U-10s hurl their way to victory
Clanns played really well in windy conditions against a visiting Setanta team last weekend. A really strong performance from Emmett set the tone for the match and ensured the team won most of the breaking ball. Excellent puck outs from Aidan, brilliant defence from Francis and Daire led to good scores from Emmet and Senan H in the first half. Setanta came back with a couple of scores of their own but our lads still went in at half time with a one-point lead. The second half was all Clanns: Mark was in goals and did a good job with his puck outs, Alec was dynamic in midfield and Rian worked really hard up front. Dylan got on to the ball really quickly and Hugh put in his usual strong defensive performance. Jonathan was denied a goal near the end by a great save. The boys dominated with the aid of the wind and good scores from Aiden, Francis and Emmett sealed a well-deserved, five-point win.
Top spot for U-15 squad
The Clanns U-15s in amalgamation with Scoil Ui Chonail have had a very strong start to the 2014 season in both hurling and football. Currently they are sitting on top of the Division 2 hurling league (having won all four matches to date) and are mid-table in Division 2 football (having won three of the five games to date). Great credit is due to the lads for their dedication to training and match performance and to Ciaran Murphy for his tireless coaching and training of the team. After a tough encounter last weekend the squad was brought to Croke Park to see the stylish Dubs become Division 1 league champions!
Minors produce major results
Despite being down a man from the 5th minute – as a result of a rash tackle and a harsh refereeing decision – our minors were unlucky not to have got a result against second-in-table Sean Huston Gaels away in Greentrees Park. Led by Danno B in goals, Sean Rimmer, Cian Mulcahy, David Byrne, Monty and Mark Stafford the backs put in a serious shift. The midfield duo of Austin (0–2) and Niall were superb as usual, while the forwards led by Ross Maher (1–6), Des Og (0–3), Figo (0–1), Dean Tilley
(0–1), Brandon and Harry stuck to the task admirably. The final one-point losing margin was tough to say the least.
Sean Huston Gaels 3–8 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 1–13
Some days later the squad took full home venue advantage in Sean Moore Park to put Lucan Sarsfields to the sword. Niall Foley (3–1) who bagged his first hat-trick of the season, Austin Dodd
(1– 4), Monty (1– 4) and Michael O’Leary (0 –1) did most of the damage, while Danno Bolton, Cian Mulcahy and Mark Stafford were excellent in defence.
Clanna Gael Fontenoy 5–11 Lucan Sarsfields 1– 6
U-15 girls outclassed
The Balllinteer St Johns team that visited Sean Moore Park last weekend showed the class of a team that have topped Division 1 for the past five years. Their speed and support play was unstoppable. Despite this Clanns dug deep and never stopped battling. Claire Byrne (overworked!) had a superb match, while Anna Heavey, Lorna Carr and Laura Gonzales tackled and cleared mightily. Shona and Orla also stood out. To the girls credit they never gave up and this experience will stand to them when they are matched with their Division 2 opponents again.
Clanna Gael Fontenoy 0-1 Ballinteer St Johns 2-17
Great strides made by U-11 girls
Our U-11 girls have been gaining very good experience from recent fixtures and winning games to boot. Starting with the visit of Cuala, the team delivered a super performance to overwhelm their opponents and win all four games. With some fine skills, teamwork and a willingness to work hard, the girls were just too strong for their visitors. It was great to see scores coming from so many different players. The players themselves really enjoyed the performance, but it was just reward for all their hard training both in Clanna Gael and Scoil Mhuire.
Their next outing saw them travel to Ballyboden St Endas with smaller numbers than usual. In fantastic sunshine these games were full on from the start with Ballyboden setting a high standard. Clanns showed great heart under extreme pressure at times and managed to force two wins out of four games against a difficult opponent. There was lots of red faces after the games but our girls went home happy with their efforts.
At the back end of the Easter break our numbers were always going to be low but nonetheless 18 girls gathered to face a strong Na Fianna side. All four games were very competitive with both teams evenly matched. It was fantastic to see the girls produce a performance against the odds but their teamwork and skill always gives them an advantage against their opponents. The games were exciting due to the closeness of the teams but we went home with one win and three losses. It has to be said there was very little between any of the results and the girls now have the belief they can compete against any team.
Winning run continues for our U-14s
7-12 to 4-3 win over Ballyboden St Endas – the latest in a series of wins registered by our U-14s
Impressive win by U-13 girls
Our U-13 girls welcomed Naomh Barrog, knowing that a third win on the trot would move them up to joint third in the table. Starting into a strong breeze, the Clanns goal was besieged and, with better shooting from the visitors, the situation might have been pretty grim. A lot of credit though should go to the Clanns defence which is quickly turning into a formidable
outfit. As it was, Naomh Barrog only managed one point in the first 15 minutes with Roisin Staunton stealing an equaliser down the other end.
However, the turning point of the half and possibly the match came with 10 minutes remaining when one of the Barrog forwards was over enthusiastically tackled in the square leading to our first ever conceded penalty. Cool as you like, Laura Ferry stepped into the nets, fixed the penalty taker with a cold stare and saved the resultant spot kick, clearing it down the pitch and relieving the pressure! Buoyed up by this, Eva Dowling and Nina Howden snatched a goal each and so Clanns went in 2-1 to 0-1 to the good at half time.
With the wind in their backs for the second half, the girls weren’t going to be beaten and, with Aoibhe Walsh adding a goal early in the half, the mentors started to relax. However, the wides started mounting and, when Barrogs pulled back a goal, the Clanns coaches folded up their deck chairs and got back to work. They needn’t have worried with Aoife McLoughlin (0-2) and Katie Rose Barry (0-1) steadying the ship, leaving Clanns worthy winners at the end against a side that had beaten them well earlier in the season. A good win and most certainly a case of ‘Laura saves the day’!
Clanna Gael Fontenoy 3-4 Naomh Barrog 1-1
Juniors power to next round of championship
Our Junior footballers took the first step in this year’s championship with an emphatic win over Olafs in Ui Bhriain Park. Superb performances from the back led by Martin Neville and Anto Quinlan and further out from Collie, Tom O’Brien, Kerry Mulvihill and Bob Lacey secured a well-earned win. With a large panel, all five substitutions contributed to an all-round excellent performance. They now await their next opponents with eager anticipation.
Naomh Olaf 1–6 Clanna Gael Fontenoy 0– 16
Farewell to Clanns – Brian Nicholson
After some 25 years of loyal service to Clanna Gael Fontenoy the day arrived where Brian Nicholson had to finally face the reality of not being able to maintain that commitment. Living in Leixlip with his wife, Sonya, daughter Blathnaid and two young boys, Cillian and Senan, the long journey time to work as well as training in Dublin had simply made it impossible to juggle family/work life with the Clanns life that Brian had been so passionately committed to for so long.
“Growing up locally, I started to play hurling and football with the club from the age of eight, lining out for my first club competitive matches in midfield with the U10 hurlers and in the corner back position with the footballers. I played right through the age groups after that, right up to senior level, and I really enjoyed every minute of it.”
There are many stand-out moments and a host of fond memories for Brian – both on and off the playing field. And while there were times when trophies and medals were not the reward for all the hard work put in, that was certainly made up for when he was a member of five Clanns’ teams that won titles in 1999: the championship, league and cup with the first hurling team, the shield with the second hurling team and the division title with the footballers. “For all the success of 1999, however, my proudest moment with Clanns was probably winning the Division 3 Hurling Feile with the U-14s, especially after losing the final the previous year after a replay. I think that was in 1993 – the team photo sits on the wall outside the Club bar.”
Brian (far right) was a member of the squad that won the Leinster Special Club Junior Hurling Championship in 2012 but injury prevented him from playing.
Like other dedicated hurlers and footballers, Brian took more than his fair share of knocks and injuries but he always showed a steely determination in dealing with them. In addition to the usual broken fingers, there was the dislocated shoulder which required a frustratingly long period of stabilisation; worse still, a broken leg in a championship game against Kilmacud Crokes which kept him out of action for a protracted period, causing him to miss out on playing in the team which famously won the Leinster Special Club Junior Hurling Championship in 2012.
Brian’s love of the game remains steadfast and Clanns’ loss is clearly Leixlip’s gain. He himself continues to play with the local club as well as coach a number of the under-age teams where his older son, Cillian, plays both hurling and football with the U-9s and his younger boy, Senan, participates in the club academy. Who knows, one or both of these young and promising players may yet retrace Brian’s steps back to Clanns some day – and they would be more than welcome.
Brian holding the Bob O’Keeffe Cup – courtesy of Dublin’s hurlers winning Leinster.
Club News
Congratulations to Clanns stalwart, Alice Foley, who was elected the new Lord Mayor of Ringsend last week. We wish the Right Honourable Alice every success in her new role as first Citizen of Ringsend.
It’s been a busy year for Alice with her recently receiving a Sean Moore Award for Community Activism.
Club News
Lotto Results
The following numbers drawn on the
29th April for a jackpot of €8,200 did not produce a winner: 1, 14, 15, and 31.
Next week’s jackpot is €8,400
The lucky winners of €20 were:
Liam Boon, Pauline T.P., Alice Murray, Eithne Cunningham O.R and Bernie Griffin.
Playing the Club Lotto is one sure way of helping the club’s finances.
Pick any five numbers and these are then eligible for all jackpot draws. Plus there are 5 x €20.00 winners drawn weekly.
It costs just €2.00 per ticket weekly. Or you can play by standing order through your bank if you so wish.
Contact Jay Byrne at 086-8870376 for
Club News
Dublin Development Squads
Congratulations to those Clanns players who continue to be involved with one of the Dublin development squads:
U-14 girls
Maria O’ Dea
Niamh Shaw
U-18 girls
Stacy Flood
Rebecca McDonnell
U-14 boys football
Evan Caulfield
Des Duggan
Rory O Kennedy
Rohan van den Acker
U-14 boys hurling
Des Duggan
Patrick McNamara
U-15 boys
Andy Doolin (football)
Eoin Barron (hurling)
Club News
Beach Run/Walk – 11 May
Registration is now open online at www.precisiontiming.net for this important club fundraiser:
1km Junior run/walk at 13.00
5km run/walk at 13.30
Make sure you’re part of this fun day by registering now- €5 per child, €20 per adult, €50 per family.
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