Dublin pips Cork as Killian nets country’s highest marks

IN what Cork fans will be hoping is not a portent of things to come in Sunday’s All-Ireland Football semi-final clash, Dublin has beaten Cork to the title of the top student in the country.

Sandyford schoolboy Killian Donovan emerged as the prize student by scoring nine straight A1s in his Leaving Cert results.

In securing the highest marks of the 58,000 students who sat the exam, Killian claimed an honour held by pupils from Cork schools in recent years.

The 18-year-old pupil at Gonzaga College in Ranelagh obtained the top grade in physics, maths, Irish, French, English, chemistry, Latin, biology and applied maths.

Killian, who was chosen by staff and fellow pupils as the school’s captain, now hopes take up the offer of a place to study medicine at Cambridge University.

“I thought I would do well but I certainly wasn’t expecting to get nine A1s,” said the modest student who admitted to being shocked on learning he had scooped the highest marks.

He attributed his success to “not so much hard work as consistent work”. “I’d a lot on my plate because I’m school captain and was also heavily involved with the Venture Scouts so it’s all about compartmentalising your time,” he said.

Headmaster Kevin Whirdy said the school was very proud of Killian’s achievements, describing his star pupil as “a very mature young man and a great student” and his results as “exceptional”.

Two classmates at Loreto Convent in Fermoy, Co Cork, were among six students close on his trail with eight higher level A1s.

Roisin Ryan’s priority after the results was to rush to the dressmaker for final preparations ahead of the debs tonight in Cork.

“The results and the debs are on a par for importance. It was the biggest shock ever, I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I’d worked hard but never thought I’d done this well,” said the 18-year-old who hopes to be offered a place in medicine at University College Cork (UCC).

Her friend Gabrielle O’Donoghue from Mitchelstown also hopes to study at UCC with dentistry top of her list and almost guaranteed with her 600 points.

“I couldn’t be happier, I’m ecstatic. I was very nervous because nobody with less than 575 points got in last year,” she said.

Neasa Fitzpatrick, from Waterville in Co Kerry, celebrated a similar top grades in eight subjects at Coláiste na Sceilge in Caherciveen.

“I was in total shock, I didn’t expect this at all. I’m hoping now I’ll get a place in medicine at Trinity on Monday,” she said.

The three other students with eight higher level A1s included Dublin students Niamh Nic Uileagóid, a student at Coláiste Íosagáin, and Catherine King from Castleknock who collected her results from Loreto College in St Stephen’s Green. Francis Delaney from Mountrath Community School in Co Laois said he was in shock with his results but is looking forward to studying medicine in UCC.