speech, principal Breda Cogiey forecast a bright future for Presentation students who achieved one success after anoth­er during the year.

Former T.D.Tony Dempsey who is chairman of the school’s Board of Management said he was very proud of the achieve­ments of the students and impressed by their friendliness and self-confidence.

Beth Kavanagh  was pre­sented with the Bank of Ireland south east Award for academic excellence at junior level and Anita Gaughan  won the B. of I. south east award for SeniorArt, for the second year in a row.

Niamh Creed, Aoife O’Brien and Yun Woo Lee were recog­nised for their achievements in the Junior Cert mathematics and science exams – all three received A grades at higher level in both subjects and were among the top 150 in the country. Sixth year stu­dent Emma Mordaunt also received a science achievement award having competed in the Irish Senior Biology Olympiad in DCU in March. She was one of only 79 students chosen to take part from schools around the country

Dearbhala Daly, Aoife O’Brien and Niamh Creed were recog­nised by WIT for achieving grade A in their Junior Cert business exams.

Aoife O’Brien was among the top 100 countrywide out of 9,000 students who sat the Junior Cert German exam and was invited by the German Embassy to sit a lan­guage test in Dublin. She fin­ished in the top 29 and won a three-week scholarship to Weimat Thueringen next August.

Chloe O’ Brien, Laurina Kehoe, Aine Lawless, Aoibhinn O’Con-nor and Sarah Lacey of CLAAS mini company were congratulat­ed on winning the Senior County Prize in the X-Cel Wexford Enter­prise Awards.  After winning the regional final, they took part in the All-Ireland Enterprise Competition in Croke Park.

Past pupil and camogie all-star winner Aine Codd returned to her alma mater to present sports awards to the school’s champion basketball teams, camogie team, soccer team, rowing team, eques­trian team and athletics’ com­petitors who won major competi­tions during the year.

And to prove that learning is a life-long experience, vice-princi­pal Anne O’Brien was congratu­lated on winning the Student of the Year Award from the British Psychological Society after grad­uating with a B.SC (Hon) in Psy­chology from the Open Universi­ty recently She was voted top stu­dent ahead of 1,500 other candi­dates.

In a hotly contested final, the girls emerged deserving winners on a scoreline of 3-5 to 2-3. How­ever, it was not until the last quar­ter that they confirmed their earli­er dominance.

Ballyhale were quickest out of the blocks and took an early lead

thanks to a brace of points from their classy centre-forward. Cor­ner-forward Geraldine Doolan opened the Presentation’s account with a goal when she latched on to a long ball and got the deftest of flicks to guide it into the Ballyhale net.

The Presentation fired over two quick points, compliments of Ciara Rossiter and Mary O’Rourke. Ballyhale struck their third point before the referee’s whistle drew a close to a closely-contested first-half.

Presentation hit full stride early in the second-half and in a ten-minute purple patch they struck one goal and three points. A goal from Aleisha Cullen and fine solo efforts from Ciara Rossiter and Lauren Nugent saw the Presenta­tion take a commanding lead.

However, Ballyhale’s reply was immediate with a goal of their own. With ten minutes remain­ing, the Presentation scored their third goal. An emphatic ground stroke from Aishling Earle sent the ball crashing into the roof of the net.

Ballyhale managed a late con­solation goal but the Slaneysiders emerged victorious to claim the Leinster Minor ‘C’ camogie title.

This team displayed 100% team effort, starting with solid goal-keeping and back foundation.

Presentation Wexford Winning Team

This, combined with an imperi­ous midfield performance and some skilfully-taken scores from the forwards, led to Presentation capturing this highly sought-after title. Well done to all the girls who no doubt will be looking for the hat-trick next year!

Presentation Singers raise funds for Wexford Womens' Refuge

From the finalists, one will be chosen as the overall national winner and will be awarded a total cash prize of €4,500 plus €8,000 for their nominating school.

John Dunne, regional manager South Leinster, Bank of Ireland, said the awards allow the bank to recognise the work of second level students in the areas of sport, art, academia and entrepreneurial spirit.
‘Previous winners have been an inspiration to all of us involved in these awards and Anita Gaughan and Beth Kavanagh are testimony to that. I am delighted to congratulate Beth and Anita on their wonderful achievements and I wish them every future success and good luck at the national final,’he said.

PRESENTATION (Wexford) edged out Presentation (Waterford) 34-31 in a dramatic contest to lift the South East League Second Year ‘C’ title at the Kingfisher Centre in Waterford.

Pres. (Waterford) got off to a dream start as Chloe Morrissey (two) and Shannon Keane (four) saw then carve a 6-0 lead, with Keane being particularly dangerous. It wasn’t long until Pres. (Wexford) found their footing, with scores through Niamh Butler (two), Kasey Maher (two) and Hollie Crosbie (two).

Morrissey closed scoring in the opening quarter for the Waterford side, leaving it 8-6 in their favour.

The second quarter belonged to the Wexford crew as an almost watertight defensive display limited Waterford to just four points while Wexford amassed an impressive ten points. Cliodhna Flynn, Aleisha Cullen and Rebecca Kirwan were on top on defence and laid the founda­tions for attack, with Cullen picking off four points and Kirwan amassing

six to leave the game 16-12 in Wex-ford’s favour at half-time.

Aleisha Cullen (four) and Shannon Keane (three) traded scores at the beginning of the third period as Waterford were intent on working their way back into the game. Indeed, the Waterford side outscored their Wexford namesakes in this period 9-8 as Morrissey and Fanning combined for six points while Wexford added a further four through Niamh Butler and Kirwan.

Heading into the final quarter, Wexford still held the advantage, 24-21. The final quarter was a tense affair, with both sides going all out to claim victory.

Each score that Wexford put on the board, Waterford were respond-

ing to. The score was 28-25 in favour of the Wexford outfit until Georgia O’Keeffe pulled Waterford back to within a point with a well-taken score.

Two fast breaks from Rebecca Kir­wan saw Wexford forge ahead by five, but Morrissey once again swished under pressure to take the lead back to three.

Fiona Kubin was introduced and duly obliged with a fantastic two points before injury forced her to the bench prematurely. This was to be the final score for the Wexford side as Waterford laid on the pressure.

Some slick passing saw Waterford cut the deficit to three points with less than a minute on the clock. The tension mounted as with only sec­onds remaining Waterford were awarded two free throws. Fortunate­ly, neither was converted and Wex­ford gained possession, held their nerve and claimed victory in what was an exciting and enjoyable final.

Presentation (Wexford) now go on to represent the south-east in the All-Ireland play-offs in mid-April. The experience of such a tense and demanding match will stand to them as they continue their prepara­tions and training.