Clanna Gael Fontenoy Success for Clanns on and off the pitch

By Felix O’Regan

Minister Eoghan Murphy TD cuts the ribbon on the new dressing rooms in the company of club players and Chairman, Bernard Barron. Photo courtesy of Kathrin Kobus, Michele O’Briain and Owen Travers.

The club’s spanking new dressing rooms were officially opened by Eoghan Murphy TD and Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

Funding from the Waste to Energy Community Gain Fund enabled the club to completely refurbish five dressing rooms with new furniture, showers, flooring and whiteboards. In addition, one of the existing rooms was converted into toilets for players and spectators and the coffee shop got a good makeover too.

A number of public representatives, as well as representatives from the Community Gain Liaison Committee and from Dublin Port (club sponsors) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Thanking the Community Gain Fund for its funding, Dublin Port for its sponsorship and club members, coaches and players for their ongoing support, Club Chairman, Bernard Barron, stressed the benefit of this development, not just to the club but to the wider community.  “We are delighted that these new facilities make us an even better club for our players, but also an important resource for the wider community; and we hope that we will continue to have everyone’s support as we seek to further expand our sporting and social activities in the years ahead.” he stated. 

Meanwhile, in wishing the club every success, Minister Murphy recounted his vivid memories of playing with Clanns in his youth. 

Seniors show winning ways

Both our senior hurling and football teams have had a good run in their respective leagues of late. The hurlers’ most recent victories have included an emphatic 1-25 to 1-9 win away to Faughs and an impressive 1-14 to 1-7 victory over a strong Whitehall Colmcilles side. As a result, they now occupy a most respectable mid-table position in their division and can look forward with confidence to remaining fixtures over the summer against the likes of Cuala and Crumlin.

At the same time, our senior footballers have enjoyed a successful recent run, with wins over Cuala (2-18 to 1-11) and Castleknock (6-9 to 0-16). Now sitting in the top half of their division, they are scheduled to face the likes of St Oliver Plunketts and St Vincents before the summer is out. 

Division 1 titles for underage girls

Congratulations to our U13 girls’ football team, who captured the Division 1 league title with considerable style and a 100% winning record. Their success put them ahead of such powerhouses of Dublin football as Ballyboden St Endas, Kilmacud Crokes, Clontarf, St Brigids, Lucan Sarsfield, Foxrock Cabinteely and Fingallians.

Not to be outdone, our U15 girls’ football team have also claimed the Division 1 league title with a string of very impressive performances, during which they scored over 60 goals and 60 points in total. Moreover, such was their impact, they could rightly call the league title theirs even before all fixtures were completed.

Great credit is due to the players, their dedicated coaches and their supporting parents.

Mini All-Irelands a huge success

A hectic week of football for a host of youngsters culminated in keenly-contested finals in yet another hugely successful Mini All-Ireland series for the club.

A total of 32 teams participated across four age groups: the U7/8s had six teams of boys and two of girls; the U9/10s had six teams for each of boys and girls; while six teams mixing boys and girls togged out in both the U11 and U12/13 age groups.

All teams saw plenty of action in the form of five games to try and get to the final stages of the competition. The standard on display was generally very impressive. More importantly, great fun was had by all – including those watching from the sidelines.