Latest news with #LeavingCert
Irish Examiner
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ger Nash seeking response from 'hurt' Cork City
Come 10pm last Saturday night, Cork City found themselves in the lonely position of 10th in the Premier Division table. City's defeat to Bohemians on Friday night, coupled with Sligo Rovers one-nil win over Waterford the following day ensured exactly that. The momentum built from a positive performance against Shelbourne prior to the mid-season break - albeit without the much-needed three points - was taken away in that loss to Alan Reynolds' Bohs, as City boss Ger Nash illustrated on Thursday. "I think we were hurt by Friday night, that's important to say," Nash said. "We felt we had built a little bit of momentum after the performance against Shels. I think it's probably the first time I've seen that confidence be affected, and that's something we had to address, we had to talk about." Stephen Bradley's Shamrock Rovers are next up on Friday night, with the visit of high-flying Drogheda and St Pat's to come next week. "I'm looking for a response on Friday night, we've spent a lot of time with the players this week - on the grass, off the grass - and I went to watch Drogheda and Shamrock Rovers on Monday, so we're prepared as well as we can be, and it's time for us to put in a performance now over the next week. It's imperative." A response is what is wanted by Nash and assistant David Meyler, and a response is what they so badly need. That response, for Nash, needs to consist of being defensively resolute, and having the bravery to play football as they did against Shels and during parts of the defeats to St Pat's and Galway United. "We have to be confident in who we are and what we are about," the 38-year-old said. "That's maybe something we didn't do in the Bohemians game in the first half-hour, where I think we were rocked a little bit. "As much as we are up against a really difficult opponent (in Shamrock Rovers), I think we really need to focus on us, and be the best version of us and give the fans the best version of us. "I think we showed that against Shelbourne in some aspects, and we need to get back to that level of performance, but importantly, we need to put a huge emphasis on getting points on the board over the next eight days, with three games to play." He added: "We need to stand tall, puff our chests out and represent this great club. As much as we're going to play a tough team, it has to be about us and what we are going to do to get ourselves out of the situation that we are in." Dutch winger Malik Dijksteel - who has been working his way back to full fitness after a lengthy injury absence - may feature more prominently on Friday after a number of appearances off the bench. Midfielder Rio Shipston will not make the clash with the table toppers, nor will Matty Kiernan, who is sitting his Leaving Cert. "Malik is one who has stepped up... he's in a better place than he was two weeks ago, so he's one that will be able to have more football."
The 42
19 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'Just a special talent' - 20 years on from Galway's 'Terrible Twins' brilliance in All-Ireland final
THE TONE WAS set after just 18 seconds. Cathal Blake made the hard yards, Micheal Meehan provided the finishing touch to the net. On All-Ireland final day for Galway it was the perfect start. By the eighth minute they had hit the net twice, they struck a third goal by half-time, and doubled that tally during the second half to finish with six. They only raised five white flags but no one of a maroon persuasion minded that the goal total surpassed the point figure. Two decades on as Galway and Down prepare to cross paths in the senior championship arena in Newry, the memories of a madcap and wildly entertaining All-Ireland U21 final between the counties in Mullingar come flooding back for those involved. The end scoreline, 6-5 to 4-6, remains stunning to read, and in the Galway ranks there was too chief architects. Meehan, an irrepressible talent, struck 3-2. Seán Armstrong, fresh out of the minor ranks, pushed him hard in the scoring stakes and finished with 3-1. 'Sometimes I feel sorry for Cathal Blake, he was full-forward beside the two lads and he was a brilliant footballer, still playing with his club,' recalls Barry Cullinane, a towering midfielder in that Galway team. 'He took the Down full-back out of it, and they followed him because they knew if they didn't, he was going to cause problems and it just left to rake space inside for the lads. 'You'd don't need to ask them twice to pull the trigger. The exploits of famed Galway duo Sean Purcell and Frank Stockwell earned them the 'Terrible Twins' label, Meehan and Armstrong struck a partnership that year to rival them. Before the final, they hit 15 out of Galway's 17 points in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, Armstrong swinging over seven from play. Meehan's talent was already advertised in bright lights. In 2002 he won the Hogan Cup with St Jarlath's and an All-Ireland U21 medal with Galway. In 2003 he won the Sigerson Cup with NUIG. In 2004 he won the All-Ireland senior club title with Caltra. Advertisement By 2005, his last year as an underage footballer, his ability had been illuminated for all to see, but there was a confidence in the threat posed by his attacking colleague as well. 'I wouldn't have played with Army up to that, but he had a huge reputation, even from like U14 in Salthill, they had a really, really good team,' says Cullinane. 'He came out of minor but was basically built like a 25-year-old. 'He could handle himself. He came out of Leaving Cert, went into the military, and didn't take a huge amount of work on the physical aspect of it because genetically he was all there. 'We knew when we had him that that you definitely had a potent forward line. We'd been unlucky at minor level with that team, we lost in an All-Ireland quarter-final to Joe Sheridan's Meath team, and probably maybe lacked a little bit of support for Mikey and Army was the extra bit of impetus that we needed.' Delivering for Meehan fuelled the motivation of that Galway group. 'There was huge excitement around then because you saw that 2002 (U21) team and the performance they put in, they beat Kerry in a semi-final and Dublin in a final. That was off the back of the 2001 senior final and there was a huge positivity around Galway football at the time. Maybe it had dwindled a little bit. 'But for all of us, you know you're playing with a generational talent when you've Michael Meehan. We knew that, we'd all seen him since Under-12 coming up through the ranks and knew exactly how good he was. 'I think there was a bit of a responsibility that we had to perform as well to make sure that he got the recognition that that he deserved. He was just a special talent. 'Not only as a brilliant footballer, he was a brilliant leader as well and demanded high standards. It was the responsibiliry for us all to get to the level that he expected.' They delivered. Cullinane was one of a number who graduated to the senior ranks. 'We got a load of lads off that off that U21 team. Damien Dunleavy, Niall Coyne, Darren Mullahy, Alan Burke, Finian Hanley, Gary Sice, myself, Niall (Coleman), Mikey, Army, we got a load of lads went on to play senior. 'Only for injuries, I'd say a couple of them would have had a lot better (careers). Damien Dunleavy was an unbelievable talent. Like he had everything, he was athletic, brilliant footballer, but just ravaged by injuries. 'Darren Mulllahy was an exceptional wing-back and again kind of just got caught with injuries over the years. It was definitely a profitable team for the Galway seniors. We were lucky that Peter Ford at the time was over the seniors and he was over the U21s. 'That was the way it was done. John O'Mahony, God rest him, took the seniors and U21s, and then when he stepped aside and Peter Ford came in, he took that as well. So it was good for us in terms of like that transition to senior was was more seamless.' Related Reads A New York All-Ireland final and Croke Park championship meetings - Kerry and Cavan's history 'You are used to being on the road' - Shane O'Donnell makes light of Donegal controversy 'You couldn't be happy with Saturday' - Paul Geaney gets ready for charge at Sam Maguire Members of the opposition that day have progressed as well. Conor Laverty was a livewire, jinking forward that Galway needed to watch. Now he is the Down boss trying to mastermind the downfall of the Galway seniors. 'He was one of three lads we had pinpointed,' recalls Cullinane of Laverty. 'Joe Ireland, I think injury kind of caught him as well, he didn't start the final and got a goal off the bench. Ambrose Rodgers in the middle of the pitch and Laverty, they were the three hot hot properties. 'At the time, like the whole analysis side of it wasn't as as detailed as it is now. You were just getting snippets here and there, but we knew what he had done up to that. 'To see what he's gone on to do for Kilcoo and Down, you have to have huge admiration for him. He was a hard runner and I think he kind of has brought that into Kilcoo and brought it into Down. He's obviously a good thinker of the game and he was a really, really good footballer.' The 1959 was the first Galway-Down clash in championship, Galway winning that All-Ireland semi-final. They would meet four times in the space of 13 seasons, Galway edging the semi-final record 3-1, but Sunday afternoon will represent a first championship meeting in 54 years. Since last Monday's draw, memories of the 2005 U21 showdown have been stirred up again. 'Good days like that, you'll always gravitate towards those memories and they were really nice,' says Cullinane. 'There was a great bunch of lads and the draw just makes you think about about them. 'It's1971 since Galway played Down in the championship. I played them in the league a few times. 'But definitely there's a connection between Galway and Down football. For myself, I'm from Claregalway. Patsy O'Hagan, who's the former Down star of the '60s, he moved to Claregalway and Danny Cummins, ex-Galway footballer, is actually his grandson. 'So in Claregalway there's a big Down connection and that adds to it this week.' *****
Extra.ie
21 hours ago
- Climate
- Extra.ie
Met Eireann reveal hottest areas as temperatures to reach 29C this week
Is the famous 'Leaving Cert weather' back after a delay? It looks that way as some parts of Ireland are set to be as hot as 29C this week. Met Éireann said Thursday has been the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching a scorching 27C in Co Roscommon. However, the hot weather is set to continue this week as the national weather forecaster predicts parts of the country will see temperatures of nearly 30C. Delayed Leaving Cert weather? It looks that way as some parts of Ireland are set to be as hot as 29C this week. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Thursday night is set to be 'mild and humid' according to Met Éireann. They said: 'While most areas will remain dry, localised heavy showers may occur with the chance of isolated thunderstorms. 'Temperatures will not fall below 13 to 16 degrees in light to moderate southeast breezes.' Most people, however, will be hoping to have an early start to their weekend, Met Éireann predicting a hot and humid Friday as temperatures are set to reach a sizzling 29C 'over the northern half of the country'. Met Éireann said Thursday has been the hottest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching a scorching 27C in Co Roscommon. Pic: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos A spokesperson said: 'Friday will be very warm or hot. Largely dry with long spells of sunshine, however a few showers may break out, with isolated thunderstorms possible. 'Some patchy mist and fog may occur also, mainly in the southwest.' They added: 'Humid with top temperatures of 21 to 28 or 29 degrees, highest values over the northern half of the country, in light to moderate southeast breezes.' However, the hot weather is set to continue this week as the national weather forecaster predicts parts of the country will see temperatures of nearly 30C. Pic: Collins However, things are set to take a turn on Saturday, with the weather becoming 'more unsettled as an Atlantic regime takes hold'. Met Éireann warn that while warm sunshine is still expected, there will also be scattered showers in parts of Ireland, some of which will be heavy and possibly even thundery. Sunday is expected to see the biggest weather change, becoming fresher and breezier with temperatures between 15C and 20C.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Science
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert design and communication graphics (DCG): ‘True to form with something for everyone'
Today's Leaving Cert higher level Design and Communication Graphics paper had 'something for everyone'. Overall, Rob Kiernan, DCG teacher at The Institute of Education, said it was a paper that students should be really pleased with. One challenging moment came in the form of an 'unorthodox' question B-1, which might have caused some candidates to wobble as they moved through the paper. However, he said the general tone of the paper was one of familiarity, testing things that 'should be in everyone's arsenal.' READ MORE Leaving Cert, DCG higher level, Section A Section A Starting into the short questions of Section A, Mr Kiernan said every student will have found omething that suited them. 'For the more artistic visualisers, A-1's question on axonometric axes was pretty standard,' he said. 'This year the examination of axonometries was limited to the short questions as the examiner seems to return to form from previous years after last year's surprising reappearance in the long questions for a second year in a row.' The more mathematically minded will have been pleased with A-2's conics question, Mr Kiernan said. 'It is rather rare to see the elliptical outline as the hyperbolic/parabolic is much more common, so some might be kicking themselves for leaving it off their revision,' he said. A-3 on an oblique plane should have been familiar to anyone who has looked over past papers as it has been a 'meat and potatoes' question since 2009, he said. A-4 continued the trend of interpenetration of solids becoming more prevalent on the exams, and so those who had been monitoring how the papers had been progressing will be pleased. Section B Moving into the longer Section B questions, Mr Kiernan said students will have been thrown by a 'curveball' appearance of dynamic mechanism. 'This is a topic that typically appears in Section C and is totally optional in the exam, so some teachers might not have covered this specific material recently,' he said. Leaving Cert, DCG higher level, Sections B and C 'Students could still attempt the question as it was very fair and reminiscent of rotation, which is part of Junior Cert. transformational geometry. But this would have pushed students to really stretch into a corner of their memories that they were not anticipating, so many may simply skip this question and thus commit to doing B-2 and B-3.' Thankfully, he said, B-2 was a 'standard but all-encompassing question' on intersecting planes. 'All the key co-ordinates were given – sometimes they omit some for added challenge – and the tasks would be very familiar to those who had looked at previous questions,' he said. B-3 was a question on perspectives which Mr Kiernan many will welcome, not least because it reaffirmed the old relationship of a short axonometric question means a long perspective question and vice versa. 'These topics are often studied in tandem and firmly under a student's belt by the end of fifth year, so students will be happy that they are back in such familiar territory.' However, B-3(C) will have been trickier for some depending on how they comprehended the material. 'For those who can fully conceptualise the object in their minds it will be fine, but those who stick strictly to the procedural processing of the numbers and lines on the page will struggle to see how to procure the answer,' he said. Section C Students only needed to attempt one question from Section C, so will have been heavily influenced by what they covered in class. 'Schools which include engineering will tend towards C-4 on dynamic mechanism and C-5 on assemblies,' he said. 'The latter is strict test of draftsmanship in which the conventions are held to a very high standard of precision, but it really suits some. For many C-2 and C-3 will be their area of choice.' Those who had looked at trends of previous papers and anticipated this year would be the time for hyperboloid of revolution to appear will be 'thrilled'. 'This takes the basics of conics from A-2 but adds the 3rd dimension for lots of more complex geometry. For those who had prepared this task, it was a nice chance to shine,' Mr Kiernan said. 'C-3 was a standard take on surface geometry using a mocha jar as an example. This overlaps with the material of B-2 and really shows the value of transferable skills.' He said that both B-2 and C-3 looked for dihedral angles and while C-3 specified 'one-piece surface development', this was just a synonym for 'true shape' in B-2. 'If this was an area of the course you had any comfort with, this was a lovely question,' he said. Leaving Cert, DCG ordinary level, section A Leaving Cert, DCG ordinary level, sections B and C
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Michael Moynihan: Can you pass a Leaving Cert exam about Cork?
I know it's traditional to wish those sitting the Leaving Cert exams all the best before those tests actually start, but how about now, when it hasn't quite finished? Looking at the timetable, I see a good few subjects have been done, and some of the remaining tests are pretty esoteric, but still: thoughts and best wishes to those still facing the LC. It won't be long now, believe me, when you'll be able to forget your test number rather than having it haunt you 40 years on. (085087246. Brr.) Count yourselves lucky you are not facing the exam next year, however, when there will be a new subject on the curriculum. Find below the first example of test papers in a whole new field I am proposing to the Department of Education: Cork studies. This is a deeper, richer examination of our heritage, one with a robust academic footing that takes cognisance of a history and context going back into the mists of (and so on in a similar vein for a while). It is also something of a response to a friend of mine who, while generally liberal on most matters, adopts a very strong Toryish line on one specific issue. People in Cork who are originally from other counties but who get their children to support their parents' counties rather than Cork, the place those children were born and raised and educated, a gross betrayal... (I once tried to point out this was dangerously close to Norman Tebbit's old cricket test: one of Margaret Thatcher's grimmer handmaidens, Tebbit asked if the children of immigrants to England supported their parents' countries in cricket games between those nations, but I didn't belabour the point. He gets a reddish light in his eye when he's talking about this). Anyway. Cork studies. We won't be jumping head first into the Leaving Cert, of course. Junior certificate examination first. If you're interested in getting a jump on the opposition, am happy to supply a sample JC test paper (ordinary level, but what harm). JUNIOR CERTIFICATE (ORDINARY LEVEL) 1. What is the first line of the second verse of The Banks? A. What is The Banks? B. 'Tis a beautiful land this dear isle of song. C. After all I really love you. 2. From Cork I go up to Dublin but I go - - Youghal. A. Across to. B. Over to. C. Down to. 3. Where is 98 Street? Off the Bandon Road and down to Noonan Road. Is 98 Street down the side of Lennox's? Down the side of Lennox's. Both of the above at the same time. 4. Everyone in Cork knows where the airport is. Where was it supposed to be located? A. Carrigtwohill. B. Nad. C. Castletownberehaven. 5. The most dangerous pedestrian crossing in Cork is: A. Where Victoria Avenue, Victoria Road, and Blackrock Road meet. B. Any crossing next to or near to the Elysian. C. Getting from Merchant's Quay to Bridge Street (any route). 6. Cork's natural enemies are: A. Kerry people. B. Dublin people. C. Ah, would you stop. Once you've taken this intermediate step you are then ready for the senior cycle (it should be noted here there will be no exemptions of any sort granted on any basis to any Leaving Cert student attending a Cork school). The questions below are from a sample paper which illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of Cork Studies. LEAVING CERTIFICATE (HIGHER LEVEL) MUSIC: In the song 'The Armoured Car' we are reminded that while glory is a fleeting sensation which vanishes in a heartbeat, a good dog is forever. Discuss this statement, developing your response with reference to the song of the same name. Bonus points for citing 'The Armoured Car's real name. ECONOMICS: The fragile cash-based economy of the North Monastery primary school was rocked by a devastating event in 1975, when a bottle of Cadet (red lemonade) and a bag of Tayto crisps moved beyond 5p. This made it necessary to possess two coins, not one, for this essential food combination. Track the effect of this price rise on the schoolboy economy with reference to the oil crisis occurring across the world at the time. ENGLISH: What is the greatest poem ever written about or in Cork? Use quotations in your answer, with special consideration to be given to references to The Rancher's Curse, A Nocturne for Blackpool, and Cúl an Tí. GEOGRAPHY: Where is the smallest hill in Ireland, easily accessible within Cork? Bonus points if the downstairs pub nearby, now long gone, can be named. ACCOUNTING: If a small shed on Patrick's Street is removed from its original location and abandoned in a yard until it starts to fall to pieces, how much should it cost to relocate and renovate that small shed years later in another part of Cork? Bonus points if a breakdown of the costs of filming said work can be provided. HISTORY: Examine the proposed location of the Event Centre, with reference to other facilities in Cork which might have been placed in more advantageous settings (Junior Cert students may recall pointed questions about the airport). Examine the proposed location of the Event Centre, with reference to other facilities in Cork which might have been placed in more advantageous settings. Picture: Larry Cummins Bonus points for any evidence of traffic congestion at the South Gate Bridge circa 1788, not at all likely to recur when the new centre is built. E NGINEERING: When the South City Luas is eventually installed, what tune should be played to soothe passengers, particularly when the Northside of the city comes into view? Bonus points for any combination of 'Southern Nights', 'South Of The Border', or 'Take Me To The River'. ART: The so-called 'Robot Trees' were supposedly introduced to Cork to help purify the air of the city, but are now recognised as one of the most audacious modern art installations of the 21st century. Cork's Robot Trees: Describe the levels of irony involved in this piece, how those pieces have forced more attention on the concept of a 'bench', and locate them in the pantheon of modern Irish art. Picture: Andy Gibson Describe the levels of irony involved in this piece, how those pieces have forced more attention on the concept of a 'bench', and locate them in the pantheon of modern Irish art. Bonus points for students explaining the persistence of bird poo on the remaining parts of the RTs. BIOLOGY: Account for the strength of the female bladder in Cork as evidenced by the lack of public toilets for same within the city centre. Bonus points for references citing personal experience without being too graphic. BUSINESS: If there are seven vape shops in Cork City for every citizen, then how are a) Corkonians ingesting more vaping products than the entire population of Los Angeles and b) how are all those shops turning a profit? Bonus points if accounts can be cross-indexed with those of phone repair outlets. The eagle-eyed may have noted the focus on examinations above rather than the syllabus itself. In an effort to reduce teaching burdens, this will be self-directed learning on the part of the students, absorbed through their lived experience in Cork. In other words, if they know, they don't need to be told. If they need to be told, they just don't know what it means to be from Cork.
