All-Ireland Gold for Rachael Byrne
For years we welcomed any drops of rain to keep our pitches up to scratch. We did novenas and all type of God requests to send us those pearly drops from the sky above.

We are now asking all members and friends to stop the praying now. WE HAVE ENOUGH. God answered our prayers in abundance and if we could just ask for something else now instead of rain we could all get a smile back on our faces.

But, however, the show must go on.

‘Summer’ Camps are now in progress. The first week of football attracted 100-plus children to the camp and despite the rain all kids got through their paces. The hurling camp is now in progress as we go to print.
The first all-Ireland winning medal arrived in the Club this month since 1965, when present Chairman Eugene Davey brought home the last Minor Hurling title for Dublin.

Young Rachael Byrne from Kyleclare Road was a member of the Dublin Minor squad that beat Tyrone in the All-Ireland final in Breffni Park in Cavan earlier this month. The girls had a great campaign and despite a close first half ran out easy winners in the end. (It’s a pity that the county senior footballers didn’t take a leaf out of their book).

Rachael is an example to all. She is a great listener, works extremely hard at her game and one would never hear a complaining word from her. These are all the ingredients of a successful sportsperson and it has paid off for Rachael. She has a very bright future in store for herself and to her and her family we send heartiest congratulations.

This Saturday sees another member proudly represent the Club when Kim Flood takes the field for the Dublin Senior Footballers in the All-Ireland quarter final in Hyde Park, Roscommon against that same dreaded opposition, Tyrone.

Kim, who has just turned 18, has represented Dublin at all underage levels, is another person who works extremely hard at her game and we wish her every success on Saturday. Great credit is due to Pat Kane and company for their excellent endeavours in bringing the adult team from Junior B to be now knocking on the door of Senior. This progress, no doubt has helped enormously the development of the girls that many of them are now knocking on the door of the County panels.

If one can recall the second phase of Development at the Club originally began this phase to accommodate the ladies football section. Having only two dressing rooms at the time it would have been impossible to start this section without building extra dressing rooms.

It is phenomenal to think that this was only a few short years ago and that since than over 350 girls have been accommodated here at the club. To all involved in the ladies’ section, the seeds of your efforts are now bearing fruit. It is also phenomenal to think of what has been developed at the Club since we first sat down to talk about building those two extra dressing rooms.

I will never be able to get off this section as they are such a proactive group around the Club. Their next endeavour is a trip to Toronto in Canada from the 26th August to 5th September as they partake in the Powerscreen Ladies GAA World Sevens.

This renowned tournament attracts teams from Europe, North America, and Asia and the Club was delighted when an invitation was extended to us earlier in the year to participate. The ladies are exhausted from their fundraising efforts, in which they raised a whopping €40,000 in a six-month period.

Many of the parents are travelling and some of their adoring fans who include some of the Senior Hurling squad, may I add are also travelling. So Canada beware! A group of Patsies and Paddies are on their way over. Their first match is Saturday 30th August and the Club wishes them every success. No doubt the stories on their return will fill ink in my pen and I hope to bring you all up to speed in the next edition.

The Juvenile section had a busy summer with the Camaint tournament for U11s and U12s taking place over the summer months. The finals in Parnell Park take place on Saturday 23rd August for the U11s and Saturday 6th Sept for the U12s. Also during the summer, Juvenile Development Officer Donal McGovern held specialist coaching sessions for underage teams in both hurling and football.

In the adult section, the senior hurlers are hanging on to their status in stubborn fashion. Up against it all year with long-term injuries to many key players such as Brian Nicholson and Cormac Connolly, the lads have refused to say die.An example of this was their recent trip to St Pat’s in Palmerstown where the home had been unbeaten all season. In a do-or-die battle, the boys hurled out of their skins to record a famous one-point victory. Their last match is fixed for September 7th against St Oliver Plunkett’s at Seán Moore Park and all support is welcome for this crunch fixture.

Adult footballers have hit a dry patch of late, losing some crucial ties after owning the ball for long periods. They surrendered a lead of 10 points against both the Guards and St Margaret’s and have been on top in most matches that they have played. Time for some serious mental building here! Get tough, lads! However they still remain in the Championship and at time of writing face St Jude’s for a place in the quarter final. Best of luck!

Camogie girls sit proudly on top of their league with a crucial away match versus Craobh Chiaran once again as we go to print.

On the Development front we are just about to start on phase seven of our Development plan. This phase will see the development of the old Clubhouse to include a renovated hall, Gym and Juvenile Games Rooms. Once again, the Club will put itself further into debt in its efforts to bring about top-class facilities for the area of Ringsend and Sandymount and the rest of our catchment area.

The Club would like to thank all who voted for the Club in the recent AIB Better Ireland awards. We won first prize and at the award ceremony held in AIB Bank Centre recently it was noted by the organisers that we were the only GAA club in Ireland to receive an award for our contribution to children. Well done everyone!
As we enter into the autumn and try to get over Dublin’s dismal display against Tyrone, sure we can look forward to the sunny days of October, November and December and leave behind those summer blues. And maybe we will be all be happier people in the not-too-distant future.

Diary Special: Enrolment for the season will take place in the Clubhouse on Saturday September 6th from 10.30 a.m. for all ages from U5 upwards. Please come early!

Page 32, main picture: Com final cup– Siobhan Joyce doubles on the sliotar as Janet White looks on; bottom left: Kenneth Lyons in possession while Davide Ianelli and Ross Kieran pay attention as The Legend hovers in the background; bottom right: shy and retiring U12s on their way to League Final.

This page, left: Dublin midfielder Shane Ryan with U12 panelists Austin Dodd and Jack Walsh; above: hurlers collect their medals at the Camaint tournament in Parnell Park.