Ladies’ Section
On September 22nd last 11 members of the Ladies football section headed for Portmarnock to take part in the All Ireland Club 7-a-side competition. Clans were in the Junior Section with 24 other teams from all over Ireland. From the outset they had hoped to improve on their performance in 2006 when the won 2 and lost 2 of there group games but failed to qualify for the knockout stages.

Our first match was against Clarinbridge from Galway and despite conceding the first score we went on to beat them convincingly with Lynn Flood getting on the score sheet with 2 unusually well taken goals. Next up was Templemore from Tipperary who were also beaten with relative ease, although we had won two games we knew the hardest games had yet to be played.

Killygarry are Cavan county champions and they proved to be extremely tough opponents but with Kim Flood starting to exert her influence with some fine scores and Liz Mcdonald and Serena Hannon keeping their scores to a minimum. Clans pulled away in the second half to win by 8 points.

The deciding Group game had Clans against Kilbride from Wicklow who were also unbeaten at this stage. This game was as tough as we had expected and at half time we were behind and looking at not making the playoffs and having to settle for the minor shield competition.

However on the Second half we got into top gear and with top class performances from Louise Kane, Grace Dunne, Colleen Brierly and Lauren Rimmer we ran out winners by 6 points.
As we had completed our group unbeaten and with an excellent points scoring difference we went straight to the Semifinal to play Gleann Ard from Tipperary. This proved to be our performance of the day and in a thrilling game were Rachel Byrne, Karen Flood and Aisling Ryan excelled we scored the winning point in injury time to send Clans to the Final against a very strong Millown team from Tuam in Galway.

Unfortunately, this proved a bridge to far for Clans and although putting in a huge effort they came up short and had to accept defeat to what was on the day a better team. Disappointment although extreme, was short lived as players realised what they had achieved and that they were the first Dublin team to ever reach the Junior 7s Championship Final and only the second Dublin team to reach a Ladies 7s Championship final at any level in 25 years– a truly remarkable achievement.

The team on the day was Serena Hannon, Liz McDonald, Lynn Flood, Karen Flood, Louise Kane, Colleen Brierly, Rachel Byrne, Lauren Rimmer, Grace Dunne, Aisling Ryan and Kim Flood. In the Championship the girls were knocked out by Croí Rí Naofa when beaten by two points. As the league enters its final stages Clanns are level with Cabinteely at the top and are very much in line for promotion. Their recent match against these opponents was a sheer classic. Level at half time Cabinteely went into a four point lead entering the last 5 minutes.

But Clanns were not to be denied and a brilliant goal by Aisling Ryan followed by a point at the death by Grace Dunne earned Clanns a well deserved draw. Kate McKenna and Kim Flood more than held their own at midfield against much loftier opponents. These girls could run for Ireland and the energy they brought to that sector kept Clanns in the game at difficult periods.

The Camogie lasses under the new management of Paddy Joyce found a new lease of life in the past couple of months. Beating St Pats of Palmerstown got them to a County Final for the first time in many years. However they fell at the final hurdle to a much younger Round Towers side. An injection of some new blood here could work wonders for them and keep alive one of best serving teams in the club. Never say die girls!

Clanns are fielding at U11, U13, U16 and Minor level. U11s under the tutelage of April McDonald and Maureen Joyce are flying high in the league with only one loss to date. They also reached the semi final of the Championship. They are also involved in the U13ís along with Conor Dodd and are currently unbeaten in the league. They have some star quality and names to look out for in the U13s for the future are Jessie Hogan, Nicole Rush, Ruth Shaw and Kerri Joyce.

U 16s also reached the semi final of the Championship only to be beaten by Skerries Harps. This squad are looking for new players and are actively recruiting at present. They train on a Monday night at 7.00 and all are welcome down. If you want to contact someone first please phone Grace Dunne at 087-2123885. The league for the Minor girls has just started and they are very much holding their own. They recently had a great win over Round Towers in Sean Moore Park where the skill levels on display from the Clans girls was only fantastic. They also reached the semi-final of the Championship losing out St Brigids.

One couldn’t leave this section without mentioning the girls who did us and this area proud when donning the county jerseys over the past 12 months. They were Serena Hannon, Rachael Byrne, Niamh Foley, Kim Flood and Sharon Higgins. Three of these girls won Leinster medals with the Dubs this year and Lynn Flood and Sharon Higgins played with senior squad. Six of the adult team recently went to Canada to represent this area in the All Canada Powercreen ‘Sevens’ Championships. And guess what– they won it. So the areas of Ringsend, Sandymount, Irishtown, Ballsbridge, Donnybrook etc are internationally famous through the good work being done at the Club in the Ladies section. The girls are invited over to Canada next year to defend their trophy and to play other ladies teams throughout that country. The entire panel is travelling and they are currently fundraising for the event. If anyone out there has a few dollars to spare or would like to sponsor this trip the girls would be delighted to hear from you to offset this costly voyage.

On a final note there are a huge number of girls attending our ClannÓg nursery on a Saturday morning and the conveyor belt is very healthy but this will need to be streamlined when they become of age for the competitive games. Work to be done in this area!

Juvenile Section
If we could win a championship every year that would surely represent phenomenal progress for our Club. Well we stuffed one up our jumpers by capturing the U14 hurling title a few short weeks ago. This team is managed by contrasting managers. Firstly Chairman Eugene Davey comes with a wealth of experience having played both Senior Football and Hurling for Dublin and also having managed the Dublin Senior Hurling team. Secondly, as we all know him is the Cranky Yankee. The Cranky Yankee came back from the USA some years ago. The Crank had no real knowledge of hurling before this. In fact he still hasn’t. But he has a way with this team and he is getting the best out of them. Thirdly, is the man from the home of hurling (Mayo). A man who likes to stay in the background but whose head pops above the parapet every now and then with invaluable advice. So they set out on their championship campaign some months ago with only a moderate chance of doing well.

Eugene trained them every Friday evening and at the beginning Eugene’s voice could be heard in Carlow. Eugene, used to training pedigrees was finding it hard to tame these stallions but as the weeks progressed his bellows became softer and everyone buckled down for the road ahead. In their first match they overcame Commercials. In their second encounter they put out Faughs.

In the quarter final they had to travel to Thomas Davis and yet again they came away with a win. Their semi final opponents were the mighty Craobh Chairan. And worse again they had to play them in their own back yard. This was indeed a tall order but after a heroic hour and titanic struggle the Fontenoy fouls carried it off with 5 points to spare. A truly wonderful achievement.

And so to the final. Their opponents were St Peregerines, a new and vibrant club from the Blakestown area of North Dublin who earlier this year had beaten all before them to win the Dublin Féile. Dublin County Board was struggling to find neutral venues for these championship matches and in the end both teams tossed for home venue to stage the match. Alas we loss the toss and for the third consecutive match in this campaign we had to travel to our opponents’ den.

If we were going to win it we were surely going to be the hard way. The lads played with a hunger not seen for many a day and won out on the score line of 4-7 to 1-8 to carry the honours back home across the bridge to Ringsend. A presentation will be held shortly in the Clubhouse to honour their achievements. The Squad was as follows. Michael Gilroy, Anthony Byrne, Robert ‘Bob’ Lacey, Aidan Bolton, Conor Saunders, Jordan Barnes, Ciaran Diviney. Davide Ianelli, Desmond Soon, Michael Power, Dylan Lacey, Kenneth Lyons, David Nangle, Domhnall McAmhlaigh, Glen Cassidy, Dean Coleman, Scott Edwards, Matthew Groves and Joey Sadlier.

In football these same lads reached the semi-final of the championship. They are also an excellent side at this code and are still in line for the promotion in the league. Former Dub and Leitrim star Declan Darcy has taken them for a few sessions and they can only get better.
In the rest of the Juvenile section there are many good stories to report. Our ClanÓg section on Saturday mornings is flying at present. Our U5s, U6s and U7s boast of more than 150 members with more joining up each Saturday. These age groups are not at competitive level yet and the sessions are mainly made up of fun games with a Gaelic slant. The parent participation is the secret here and most parents are involved each week in delivering this service, overseen by the 8 club coaches who are ever present.

U8s compete in the Go Games leagues and this age group is beating all before them in both football and hurling. They have played Kilmacud 4 times this year and beaten them handsomely on each occasion. They are unbeaten in all competitions and no team can even get near to matching them.

When all things are equal as it usually is at this age, Clans can hold their own with anyone. It is how we structure our progress going forward that sometimes catches us out. But our relatively new Juvenile Committee under the chair of Dave Walsh has an energy and vibrancy that is second to none and all the stops are being pulled out to plan our way forward. All new parents can also play their part.

U10 with Simon Beirne are steady in progress. Training is healthy each week. Simon says that he would welcome new members at this age level to strengthen his squad.

U 11’s managed by ‘the two Johns from Sligo’ (Is everyone from Sligo called John?) have a fine squad with numbers increasing weekly and competing strongly in their campaign having won 3 out of their 4 matches to date. U11 hurlers entered the Camaint Hurling tournament and had some wonderful victories en route to the final in Parnell Park. From meagre beginnings the numbers are now increasing each week. They train each Monday at 6.00 with Ciaran Murphy and Johnny Sadlier. They will be entering league competitions shortly. U13 need new blood immediately. This team was beating all before them but due to work and family commitments manager Dave Trolan had to take some time out. Stephen Cox is carrying the can at present but would dearly love to hear from old squad members and new members. Could David Trolan be enticed back??

Adult Section
We are making sure and steady progress here folks. As you read this the Adult footballers are tantalizingly close to making the play offs for Senior status. We have a three year plan. Last year was to gain promotion which we did. This year was to consolidate our new position which we are doing (and could go beyond it if possible) and next year to make that final push for Senior. We are very much on track. Keep it up boys.

At a recent match against St Finians of Swords, Dublin Selector Brian Talty could be seen hovering around the bushes in Sean Moore Pk. One rumour has it that he is looking at our midfield duo of David Lyons and Stephen Mulreaney. The other one is that he is trying to recruit the Legend into the management of the Dubs senior team. I don’t know which one is true!

Junior Footballers are still fielding away but did not achieve anything near their expectations for the year. The loss of Albert Hannon due to injury seriously curtailed their training plans but we expect to see Albert back in the very near future.

Adult hurlers are still in contention to go senior for the first time since 1989. Backboned by the very young warriors their new training schedule is well on course and our new game plan can be seen working more and more with each match.

Junior Hurlers despite some serious defections to the first team have produced way above what was expected of them. We now have 40 adult hurlers with us and there is some serious juggling to be done in the next 12 months between the two teams. Competition for places is going to be fierce.

U21 football and hurling championships are due to start next month and training has commenced. A few friendly games are lined up so those of you are eligible but who have taking a break your services will now be required back for this campaign. God I hope that I did not leave out any team or life won’t be worth living!

Once again we would like to thank our sponsors Dublin Port Co for their continued support and may we take this opportunity on behalf of everyone here at the Club to send our deepest sympathies to the Port’s Brenda Daly on the untimely passing of her late husband Richard. Ar dheis De go raibh a ainm dilis.

Other news
Our Hurling (Ball) Wall project is nearing completion and what a fabulous site it will be. The €350,000 project which will consist of wall, all-weather playing surface, floodlights and fencing is due for completion in the next month or so. This will be a massive area for all young hurlers and footballers from the age of 5 years and up. All can enjoy the wonderful recreation that this area will now provide.

The new Club Shop will be up and running inside the next couple of weeks with designated times for opening. All stocks of gear from hurleys to helmets, from jerseys and tracksuits, from stockings to nicks, from sliotars to bands and grips will be available and we might be doing Mother’s Day cards next March. And now I may be able to put my head on my pillow each night without ‘Have you any hurleys, any nicks, any socks?’ etc ringing in my ears.

The club recently displayed its wares and tears (page 12) at the Drug Awareness Week run by RDRD at the Club recently. Many thanks to Alice Foley, Niamh Foley, Marie Daly, Roger and the boys for the wonderful display of Club paraphernalia. Drugs Minister Pat Carey emphasized the importance of sport in the fight against drugs and praised Clanna Gael Fontenoy for its management of young people over the years. The drugs scourge affects us all and nowadays knows no social boundaries. At the club we believe that prevention is better than cure and we can guarantee the local community that we will endeavour to do all in our power to provide the recreation necessary in providing that prevention.