lucan sarsfields gaa club

Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club Notes

December 08, 2020

Come On You Boys In Blue!!

The Dublin Senior Footballers have reached the All-Ireland Final to face Mayo following the win over Cavan last weekend. As part of a double header, the U20 Final will precede the main event on Saturday 19^th December. Our very own Mark Lavin and Alan Murphy will be representing the club on the U20 squad, as well as Emmet O’Conghaile and Darren Gavin on the Senior squad. We wish all of them the best of luck in their finals.

In 2004, current DCU Student, Sarsfields Senior Footballer and Hurler and U20 Dublin Football defender, Alan Murphy started playing gaelic football in the Lucan Sarsfields Academy at the tender age of four, and by the time he had left the nursery, was also playing with the team a year ahead! In national school at Scoil Aine Naofa, Alan played soccer, reaching a cup semi-final, and although he didn’t pick up a hurl until he was 9, he was part of the Lucan Community College back-to-back Hurling Championship winning teams.

Playing football for the club, Alan has runners up medals for two Feile finals and two minor championship finals, and while still a minor he was part of the Junior Championship winning team. Playing with the Juniors and Intermediates prepared him for the step up to the Senior teams and he has also now collected an U21 Championship medal with the club in his first year as an adult player.

While not involved in the county team before last year, Alan has certainly made an impact with the Dublin U20’s, winning a Leinster Championship medal in march and is now looking forward to the All Ireland Final against Galway. He lists Stephen ‘Shoko’ O’Shaughnessy as one of his Idols growing up and had the good fortune to play alongside him in 2019. His advice for all the future players coming out of the Academy; “Take nothing for granted and enjoy every minute”

Technological University of Dublin student and Dublin U20 Forward, Mark Lavin, didn’t start playing gaelic football until he was 10 as he was playing soccer. He says that while at Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada, he took up football and hurling and hasn’t looked back. Part of the club U15 Shield and Division 1 League winning teams he went on to capture a U16 shield medal and a U16 Division 1 Minor league medal.

Mark joined the Dublin 14 development squad, remaining with the county to minor grade, where he played in a wing back position, picking up a Minor All-Star award in 2018. This helped him to adapt to a different style of play, to include defensive football and play with the ball in front, instead of with his back to goal. Now in his second year with Tom Grays squad, Mark has two Leinster Championship medals, and is looking forward to the final against Galway on Saturday week.

Mark, of course, is no stranger to Croke park, having won hurling and football medals with the school while in 6^th Class. Marks favourite player is Diarmuid Connolly and his advice to our future Sars players is to always be prepared to listen to someone who is trying to make you a better player. Mark also says “Don’t be afraid to ask mentors and coaches how to improve – the difference between an average player and a good player is that the good players do the basics very well – both hands, and both feet!”

Top Tips to becoming a Top Player

We asked Dublin Ladies Football Strength and Conditioning athletic development coach, our own Ken Robinson for his top tips to becoming a top player.

Watch his reply by clicking on the video.

Lucan Healthy Club Notes

A certificate was received in recognition of Lucan Sarsfields participation in the GAA National Inclusion Day. Although we couldn't participate in person, we did highlight the great work of our Lucan Sars Stars. Everyone in our GAA for All team, Lucan Sars Stars, look forward to getting back to team training in 2021.

Inner City Helping Homeless Appeal - we have closed the dressing room to collections but if members would still like to donate they can find details on www.ichh.ie. Thank you to everyone who donated, we will have more about the winter appeal in next weeks newsletter. The donations will now be sorted and delivered to the ICHH warehouse in Glasnevin. It will take more than a few trips across the M50 in the Healthy Club cars to deliver all the members donations!

IN-APP Competition

Last Saturday, Lucan Sarsfields Clubforce App Users were asked to answer a question to be in with a chance of winning one of two B100DY Sunday – Leinster Final Commemorative Match Programmes. The deadline for entries was the final whistle of the Dublin Cavan Semi-final game. The question asked was: Which Dublin senior footballer was the first to score in Dessie Farrells first game in charge last January? The answer is Lucan Sarsfields CJ Smith, who scored the first point of the game for Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup when they played Longford in January. The winners of the Souvenir Program are Billy Egan and Dave Marten. We will arrange to get the programmes to you before the end of the week.

To be in with a chance of winning in future competitions, all you have to do is search for and download the clubforce app from either the Apple Store or Google Play Store, depending on the make of your mobile device. Once Downloaded and installed, just make Lucan Sarsfields your favourite club. The App will be handy too when it comes time to renew your membership, buy event tickets (when we are able to run them again) and to keep up to date with the latest Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club news

Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club Christmas Draw

The Christmas Draw tickets have been or are in the process of being distributed. We are asking ALL MEMBERS HOUSEHOLDS to sell just one book (5 tickets) for this to be a HUGE success. It is a vital fundraiser for the club to ensure we can keep supporting our 140+ teams’ activities. The first 2500 tickets sold will be automatically entered into the GAA National Club Draw, return your sold tickets to the 12^th Lock Café - opening times are below.

Bereavement Notice

Our sympathies to the Maloney family on the recent death of Molly O'Callaghan (née Byrne), mother of Aisling (former ladies football mentor) and grandmother to Sabrina and Sarah Moloney (Intermediate Ladies Football)

“Come and meet your new best friends”

The Lucan District Credit Union Academy for girls and boys born in 2013, 2014 and 2015 only, continues on Saturday. To register your child for a place, contact David Moran, Club GPO, on 0879267607. Pre-registration with David is essential as due to Covid guidelines, as only pre-registered children can attend training.

The 12th Lock Café opening hours 6-9pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 1:30pm on Saturday. These times may change in line with Covid-19 guidelines. Visit the Café’s FaceBook page, https://fb.me/12thLockCafe, to see our special offers and Christmas ideas.

Club Shop December opening hours: O’Neills club shop will open at the following times: Thursdays – 3rd, 10th and 17th 7.00pm – 9.00pm, Saturdays – 5th, 12th, and 19th 9.00am – 5.00pm