Above: Some of the third-class boys from local schools who participated in the Club’s ‘Mini-All-Irelands’ initiative.
Summer Joy for Clanns
A new initiative by Clanna Gael Fontenoy, the ‘Mini All-Irelands’, was introduced by the club in June in conjunction with local schools; and what a success it proved to be.
Involving larger than expected numbers of boys and girls from U8 up to U13, the event produced a tremendous buzz around the club all during the week and provided plenty of game time for participants through the preliminary rounds.
The attraction of adopting county colours proved a particular winner with the players. This culminated in some very competitive semi-finals and finals with fantastic skills and performances on display. And there was plenty of good music, great food and a host of fun for all age groups and their supporters.
Great credit goes to all the volunteers who contributed so much, including the referees and the club’s Games Development Officers, Claire Ryan and Rachael Byrne, for coordinating such a successful initiative. An event that embodies the community spirit within the club, it will now be a yearly fixture in the Clanna Gael Fontenoy calendar.
Stars of Croke Park
The school year certainly ended on a high note for a number of our local schools with victories in Croke Park for their teams; and many of the club’s underage players were involved. The Star of the Sea senior hurling team beat Scoil Attracta, Dundrum, by 2-10 to 1-6 in the Sciath Aghais final, while St Mary’s Booterstown Boys National School won their cup final. Great credit is due to all of the coaches involved with both teams at club and school level.
Above: The Star of the Sea team celebrate their win in Croke Park.
Yet again the club summer camps marked the arrival of summer and the increasing numbers of participants reflect their ever growing popularity. Gaelic football and hurling skills, fundamental movements, obstacle courses and fun games and a cookie blitz provided plenty of physical activity for the younger age groups through the weeks of July and August.
Championship success
Various teams of the club juvenile and senior teams have also been enjoying success in championship action – not least our Senior Ladies footballers. Their successful run saw them earn a great semi-final victory to take them through to the championship final in September – their first since 2010.
Our U15 footballers will also be in championship action again in September following their pre-summer, first-round victory over their Division 1 opponents, Skerries Harps. In a scintillating match that went to extra time, Clanns proved the stronger in the end and well deserved the break (to prepare for their Junior Certificate exams).
Our senior hurlers have also been enjoying a good run of late in their championship, accounting for Clontarf in their latest outing by a score line of 0-11 to 1-4.
The extent of the club’s activities would not be possible without the generous support of our principal sponsors – Dublin Port Company and Meaghers Pharmacy.
By Felix O’Regan
