Kinsale winners back in class

THEY could be on the verge of fortune and hero status among the world’s dairy farmers but two Cork teenagers were taking it all in their stride on their return to school from being crowned Europe’s best young scientists.

While Sam Maguire was being carried back to Kerry yesterday, Junior Certificate students Liam McCarthy and John D O’Callaghan were back in class at Kinsale Community School where they were given a hero’s welcome – and a special congratulations by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

The pair won a €7,000 cash prize for the accolade of overall winners at the EU Young Scientist competition in Paris, and Liam was planning to spend his share on a new laptop computer. For John D, however, all he could think about since the announcement was getting to the All-Ireland football final to cheer for Cork.