GRIPPING END TO CREDIT UNION QUIZ FINAL

Scoil an Chroi Naofa team Sean Roberti, Paula Lehane, Mr. Brendan Houlihan, Credit Union Chapter Chairperson, Michael Griffin, Kate Twomey & Mrs Mary Harrington, Class Teacher

 The Cork County Credit Union Quiz Final held at Rochestown Park Hotel last Sunday proved to be a very exciting day with a gripping finale between Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa, Castletownbere and St. Patrick’s N.S., Skibbereen for the coveted first place.

Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa and Adrigole N.S. both won the local competition held in Beara in January last and moved on to the county final to represent Berehaven Credit Union in the over 11 and under 11 categories respectively.

A large number of schools from Cork County gathered in the Conference Centre at Rochestown and the Beara teams were supported by class mates, parents, families, Credit Union members Eily Kelly and Peggy O’Sullivan, and teachers M. Harrington, M. O’Callaghan, K. Twomey, P. Stevens and M. Harrington.

The Adrigole team ( Michael O’Neill, Cian O’Neill, Sean O’Shea and Seamus O’Suilleabháin) performed excellently coming third in the under 11 category but first prize went to Caragh N.S. and second prize to Gaelscoil Eoin, Ballincollig. 

In the over 11 category the quizmaster announced that after 12 rounds of questions that  two teams namely Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa  (Paula Lehane, Kate Twomey, Sean Roberti and Michael Griffin) and St. Patrick’s N.S. were both joint 1^st place and a tie breaker round was required.  The hall hushed as both teams wrote their answers to this round.  On completion the quizmaster announced that both schools were still level and a second tiebreaker round was required.  The tension was nail-biting as the second round was completed and it was announced that both teams had drawn again!!  Both teams received rapturous applause.  One could hear a pin drop as the two teams battled for the third tie breaking round and amazingly the two teams drew level again.  Both teams seemed to be a match for each other!

The “Sudden Death” round was then introduced and on the third question St. Patrick’s N. S. Skibbereen took 1^st place leaving Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa to be a very close runner-up in 2^nd place.  Both St. Patrick’s and Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa will go forward to represent Cork in the National Final to be held shortly.  The Chapter Chairperson of the Cork District, Mr. Bernard Houlihan, complimented all the schools, parents and teachers for their participation. The Scoil an Chroí Ró-Naofa team were presented with cameras by Mr. Houlihan.  Berehaven Credit Union generously treated the Adrigole and Castletownbere teams to a meal prior to their journey back to Beara.