Some of our U-12 hurlers proudly stepping out with the captains of the country’s U-21 elite hurling teams. Left to right: Tony Kelly (Clare), Stephen McAfee (Antrim), Conor McDonald (Wexford) and Cathal Mannion (Galway).
The Clanna Gael Fontenoy Club has been a veritable hive of activity since the return of players and parents after the lengthy summer break.
The Academy for the very youngest of players is bustling in ‘the cage’ every Saturday morning, while boys’ and girls’ teams from the U-8s right up to senior level are actively competing in a host of friendly games, league and championship fixtures.
New players are welcome at all times – whatever their level of skill. Participation and fun remain the priorities for all, though success is always an added welcome – of late none more so than for our gifted squad of Minor Footballers who have set themselves up for a league final against St Olafs following a pulsating semi-final win over Naomh Mearnóg. Best of luck lads!
Many of the club’s other teams, at juvenile level in particular, are competing strongly for honours and promotion to higher divisions. This is also true of the U-15 Uí Chonaill Fontenoy hurlers – an amalgamated team of Clanns and Clontarf-based Scoil Uí Chonaill players – who now stand atop of the Division 2 league and are poised for promotion to the very top division. Some achievement that!
Activity has by no means been confined to the field of play, however. A number of the club’s juvenile players contributed to an episode of the very successful Thank GAA It’s Friday series which has been showing on RTE. Yet another group of our young hurlers was chosen to line out with some of the country’s leading proponents of hurling to promote the national U-21 hurling championship which was eventually won by Clare.
Meanwhile, the club’s Karl Morgan was selected as one of three finalists of the GAA GPA hurling freestyle competition. This competition invites young hurlers from throughout the country to submit a 30-second video of themselves performing their hurling skills. Hundreds of entries were received with Clanna Gael Fontenoy well represented and the finalists this year were selected by Donal Óg Cusack.
Karl and the other two finalists were then asked to perform at half time during the all-Ireland hurling final and enjoyed complimentary tickets and V.I.P. treatment. He finished runner-up on the day but did his club proud and it was a fantastic experience for him to be playing in front of 82,000 people and to rub shoulders into the tunnel with the stars of Kilkenny and Tipp! Karl can be seen in action at sportforbusiness.com/daily-video-freestyle-hurling-3/
And for the third year running, Serena Hannon from the adult section of the club recently won the Kick Fada competition, which is hosted annually by the Bray Emmets club. Congratulations on your hat trick Serena!
Clanna Gael Fontenoy is generously sponsored by Dublin Port Company.
By Felix O’Regan
