Plenty to report on the playing front. Intermediate footballers are still unbeaten in their league. The highlight of their campaign to date was their victory over Fingallians in June.

Both teams were unbeaten going into the clash and a wonderful hour of football was served up. Clanns produced some excellent football in the second half to secure a 7-point win to go clear at the top of the table.

There were many excellent individual performers on the day but none better than Davis Lyons. His display was awesome as he took everything out of the air. Fingallians tried everything and everyone to thwart him but to no avail and if anyone in Dublin can catch a ball better than David did that day I would like to meet him.

His first cousin Stephen Mulreaney is also an awesome catcher on his day and after David had to retire early in their recent match against Thomas Davis, Stephen took up the mantle to produce a fantastic display himself.

Despite a blip against Round Towers of Lusk when they could only manage a draw they remain the only unbeaten team in their division. With 7 matches to go can they go one better than the last two years when they failed to get promotion at play off stages?

Intermediate hurlers after a disastrous start to their campaign regained some pride in recent matches. Faced with the terrible possibility of being relegated to Junior status they went out to face Kilmacud Crokes in June.

Hoping, wishing, praying that they could get their first win under their belt they were very much in the hunt at half-time, trailing by two points and having the advantage of the wind in the second half. However, a quick goal just after half-time for Crokes knocked them back in their strides and with 7 minutes to go they trailed by 4 points.

A switch that saw Brian Rush move to corner forward and the introduction of ‘Bee’ Duffy saw Rush score an excellent goal, followed by a point that brought the Fonts level. Then from a puck-out Brian Nicholson leapt into the sky to catch a superb ball, land, turn and strike the sliotar beautifully between the posts to give the Ringsenders the lead for the first time. A further point in injury time sealed a famous victory and the lads were buoyant afterwards.

There followed a credible draw against Thomas Davis and a fantastic nine point win over Ballinteer St. John’s to see them gain five points in two weeks and somehow revive their season. However, a return trip to the bad old days followed in their last match against St. Kevin’s that leaves them still fighting to escape relegation.

Ladies’ footballers are enjoying a great season. At worst they will have to play off for league honours and at time of writing they play the semi-final of the Championship.

Camogie team is still battling hard and got a fantastic draw against St. Mark’s in one of their recent games. Not a game for the faint-hearted, the girls looked surely out of it trailing by 12 points at one stage. As each goal and point were clawed back there were hysterical antics from the Marks bench but little they could do stop the girls getting a deserved draw in the end.

Minor hurlers and footballers are having a mixed bag to date with their season. The hurlers who are nearly all minor again next year have played 10 matches winning 7 in the process. Many of this team are playing for a lot of other teams in the club including Inter Hurlers, Junior Hurlers and Junior Footballers and some are also playing and training for the County U.17 squad so it has been a very busy season for them. Minor footballers have played eight matches winning five. Both Championships start in September so there is plenty to play for.

Junior A footballers reached the quarter final of the Championship only to produce their worst display of the season to lose to Man of War by 4 points. They still remain in contention for a play-off place in the league and are unbeaten in the Murphy Cup, which will surely see them reach the semi-final stages.

Junior B footballers, the fun team, are producing some wonderful wins and some wonderful losses in their season to date. Known as the comeback kings, they lived up to their reputation in recent matches when the came from behind to snatch wins against St Maur’s and St Mary’s of Saggart.
U.16 hurlers are really enjoying their season with some cracking wins behind them. They remain very much in the hunt for league honours and their championship campaign starts in two weeks.

Junior hurlers are also having a wonderful season. If one result between two other teams goes their way and victories are secured in their remaining two matches then a League final and Championship semi-final awaits them.

In July there was a cultural exchange at the Clubhouse between Japanese Peace Boat travellers and Club members in a horse of a different kettle project. Gaelic games display was put on by our members and a match followed between Japan and Ireland. Great craic altogether, but the best moment of a wonderful day was when a sixty-something year old Japanese picked up a hurley stick and smacked a ball over the bar from all of 60 yards.

After lunch the Japanese put a wonderful display of dancing on and it reminded me of Jack Nicholson when he jives late at night.

U.12 hurlers under the excellent guidance of Eugene Davey and Gareth Saunders secured league honours at first time of asking. Congratulations

At long last Oran Burke and Suzanne Murray tied the knot. At what seems like an eternity they made their partnership official some weeks ago. Also one to get hitched was Steve McGrath. Steve went missing on the morning of the wedding but the police found him up a tree in Avoca and got him back just in time.

A speedy recovery to long-serving member Brendan O’Brien after his recent operation in St. Vincent’s. If Brendan’s resilience over the past years in the Club is anything to go by then we should see Rusty back in harness in the not too distant future.

Due to advice from the Club Solicitor I am unable to bring you the Backchat column this time around!

Up the Dubs.

NEWSFOUR'S THE FONTENOY FILES By Shea Connolly