There’s a sense around the club that Christmas has come early this year, such has been the level of success both on and off the playing field.
Not that such success has been easily achieved. On the contrary, the tremendous hard work and dedication of players, mentors, coaches and other volunteers are what have delivered success for a host of the club’s teams.
At the same time, generous financial support from the Covanta Community Gain Fund, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Sports Capital Fund, our various sponsors including Dublin Port, as well as the Dublin County Board and Croke Park together has enabled really great improvements in our facilities that will be of benefit not just to the club but to our much wider community of users.
Success on the field of play
While participation remains the club’s primary goal for all players and teams, competitive success is always welcome. Thankfully, it’s been in plentiful supply with the list including the following:
• Our U16 girls teams won the Division 1 and Division 4 titles respectively.
• Our U14 girls won the Division 1 title.
• Our U13 girls were runners up in the Division 2 final.
• Our U13 camogie team won the Division 5 Shield.
• Our U16 boys will feature in the football championship final shortly.
• Our U14 hurlers completed their league campaign unbeaten.
• Our U13 hurlers won the Division 4 final.
• Our Minor hurlers reached the C Championship Final.
• Our senior ladies footballers won the County Intermediate title and were narrowly defeated (after extra time) in the Leinster championship semi-final – see report below.
• Our senior footballers (first team) won promotion to Division 3 and were very unlucky to be pipped after a replay (and extra time) in the County Intermediate semi-final.
• Our newly-constituted junior footballers had a great league run to win promotion and just lost out by a single point in the final for league title.
• Our adult camogie team just came up short in the championship semi-final.
• Our adult hurlers retained their championship status and made it to a league promotion playoff final.
Senior ladies blaze trail in Dublin and Leinster
Our senior ladies were crowned Dublin Intermediate Ladies Football Champions with a nail-biting 2-7 to 1-8 win over Cuala in the final. In a very close game that looked to be going to extra time, Clanns half forward, Rebecca McDonnell, produced two magical points in the dying minutes to clinch victory. Her teammate, Kate McKenna, captured the player of the match accolade.
They then went on in the Leinster Championship to surpass their previous success. They comfortably accounted for the Kildare champions, Carbury, with a 3-13 to 1-7 victory.
This was followed by a tougher encounter in the quarter final against Donaghmore Ashbourne of County Meath in a game which had end-to-end action but which was unfortunately curtailed in the second half due to a serious injury to one of the opposition players.
Thankfully, Clanns got the better of things on the second attempt to set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash with the fancied Wicklow champions, Tinahealy. This proved yet another close encounter with the scores level at full time.
While Clanns gave it all in extra time, the number of games they had played in quick succession took its toll. But they did themselves and their club proud and great credit is due to all involved in their tremendous achievements this year – both players and the management team of Diane O’Hora and Pat Kane.
Junior footballers win promotion
While our senior footballers won promotion to Division 3 and contested the Dublin County Intermediate Championship semi-final, our Junior footballers also won promotion from their division.
Their achievement was all the more impressive considering this was their first year playing together as a newly-constituted team. Great credit is due to all the players and the management team of Roger McGrath, Simon Beirne and Mick Costello.
U13 hurlers crowned league champions
Our U13 hurlers overcame such powerhouses of underage hurling as Faughs, St Kevins, Na Fianna, St Judes, St Vincents and Castleknock to claim the Division 4 title without losing a single match. Well done to all the players and to Oran Burke, Eamon Horan and Siona Mac Cinna on their successful coaching and management of the team.
Great improvements off the field of play
Generous financial support from the Covanta Community Gain Fund as well as from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport’s Sports Capital Fund has helped to finance a wide range of improvements in the club’s infrastructure and facilities as follows:
• Reconfiguring the old changing rooms into a new locker room and a Games Development Officer room with separate access
• Conversion of the attic space to accommodate a new gym and new office room
• Installation of new gym equipment
• Installation of LED light fittings on our main pitch and on the astro pitch
• Servicing of the halogen floodlights on our second pitch
Internal re-fitting of LED lighting in the clubhouse
• Installation of photo-voltaic solar panels in the clubhouse
• Sanding and varnishing of the club hall flooring
• Purchase of a new tractor, mower, tining machine and trailer for pitch maintenance
• Installation of a new generator
• Resurfacing and fencing upgrade of the existing astroturf area (target date Q1 2020)
•Re-fitting of a new lift into the existing lift space (target date Q1 2020)
Separately, the club car park was completely resurfaced by BAM Ireland in return for their use of the facility during the construction of offices at the former Boland’s Mills site; while the installation of new behind-the-goals netting took place on the seaside end of our second pitch in parallel with the development of the new playground for kids.
