U21 Hurlers Win County Final

The U21 hurling final on Tuesday last was our final adult hurling game of 2019, and it was a great finish to the year as Lucan captured a rare and coveted ‘A’ championship success in hurling, the first in five years and just the fourth in all (3 U21 & 1 minor). Well done to the entire panel of players and management. Success at U21 level is very special but it does not just happen over the short few weeks of the Championship, it is the culmination of many years of player development from nursery through the juvenile and minor ranks. So well done also to the many coaches, mentors and parents who worked with and supported this group of players along that journey. See Club News and below for match reports.

U15 Hurlers complete Double.

Congratulations to the U15 Hurlers, who added the League Title to their recent Championship win in a great week for Lucan Sarsfields, when they overcame Ballyboden St Endas on Sunday. It was a great game of hurling played on the No. 1 Pitch at the club and full credit to the team, mentors and all involved with the lads, see below for match report

Also well done to the Minor A Camogie team who progress to the county final following their win over Na Fianna. Match report below. The final against Kilmacud Crokes takes place on Sunday 8 December, venue and time to be confirmed, all support welcomed.

Congratulations to Ali Twomey, Camogie Player of the Year 2019 as awarded by the Friends Of Dublin Hurling – at their 13^th Annual Celebration in the Red Cow Hotel on Friday evening last.

Also at the FODH Celebration Night, Divine Mercy Senior National School was awarded the Primary School of the Year accolade, congratulations to all the staff and pupils on this fantastic achievement

Many Thanks to Colette Drum who has stepped down after seven years as Camogie Referee Coordinator, and Welcome on board to Miriam Egan who has taken the reins.

Our deepest sympathies to the Costello family on the recent loss of Vincent, Father of John Costello (mentor U12 boys & CCC1 rep), father in law of Jenny (mentor U13 & U11 girls) grandfather of Caoimhe (U13 camogie & ladies football) Killian (U12 hurling & football) and Aoife (U10 camogie & ladies football) May He Rest In Peace.

The Christmas Craft Fair takes place on Saturday 14^th December. There will be over 30 Stalls with wonderful gift ideas for Christmas as well as Live Music and Craft Activities for all ages. There will be a hot food stall serving burgers, chips, mulled wine and mince pies. The Bumbalance and Fire Engine will be there to be explored! Entry is Free and the 12^th Lock Café will be open for festive refreshments.

To facilitate this event the main club carpark will be closed from Friday evening until after the fair finishes on Saturday. Anyone coming to use the facilities in the Club should use the overflow carpark.

The Christmas Draw tickets have been distributed. This is a vital fundraiser for the club to ensure we can keep supporting our 140+ teams’ activities. Please return all sold tickets to the clubhouse and if you need additional tickets, they are also available from the clubhouse bar, open every weekday evening from 7:30pm.

The Lucan Healthy Club, Moustaches and Music Event on Saturday night in the clubhouse was a fantastic success, with great feedback from everyone who attended. Well done especially to our volunteers, PJ who had his legs waxed, Greg who had a chest wax and Tommy shaved his beard and head, Alan and Liam who had their heads shaved. The lads raised a huge amount of money through sponsorship and donations on the night to raise awareness for mens cancer and all in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation.

All the men in the bar were laughing at the lads response to waxing, but every woman in the place (including their wives or maybe especially their wives!) were in tears laughing... but fair dues to them - PJ then auctioned his second leg for Astrid to wax and Greg offered to get his chest waxed having seen PJ! Paul the barber was great too, he carved shapes and all sorts doing Alan's and Tommy's and literally the strip through the middle of Liam's hair and Paul McGann was a great MC, plenty of patter. It was a great night, finished off with tribute band Complete Madness.

Lucan Healthy Club Appeal for Inner City Helping Homeless. From Monday 2^nd December to Saturday 14^th, Club Members are asked to donate one item to go into Christmas Shoeboxes for teenagers, (e.g. Mini toiletry gift sets, Books, Gift Store Vouchers, Phone Credit, Pens/Art Stuff, Hats/Gloves/Socks, Games, Sleeping Bags) Small Items can be left in to the clubhouse Bar or the 12^th Lock Café, Larger items to the clubhouse. Any Help is greatly appreciated. More information from the Healthy Club Committee on 087 231 2560

Earlier on Saturday, Lucan Sarsfields welcomed the Wanderers Australia AFL Boys, and our U15 and U16 Footballers played two exhibition matches in front of a great crowd. The Boys played the first half with the round ball, and the second with the Oval ball, with two refs on the pitch. There were plenty of overs, behinds and goals, with the tourists more able to display their AFL skills during the second halves. 

Australian Diplomat, Tim Millikan and Club Chairman, Mike Bowler were on hand in the clubhouse afterwards to present Men of the Match gifts. Many thanks to the parents, mentors and volunteers on the day and especially the host families who looked after the visitors before they continued on their European trip on Sunday Morning

GAA Injury Fund. There have been some administrative changes to the GAA Injury Fund. The new information will be posted to the download section of the club website as soon as it is received.

Coach Education Nights continue as below, please contact David Moran to book a place or to make an enquiry.

AWARD 1

Wednesday 4 December, 7pm -9:30pm

Friday 17 January 7pm-9.30pm
Saturday 18 January 9am-9.30pm
Friday 31 January 7pm-9.30pm
Wednesday 5 February 7pm-9.30pm

FIRST FOUNDATION

Wednesday 11 December 7pm-9.45pm
Friday 13 December 7pm-9.45pm
Wednesday 18 December 7pm-9.45pm

SECOND FOUNDATION

Friday 24 January 2020, 7pm-9.30pm
Saturday 25 January 2020, 9am-1pm
Wednesday 29 January 2020, 7pm-9.30pm

Club Lotto: There was no winner of the lotto on the 28th November, Numbers were 1, 4, 7 and 20. Next weeks’ jackpot is €17,400 sponsored by Lucan Village Pharmacy, and run by Edel Mooney’s team.

Lucky Dips (€30): Rory Stapleton, Paddy Moore, Anne Marie Mulligan, Joe McDonagh and S&N Clandillon.

Play Online: Click Here or Tickets can be purchased at the Club, or in Kenny’s Vesey Arms.

GAA for All (SARS Stars) is every Tuesday 5.15-6pm in Scoil Mhuire Woodview. This provides training for children with disabilities age 5-12. Newcomers always welcome.

Bingo Wednesdays 8:30pm, Open to all, not just members!!

Zumba Classes is on Tuesdays 8PM

Cúpla Focal Club is on Mondays, time 8pm-9pm, two groups, beginners and advanced, learn to speak Irish in a fun way.  interested? Fáilte roimh cách.

The Twelfth Lock Café our Club Community Café is open Mon – Fri 6:30-9pm. Sat & Sun 9.30am to 1.30pm and now stocks Farrell hurls.

Club Shop is OPEN Thursdays 7-8.30pm and Saturdays 10am-12. An ideal place to get the perfect Christmas gift for that special sportsperson in your life!

The Lucan Credit Union Academy is on Saturday mornings 9.30am for girls, 10am for the boys.

The Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club 25 Card Drive has resumed and is on every Friday until May 2020 in the Clubhouse Bar. Time: 8.00pm Sharp 1^st Prize: €50, 2^nd Prize if 3 or more tables. Club membership is NOT a requirement. Call Bill Ryan for further information at 086-8500376.

Juvenile Hurling Report

U15A League Decider, Sunday 1 December 2019, 12:00 Pitch 1.

Lucan Sarsfields 2-12 , 1-10 Ballyboden St Endas

On a bright and fresh Sunday morning, we took to the Senior pitch (a first for this team) against a strong and physical BBSE team in a league play off as both teams had lost only one out of 14 games.

Lucan started slowly, allowing Boden to go ahead, 0-3 to no score after 5 minutes. Joey Dunne settled Lucan nerves with a free at 6 minutes, followed by a lovely point from Davey Mulqueen a minute later. We knew the it was ‘Game On’.  Following some Intense hurling Conor ‘Haggis’ Hyland received the ball and ran straight through the Boden rear guard to slot home a beauty, putting Lucan ahead 1-2 to 0-3. Although it seemed we didn’t deserve to be ahead, the lads had seized the lead and didn’t relinquish it. Two more frees from the unflappable Dunne and points from Mulqueen, Finn Bruton and Liam Garrigan saw Lucan ahead at half time 1-7 to 0-6. A slender lead but this was our time, and we weren’t letting them back into it!!

Strong physical hurling in the second half, with the noticeably smaller Lucan lads giving as good as they got! Up steps Garrigan with a belter!, 2-7 to 0-6. BBSE matched Lucan during the next period, bringing the score to 2-10 to 1-09, still 4 points in it. Lucan and Boden traded points in the last five minutes, Boden exerted huge pressure inside the Lucan half, but the score of the game came near the end, Jamie Smith winning dirty ball in the full back line, a lovely ground pass under pressure to Bruton on to Garo then to Rossa and over the bar by Dunne.

Final Score Lucan Sarsfields 2-12, BBSE 1-10, A superb effort from the lads ensuring the double.

Difficult to call Man of the Match, But all mentors agree Michael Cunningham was superb at half back with Eoin Kilduff at full back doing what full backs do!!

Team: Cathal Doody, Conor ‘Haggis’ Hyland, Conor Sheary, Davey Mulqueen, Eoin Kilduff, Finn Bruton, Gareth Kennedy, Jack Behan, Joey Dunne, Joey Mc Sweeney, Kian Quinn, Liam Farrell, Liam Garrigan, Michael Cunningham, Rossa Daly

Substitutes: Jamie Smith for Kian Quinn, Rian Fortune for Conor Sheary, Jack Doyle for Liam Farrell, Alex Hickey for Joey McSweeney, Charlie Mulqueen for Gareth Kennedy.

Under 21A Hurling Report

Lucan hurlers land Under 21 title

 By Gavin Dalton – Echo.ie 28 November 2019

21 Hurling ‘A’ Championship Final: Lucan Sarsfields 4-10 Na Fianna 1-9.

LUCAN Sarsfields are this year’s Dublin Under 21A Hurling champions after a bombardment of first half goals was enough to dethrone holders Na Fianna.

Three goals in the first ten minutes of the game paved the way for what was to be a major upset. Na Fianna, who have dominated this grade in recent years, had no answer to the tenacity Lucan brought to St Brigids GAA grounds on Tuesday evening.

A fifth minute goal by Matthew Dunne following some bad defending by Na Fianna got the ball rolling for the underdogs. Three minutes later the same player flicked the ball to the net following a good run by Ciaran Smith.

Dublin senior Dónal Burke looked to pull his side back into the game with two points in quick succession to settle Na Fianna. However a surging run through the centre by Lucan’s Cian McHugh set up Harry Ladd to convert his side’s third goal of the night, making it 3-2 to 0-3 and leaving Na Fianna with a mountain to climb. A pointed free by Burke and a super score from distance by Aodhán Buggy brought it back to a six-point game by the 20th minute.

But well taken scores by Ciaran Dowling and Cian McHugh either side of a Dónal Burke free ensured Lucan remained in control of the game. It was Burke who finished the half’s scoring after a moment of class which saw the attacker pluck a ball out of the air and convert the resulting free to make it 3-4 to 0-7 at the break.

Upon the games restart, Na Fianna pushed for a goal to get themselves back into contention, but there was no way past the Sarsfields defence. Instead sharpshooter Ben Coffey responded to this pressure with one of the points of the game on the 37th minute mark. Try as they may, Na Fianna, who seemed to be second to the ball all night, could not work their way back and fell further adrift when Harry Ladd goaled again after Ciaran Dowlings initial effort was saved.

Lucan finished the game strong, Ben Coffey’s free cementing the victory for them as the game finished up 4-10 to 1-9, Dónal Burke’s major from a 21 yard free at the death proving to be no more than a consolation goal.

Dave Aston’s final whistle in the 66th minute was met with scenes of jubilation for the Lucan ’ players and travelling supporters as they ended a five-year wait since their last triumph in this competition. For Na Fianna, a total of seven wides from placed balls off the stick of both county men Séan Currie and Dónal Burke proved costly—Currie receiving his marching orders in the 65th minute following his second yellow of the night.

Lucan Sarsfields: Cillian Murray, Daire Newcombe, Anthony McNulty, Paul Claffey, Colm Keenan, Alan Murphy, Colm Walsh, Rory Stapleton, Emmet Allen, Ben Coffey(0-7,0-5f), Cian McHugh(0-1),Ciaran Smith, Harry Ladd(2-0), Matthew Dunne(2-1), Ciaran Dowling(0-1)

Subs: Luke Walsh for Cian McHugh (42), Gavin Millea for Harry Ladd(58) Dylan Kelly for Matthew Dunne (63)

Na Fianna: Peter Mongey, Niall Hannon, Darragh McHugh, Neil Loftus, Paddy Skelly, Donal Ryan, Craig Berigan, Seafra Fitzgerald, Dónal Burke(1-7,1-5f), John Tierney, Peter Feeney, Eoin O’ Dea, David Lacey, Séan Currie(0-1), Aodhán Buggy(0-1).

Subs: Liam Stacey for Eoin O’ Dea (12), Cathal Cavery for David Lacey(42), Liam Graughan for Donal Ryan(58).

Lucan Panellists: Colm Behan, Ian Crowley, Evin Dowling, David Kavanagh, Oisin O’Brien, Eoghan O’Connor.

Lucan Team Management: Sean McCaffrey, Paul O’Donoghue, Declan O’Leary, Darragh Hunt, Richie Doyle, Mark Smith.

Minor A Camogie Championship – SEMI FINAL

Date: 01 Dec 2019

Venue: Lucan Sarsfields Senior Pitch

Lucan Sarsfields Vs Na Fianna

FIRST HALF

The day of the Semi-Final was greeted with a blanket of grey cloud and the remnants of autumnal colour.  Lucan’s Minor A camogie team huddled in preparation and last minute advice from coaches.  A place in the final was at stake and Na Fianna, in the spirit of that mythological warrior band, would compete fiercely for the spoils.

The first half started with an intense tussle in midfield with Ellen Dunphy emerging with the sliotar in hand, always a good omen.  Lucan created two unsuccessful attempts early on in their forays upfield searching for the correct combination of play.  This came quickly with a fine goal strike from Chloe O’Connor, followed by a point from play by Faye Murphy.  Na Fianna struck back with two points one from play and another a free. 

The conditions were heavy and the sliotar showed a reluctance to travel resulting in a series of melee’s, which characterised the game, with each side frantically ploughing the ground for a strike or grasp.  At one point Laura Quinn emerged from one such scuffle and after a meandering run passed to Chloe O’Connor who sent the sliotar over the bar.  Millie Reid then sent a pass again to Chloe who scored a goal.  In the next spell Lucan showed excellent resilience with superb defending by Rebecca Flanagan and Emma O’Brien, who forced a wide from Na Fianna, and the follow up running out of defence by Laura Quinn.

The pressure continued. After a determined run by Phoebe Shannon, towards the end line, with sliotar on the hurl and free hand warding off repeated harries, she passed to Chloe O’Connor who ended with a fine handpass into goal.

Na Fianna scored two points from two frees after emerging from heavy tackling on both sides.  They then scored another point which was kicked over the bar after a good catch from a Na Fianna forward. The pendulum of the game swung around this point and became somewhat stuck in the muddy conditions.  Both teams slugged it out ferociously neither landing a decisive blow towards the end of the first half.

The first half ended Lucan Sarsfields 3:2 to Na Fianna 0:6

SECOND HALF

Lucan started the second half by winning the throw-in with Ellen Dunphy and Ali Dunne in mid-field.  Na Fianna continued their pressure game and Alicia Rooney showed calmness and presence of mind to bat down a shot at goal.  Na Fianna followed with two points in quick succession starting the half as they ended the first.  In these early exchanges, Lucan’s sorties up-field were meeting stiff opposition and a number rebounded. 

Gradually the pendulum swung in its arc to Lucan and tense play began to see scoring attempts.  The forwards were as intense and vigorous in their play as the backs and it wasn’t long before the spell broke and Lucan were awarded a free which Aoife Mahon dispatched for a point.

The sliotar was now being delivered to the forwards consistently and their grip was tightening on the Na Fianna backs whose resistance was faltering.  Almost inevitably the increased pressure resulted in a point from Fay and a goal from Laura Quinn. 

Alicia in goal remained calm and personified the ‘no panic’ attitude of the Lucan players.  The last throes of Na Fianna witnessed many of their strikes being blocked down in defence.  The arrival of the sliotar upfield, signalled the forwards to dig in and keep it there with every player a symbol for obstinate and unrelenting tackling.

Again Lucan were rewarded when Faye struck over a point after a fine pass from Ellen Dunphy. The final whistle blew with Lucan having won a well-earned place in the final. 

FINAL SCORE:
Lucan Sarsfields 4:5 Na Fianna 0:9