Lucan Sarsfield’s Club Notes 

Lotto 

We had no winner of last week’s lotto jackpot of €8,600 

The Numbers were 13, 14, 15, 18 

The lucky dip prizes go to Brian Skehan, Kevin Roche, Lorcan Donohue, Fergal Gavin, Greg O'Neill  

This week’s Lotto will be for a jackpot of €9,000. The draw is sponsored by Newcastle Golf Centre 

 
Fundraiser in Memory of Saoirse O’Driscoll 

Join us in the Club on Saturday, 28th September from 9am to 4pm for a special Fundraising Day in memory of Saoirse O’Driscoll from Lucan, who sadly passed away at just 13 years old this April.  
 
Saoirse’s dad and four friends are gearing up for the ‘World’s Toughest Row’ this December, a 5,000km row across the Atlantic Ocean in her memory. They’re raising funds for two amazing charities: Heart Children Ireland and The Children’s Heart Centre at Crumlin Children’s Hospital, both close to Saoirse’s heart. 
 
Come meet the team, see the boat they’ll row from the Canary Islands to Antigua, and support this incredible cause. The row is fully self-funded, so 100% of donations will go directly to the charities.  
 
Follow their journey on Instagram @teampowerof1 or visit www.teampowerof1.com 
 
Donations can be made also to https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/teampowerof1     

Senior Sunday 
We have a big Sunday ahead this weekend (29th of September) with both our Senior Camogie and Senior Hurling teams playing in crucial championship matches. Our Senior Camogie team play their semi-final at 10:30am in St Vincent’s GAA Club in Marino against St Vincent’s. After this the Senior Hurlers play their quarter-final at 2pm in Parnell Park against Whitehall. There is plenty of time to make it to both matches, with time for a coffee in between. We are encouraging all our members to wear their club colours and get to both matches.   

Football 

IFC Relegation Playoff 

Sat 21/09/2024, Broomfield  

Lucan Sarsfields 2-8 v 3-10 St Sylvester’s  

Team: Shane Kerins, Conor McGrath, Eoin Farrelly, Oran Tully, Dan Kane, Seamus Keher, Cormac Porter, Tim Bradley, Oscar Nolan, Tony Mulqueen (2-5), Alan Lynch, Oisin Ryan, Alex Hickey (0-2), Sean Casey (0-1), Callum Bradley. Subs: Brendan O’Shaughnessy, Ryan Quinn, Charlie Mulqueen, Colm Kelly, Conor O’Flynn 

Needed a win in Malahide. Travelled with confidence. Nervous too, but a belief that the job could be done. Which only goes to show how often expectations are built on sand.  

It will come as a huge shock to hear that Lucan were slow to start. Not as slow as has been the case on other occasions, but still slow. Syl’s were taking their chances. Lucan were fluffing their lines. Alex seemed to have taken the game by the scruff, with a couple of super scores. Allied to an opening free from Tony, and Lucan seemed to have found their mojo. But a recently found mojo, can just as easily go walkabout.  

A harmless enough looking ball into the Lucan square, somehow managed to squeeze past everyone. Backs and forwards, and goalkeepers! The full forward reckoned he’d scored a goal. I think he badly needs counselling. The green flag would suggest that what I think doesn’t matter a fig! 

This was a scrappy game. Sean added a point, but Syl’s were holding onto the 3 point margin.  

Syl’s opened the 2nd half with a free, and although Lucan seemed to have plenty of possession, scores weren’t coming, and seemed unlikely, but then a game changer. Sean won a high ball and turned goalwards; the full back didn’t seem to fancy that and wrestled Sean to the ground. Ref arrived with his arms out wide, and Cool Hand Tony gave their keeper no chance. A one point game quickly became an all even game. All the elements were with Lucan. The wind, the rain, the hill, even the momentum, but a small issue that Lucan were not taking advantage.  

10 minutes of back and forth with neither side able to grasp the hot potato. Who’s going to make the mistake? 

Unfortunately it was Lucan. A turnover coming out of defence saw Syl’s with 3 players bearing down on Shane. There was nothing to be done. Adding insult to injury, almost from the kickout, what should have been a simple ball, bobbled awkwardly and Syl’s sub lashed a screamer to top corner of the net. Shane looked very unhappy.  

Heading for time up, the game was all up for Lucan, although Tony did make time for another neatly slotted penalty.  

This is the bit where I scratch around for the positives, and boy it’ll take some serious scratching. Just kidding. General sense afterwards was that when we had them on the ropes we lacked the ruthlessness to finish them. We made mistakes, and then failed to learn, so we made the same again. Some fellas shooting rashly, whilst others not shooting at all. Fellas neither marking nor covering back. We lacked width. Bunching in the middle makes it much easier for opposition to defend. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda.  

I do have to massage a couple of egos. Tony edged his way onto the scoreboard. Just. Seamus dodged a black card, but was excellent throughout. Alan, Alex & Dan were welcome additions. Cormac almost opened the scoring. Tim, Callum and Conor never stepped backwards.  

Driving home, despite the result, there was a lot of positive stuff being said. A feeling that the good days outweighed the bad; that there were solid grounds for optimism. Something to build on. We did well in the league, and looking back some of the losses in Championship might so easily have gone our way. So, we will call it quits for this year. Take a break and go again in 2025. 

Hurling  

It was round 2 of the Minor hurling championships this weekend, and we had two wins from three games. Lucan Minor A’s recorded their second win with a dramatic two point success away to Na Fianna (see match report below). The Minor Bs lost out to St Vincent’s while the Minor C’s had a one point win over Fingallians. 
Next weekend is another significant one for our adult hurlers with Seniors, Junior As, Junior Bs and Junior Cs all in Championship Quarterfinals, while the Intermediates have a vital relegation play-off.   
 
Minor A Hurling Championship: Na Fianna 2-15  Lucan Sarsfields 2-17. 
Mobhi Road, 22/9/24. 
 
Lucan minors got their second win of the championship in this very entertaining encounter at Mobhi Road. This was the proverbial game of two halves. When Na Fianna went 12 points ahead just before half time, after a dominant first half, few would have given Lucan much chance of success. Lucan did get the last score of the half, but still trailed by 11 points, 2-12 to 0-7 at the break. Na Fianna had started brightly and had two goals in the first 10 minutes. They led 2-7 to 0-6 after 20 minutes and continued to exert their superiority for the remainder of the half. 
 
However Lucan came out with a different attitude in the second half and quickly got on top. A couple of early points gave them momentum and then a long range shot from Killian Costello found the net to reduce the deficit to just 5 points after 40 minutes. Lucan had levelled by the 47th minute after a succession of further points, as Na Fianna were still to register a score in the second half.  Lucan took the lead for the first time after 50 minutes, 1-16 to 2-12. Then Michael Lynch finished superbly for Lucan’s second goal in the 52nd minute and, remarkably, they were 4 points ahead and looking set for victory.  But the drama wasn’t over yet.  Na Fianna finally got off the mark in the half and reduced the deficit to two points. Then Na Fianna had a close range free as the clock passed 60 minutes. They went for a goal and it was blocked by the Lucan defence but Na Fianna were awarded a penalty from the resulting melee.  The penalty was well struck but Freddy Haran in the Lucan goal was more than able for it as he brought off a great save to secure a dramatic victory. 
 
Lucan Team/scorers: F Haran, M Byrne, C Keane, D Collis, P Cosgrove, M Pappalardo, S Treanor, R Doherty, K Costello (1-7, 0-2f, 0-1 ‘65), R Keher (0-5, 0-3f), S O’Neill, M O’Brien (0-2), S Bolger (0-2), R Egan (0-1), O Brennan. Subs introduced: D Coakley, M Deignan, S Curran, M Lynch (1-0), K Quinn. 

Social  

The Cúpla Focal club is back next Monday the 9th of September. These classes are free of charge and will run ever Monday from 8-9pm. (Voluntary donations to Nagarhope welcome). This is a great opportunity to practice and learn to speak Irish in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Contact cuplafocalclub@gmail.com for more information 

25 Card Draw 

Date: Friday 11th October until 9th May 2025 

Time: 8.00pm Sharp 

Prize: 1st €50 (if 12 or more players), 

2nd prize if 3 or more tables 

Entry: €5 per player 

Venue: Lucan Sarsfields Clubhouse (Bar) 

 Everyone is welcome- from beginner to those who played years ago and would like to resume playing. You don’t have to be a Club member to play. 

Contact Bill Ryan 086-8500376 or Mary Flannery 087-7469143 for further information 

Thank You for supporting Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club.