On October 22th, our Boys' Senior Football Team had an experience they'll likely never forget as they marched onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park to contest the Corn Clonmore Cup final! Our opponents on the day were Holy Cross National School of Dundrum. It was a fiercely competitive, rip-roaring contest with both teams serving up a great exhibition of skill, determination and fighting spirit! Unfortunately, the result did not go our way but we couldn't be any prouder of how the boys represented the school on the day and how they have applied themselves from the start of the year!
The boys had a big goal this year and that was to get to Croker and they were very, very determined to achieve that goal. We are a young team (even most of our Sixth Class players are still only 11) and not particularly big but what we lacked in age and size, we more than made up for with skill and passion! It wasn't always a smooth journey, however. We were well beaten by a very strong Scoil Aine side in the group stage, for example, but the boys regrouped admirably after that defeat and made sure that they were sharp and focused for the quarter-final vs St. Paul's. Our best overall team performance came against Our Lady of Good Counsel in the semi-final when every single player was on their A-Game that day but perhaps, the most memorable match of the lot was the really gutsy one-point win against an equally committed Clonburris side in the group stage. The boys were chasing the game for the whole match up until the final two minutes where we finally edged ahead only to be immediately pegged back to a draw. In the dying moments, Nathan conjured up a moment of magic with a worldy of a point to earn us the victory! Neither team deserved to lose that day and we have tremendous respect for our neighbours in Clonburris - our matches against them are always keenly contested- and if the result went the other way, it could easily have been them who went on a run to Croker but we have no doubt they'll come back stronger and anticipate plenty more cracking matches with them in the future. As for our lads, I think that hard-earned victory proved to be the catalyst for this run to Croker and it's exciting matches like that one when both sets of players are giving everything they have to try and get the win that remind us all why we love sport so much!
As for the final itself, we're extremely proud of how the boys performed. They certainly showed up for battle and that first half in particular was as high quality a Gaelic Football match you are going to see at any schoolboy level. Holy Cross were a top class outfit with some truly exceptional ball players and were worthy winners in the end. They enjoyed a period of dominance in the first ten minutes of the second half that proved to be decisive as they ultimately pulled away. Our lads stayed resilient throughout though and indeed we probably dominated the last 10 minutes of the match ourselves but I think the major difference maker was that Holy Cross were a bit more clinical in front of goal than we were! In any case, we are still so pleased that so many of these great players got the chance to showcase their outstanding talents on the biggest stage! Each and every one of them deserves massive credit and will receive a special mention in this write-up!
I've been banging this drum for a long, long time but again, I can't overstate the importance of having a top quality goalkeeper! And thankfully, in Jake C, that's exactly what we had this year. ''Consistent excellence'' is how I'd characterize his performances! He is a brilliant shot stopper, wastes no time in clearing his lines under pressure but above all, his high-fielding abilities have been particularly eye-catching! Indeed, there was a moment in the quarter-final where the midfielder of St. Paul's unleashed a rocket of a shot and Jake just caught it clean over his head. Maybe if Jake was in goals instead of Pat Bonner for Schillaci's shot in Italia '90 the result might have been different! Jake just brought a real sense of calmness and composure to the goal-keeping position this year that made all his defensive teammates in front of him feel so secure! In fact, it wasn't just his teammates who were impressed with him, but a number of parents on the sideline also expressed their admiration for his performances over the course of the campaign. I consider Jake to be an excellent role model to the younger boys. He is so dedicated to his training and is always so respectful of and encouraging to his teammates!
There's brave and then there's Zack! I reckon if there was a head-on race for a football between Zack and an oncoming train, in a game of chicken, the train would be the one going off the rails there! Zack is like a throwback to the corner backs of the olden days! He is a tough, tenacious, tight-marking defender who loves getting out in front of his man, catching it on his chest and charging forward. Zack's instinct is to always find a teammate with a pass when he gets the ball and he has the accuracy to execute those passes. He is also a very useful forward and is more than capable of sticking monster points over from long range. Zack was very proud to be following in his brother Ben's footsteps (who played for us in Croke Park twice, no less) and like his brother always did, he gave it his all in Croke Park last week. The boys were devastated after the loss, but I won't forget how Zack went around to all the boys who were upset to try his best to console them! You can't teach that sort of decency - what a true team player Zack is!
What an absolute warrior at full back Fletcher is! Fletcher doesn't play GAA for a club but you wouldn't think that if you saw him play! He is a natural sportsman and loves nothing more than being in the heat of battle. When the going gets tough, that's when you'll see Fletcher at his very best. Honestly, he has been one of our most important players all year - he cleaned up so much ball in the final in Croker and he was 'Player of the Match' vs Clonburris! His positional sense and tackling abilities are incredible for someone who doesn't play GAA - he just never seems to get caught out. He naturally understands when it's the right time to come out and attack the ball but also when it's best to stay back. But it's his ability to dance his way out of tight spaces at full speed under pressure that is a particular joy to behold! Fletcher is a top class defender in soccer too and I'm sure he'll be raring to go once soccer season comes around! Shout out to Fletcher's sister, former Sruleen legend, Kiana, for helping Fletcher with his practice too!
Jamie was our other star at corner back this year and he very much made the position his own, adding some much needed height for us in that full back line. To give you an idea of how effective Jamie was this year, in 4 of our matches this year, he held the forward he was marking scoreless. When we all seemed to be struggling against Scoil Áine earlier in the year, I thought Jamie was one of our best players and we can't forget some of those crucial high balls he caught in the second half of that tense group match against Clonburris. Jamie is also one of the fastest boys on the team and come the Santry sprint trials in April, I fully expect him to be making the Under 14 relay team! I know his fellow Sixth Class teammates also rate him highly as a soccer player too! Jamie can be very proud of how he has applied himself this year. He has been so dedicated to working on his skills and his attitude at training has been second to none. Above all, he is a good, honest lad who will always give his best for the team!
And what can we say about our right half back, John?! His performances have been consistently outstanding! His ability to read the game is second to none - he is always one step ahead and seems to be able to anticipate where the opponents are going to kick it before they even know themselves! John has been one of our most reliable winners of primary possession this year but he's also been excellent in his distribution of balls into the forward line when in possession. And one thing is for sure , John will never shirk responsibility...he always stands up and is counted in the important moments and indeed delivered a fine performance in Croke Park last week - seemingly really relishing the opportunity to play on the biggest stage! To say John is passionate about his GAA is more than an understatement and he is constantly working on his game - his high fielding has been on a different level this year for example and being a dual star for Towers, he is certainly going to be one of our big, big leaders in the upcoming hurling season next Spring!
There are some players you'll just never forget. Ollie is one of those players!! I honestly can't overstate just how impressive Ollie's performance in the final was. Holy Cross had a really talented player at centre forward and Ollie was given the unenviable task of marking him. It was an epic battle between two magnificent players that was an absolute privilege to witness. Normally, man-markers are assigned with one job and one job only - stop the other lad from having an impact! But what was so special about Ollie's performance was not only was he breathing down the neck of and getting blocks in on the number 11 every time he got the ball, he was also one of our main men in possession...so much of our good moves started with Ollie! Ollie is so composed and classy on the ball but a true competitor - when the chips are down, Ollie will always still be out there trying his heart out. I'd love for Ollie to play more Gaelic Football but soccer is his priority as he is the general at midfield with Crumlin United. Given his exceptional skill and temperament, I truly believe Olly is destined for a career of high level sport football.
Speaking of rising to the big occasion, Jack's performance in the final at left half back was quite simply outrageous! Everyone was raving about the little number 7 for Sruleen after the match. Jack was literally everywhere! He was zipping around the pitch nipping in ahead of forwards to reclaim possession, he was jumping up and catching kickouts at midfield and even making runs forward to contribute to the scoreboard! Some might say (indeed many!)that it was a 'Player of the Match' performance! Jack is blessed with athletic talent (he won a silver medal at Santry in the Under 14 high jump last May at just 10 years old) but he is also a whole-hearted competitor who never stops running and never, ever gives up. Jack plays both football and hurling for Towers but I hope he makes it his mission to put in extra work on his hurling skills because I fully expect him to be a big, big player for the Sruleen hurling team come the spring!
Shamrock Rovers star, Kyle M, really hadn't played much Gaelic Football up until this year. He's a really talented soccer player but I've always suspected that he could be great at Gaelic Football if he set his mind to it but I could never have anticipated just how great!! Kyle was an absolute revelation at midfield - always standing out as one of the best Gaelic Footballers on the field in every match he played. I think Kyle came into his final year in Sruleen with the attitude that he was going to fully commit to the Gaelic team and boy, were his contributions crucial! He has a natural talent for high catching and any time he got on the ball, he always played with the intent to make something happen which is a great sign of a natural leader! Some of his scores this year have been sublime - he struck over a sweet point in the final in Croker and who can forget the three vital points he scored off his left foot vs Clonburris! If these are the levels Kyle can reach in a sport he doesn't even play, we can't wait for what he has in store for us come soccer season!
And now to a boy who despite still only being 10 has already cemented himself as one of the best Gaelic Footballers we've ever had in the school. This was Alex's second time playing a school final in Croker (he was on the starting team in Third Class, would you believe!) and boy, did he produce a gutsy performance! Alex covered every blade of grass ( as he always does, to be fair) and really shone in the second half when we needed someone to take the game by the scruff of the neck. His high-fielding at times can be breath-taking and when he races through the middle on his powerful solo runs, well, that's the sort of stuff that gets the fans on the edge of their seats! Hopefully one day the Dublin fans will get to witness it!! Alex is an all-round gifted athlete (he won all his races at the Cross Country events last term). He'll be a great asset to the soccer team too but I also hope he uses the winter months to pick up a hurl and get some practice in because I don't see any reason why he can't excel at hurling if he puts his mind to it!
At wing forward, Kyle R certainly made his presence felt in Croke Park as straight away his first contribution was to make a monster high catch in the middle of the field. But Kyle was instrumental in so much of our good play in the final and was the one who started off that great move that ended up with Brody sticking it in the back of the net! I see a lot of similarities in Kyle's game with his sister Alyssa. He is a fierce competitor, his first touch is superb but overall it's his vision that sets him apart. At corner forward, Marcus did a lot of damage for us this year but more often than not it was Kyle who was the one who was feeding Marcus with some beautiful passes. Kyle doesn't play GAA for a club but I'd be very surprised if there is any other player that works on his skills in his own time as diligently as Kyle does, club player or not! He's an outstanding runner, a Premier Division soccer player and is keen to play hurling this year too so we are very lucky to have such a talented all-rounder with as excellent an attitude as Kyle does in our school!
And what can we say about our Captain Fantastic, Lee?! I love watching Lee play - he is just such a classy player! As far as I'm concerned, he was one of the best players on show in Croke Park last week, producing an outstanding performance worthy of captaining this fine group of players. I'm not sure how visible it was to the fans in the stadium but Lee picked up so much ball in that crowded middle and was directly involved in at least half our scores. Lee is just so light on his feet and really elusive. He has lightning quick reactions and can kick off either foot which is why he must be an absolute nightmare for any defender to mark! I know it meant a lot to Lee to be chosen as captain but he fully deserved to be given that responsibility considering his excellence on the pitch and how encouraging he is towards his teammates. He is a Towers star and if he stays committed, I've no doubt he will be contesting many more big finals in the Green and White for years to come!
As for our vice captain, Nathan, his immense talent for this sport is undeniable! He is probably our most accomplished ball striker off both feet and has the ability to swing over beautiful long range points from anywhere in the forward line. He's also lethal in front of goal and has scored a few absolute crackers on the road to Croker. Nathan has all the skills in the book really but what we will remember him for the most this year was that moment of sheer magic against Clonburris where he stepped up in the last seconds and scored a long range point off the outside of his right foot under pressure that won it for us. It was a great moment of leadership but I must also acknowledge Nathan for his leadership off the field. I've never come across a boy so eager to help out with setting up the goals and bringing them in after matches as Nathan. It is very important for our younger kids to see our Senior kids behave that way and it is very much appreciated. Nathan is also a fine hurler and I'm sure he is excited to captain Sruleen for his final hurling season in the school next Spring!
Alfie absolutely loves his sport! He plays gaelic football and hurling for St. Jude's, soccer for Greenhills and always puts himself forward for the running here at school too. He practices so hard on his skills (particularly his overhead catching and kicking off his left foot) and it certainly showed on the football field this year as Alfie deservedly earned a place on the starting team off the back of some very impressive performances. Alfie is really skillful! He can go off on a mazy solo run at speed no problem and loves nothing more than taking on his man. He has also been one of our main providers - responsible for a whole pile of assists this year. But he's also deadly accurate in front of goal himself and has registered some lovely scores throughout the year, some of them often from very acute angles. Above all, Alfie just has a brilliant attitude and given how dedicated he is to his practice, I'm very confident that Alfie is going to be a really influential player for us on the Senior Team next year! Also, watch out for this speedster come Athletics season too!
I can't overstate how highly I rate Brody as a player! He was our main target -man in at full forward this year and very much reminds me of a left-footed version of the legendary Dublin full forward from the 90s, Vinny Murphy! When Brody is out in front for that ball, his first touch is so sharp, that he gives the full back no chance! Some of the over-head catches Brody has made this year have been a joy to behold - the football just sticks to his hands! But it's Brody's left foot that has been one of Sruleen's most lethal weapons this year - he can put some serious power behind it but not at the expense of his control and accuracy - a rare skill. In Croker, he played an absolute stormer, scoring a typically clinical point off his left before having the poachers instinct to get on the end of Marcus's ball in and stick it with his right! Brody is so passionate about his GAA and he should be proud of his achievements this year but I'm sure he'll be hungry for more! Let's make it our mission to perfect that right foot Brody and maybe get the old hurl and sliotar out for the winter too!
We had a lot of strong Fifth and Sixth class players on the panel this year and Marcus ended up being our only Fourth Class boy but what an impact he made! He just kept getting better and better with every match. He scored a whopping 1 goal and 4 points from play (2 points off his left and 2 off his right) in the semi-final and scored a point and provided the assist for the goal in the final! He has blistering (and I mean blistering!!) speed and what's more impressive is that he has amazing control of the ball when is in full flight terrifying defenders on the solo run! He's got the sort of talent that you'd pay money to see! He still has to get used to the physical side of the game but he's already becoming more adept at winning the hard ball but if Marcus is producing these sort of amazing performances at Senior Level in Fourth Class with only 2 months of competitive GAA under his belt, it's frightening to think of how unstoppable he could be if he joined a GAA club! Get that boy down to Towers now!!
Luke is a Booth Road Celtic star and had relatively little experience of playing GAA until this year but he fully committed himself to the panel and made huge progress in the process! Luke is a determined and fearless young player! There was fierce competition for places on the starting team this year and Luke was very close. He probably didn't get as much game time as he would have liked in the final but my goodness did he make the most of the time on the pitch that he had! In the heat of battle, Luke raced out ahead of his man to win a number of crucial balls when the game was still very much in the balance. There was one particularly impressive moment where he executed a perfect pick-up while running at full speed before releasing the handpass to a teammate! Luke was very much the joker of the pack of this team this year- he's absolutely hilarious- and he made the boys laugh on numerous occasions with his witty comments. Hopefully now he has caught the GAA bug and his cousin Emi will persuade him to join her down in Towers!
Reilly, another one of our Towers stars on the Senior Panel, is a player with plenty of natural talent! His catching on his chest is top quality but it's his accuracy in front of goal that is particularly noteworthy. He is an absolutely lethal finisher! Reilly has produced some great moments for Sruleen this GAA season but perhaps the big highlight for me was the goal he scored in the Go Games match vs Gaelscoil Clondalkin. A high ball was kicked in, Reilly caught it and within a second he turned sharply and buried it into the corner of the net! I also won't forget that brilliant block he made in the match against Clonburris and it's not the first time I've seen him make a brave block like that! Above all, I must compliment Reilly on his unselfishness as a player. He will always pass it to a teammate if he thinks that they are in a better position and that's shows what a great team player he is! Reilly really enjoys playing his GAA down in Towers but he is also super-fit and a great runner so we hope to see him at the Cross Country trials when they start up again in the next term.
Jake O'H's older brother, Leon, was a standout performer for Sruleen in Croke Park only a few years ago! However, Jake was determined to create his own history this year! Jake's a really clever player- he has a great instinct for reading where the ball is going and recognizing what the best positions to take up are. He tirelessly makes himself available for passes and it shows because every time you see him play, he just seems to find a way to always be able to get on the ball! It was the same story in Croke Park - Jake had about 3 possessions won within the space of two minutes! Technically, his ball striking is superb (kicks off both feet) and he can deliver pin-point passes off that cultured right foot. Jake is about as respectful and mannerly a boy you could hope to coach. He was very upset after the final which just goes to show that playing in Croker can mean just as much to our non-club players as it does for the club players. Hopefully the experience has made Jake even hungrier to improve as I reckon we will be needing him for some important scores and assists next year!
On the very first training we had this year, one player really stood out as being particularly sharp. That player was Oisin! He is probably the strongest boy on the whole team and if I could pick out one aspect of his game that has impressed me the most it would be his long range kick-passing. Unfortunately, Oisin got injured and ended up missing most of our matches this year. However, thankfully, Oisin had recovered just in time for the final and he truly deserved the chance to be able to experience what it's like to play in Croke Park. Oisin is one of those boys who is willing to go the extra mile to try and better himself. I met him once after school with a hurl in his hand on the way down to practice his striking and catching against the wall down at Towers all by himself - if that isn't dedication, I don't know what is! He may have missed a lot of the Gaelic Football season, but he is one of our main men on the hurling team and I hope he uses the winter months to keep practicing in order to be ready for hurling season when it comes around!
Mr. Whelan and Mr. Walsh were the coaches of the Boys Go Games team and did training with them every Monday. We had a really enthusiastic group of young players on the Go Games team. It was a keenly contested competition this year. We won some, we lost some but one thing is for sure - we had a lot of very impressive performers in those matches and Mr. Whelan and Mr. Walsh were very proud of how they all competed. Most of these boys are very young so they will not be receiving as comprehensive a write-up because there will be plenty to say about these great talents in the coming years but they still deserve a mention for their valuable contributions.
Where better to start than with the Go Games captain fantastic, Clive! Clive is an absolute gentleman and a hurling man through and through but he really committed to the Gaelic Football season this year and lead by example on the pitch by always giving his absolute best endeavours. He is a tight-marking, tough defender who possesses very neat kick passes and I fully expect that he will be ready for the step up to Senior Level next year!
Eoin from Fifth was the Go Games goalie this year and he is quickly developing a reputation for making the most outrageously, spectacular saves! Eoin has cat-like reflexes but it's not surprising given he won our Under 14 long jump trials in Fourth Class! He's a brave lad with massive potential and if he perfects his high catch, he will have a great chance to be Senior Goalie next year!
Mr. Walsh and Mr. Whelan rate Daniel highly and with good reason - he is a quality footballer and he has been one of the best players on the pitch in every match he has played this year. Daniel loves a good battle and is as brave as they come. He opted out of Senior trials this year but there is no doubt in my mind that he was good enough so I'm really hoping that he reconsiders and puts himself forward for the Senior team next year.
Cameron has been playing for Towers for a number of years now and it really shows. Cameron pretty much has every skill in the book! He has sharp hands and beautiful close control on the solo run. But Cameron has also added a bit of extra aggression to his game and his ball-winning skills have greatly improved. Cameron is also so respectful to his coaches and teammates which is lovely to see.
Sean R is as natural a talent as they come. I still can't quite get over how young he is. He is a big lad for 9 years old and he plays with a calmness and confidence that is very surprising for someone who doesn't play GAA (I'd love him to give it a try down in Towers!). In any case, he is a classy player with a deadly left foot and I can certainly see him challenging at Senior Level next year!
Kilian is one of the best basketball players in the school ( He is a Dublin Lions Star) but he has also went through periods of showing keen interest in playing GAA at school too. I think he is a very brave Gaelic Footballer and has no qualms about putting his body in the way of a hard shot. However, his catching abilities are probably his most outstanding quality. It would also be nice to see Kilian try out for the hurling this Spring too!
Luke C has probably been playing with a GAA ball and a hurl and Sliotar since he was in the cot! He is in Third Class now but is one of the most exciting GAA prospects in the school. Luke's a fearless battler but is super-skillful too and was one of the main men this year! I can certainly see him challenging the older boys for a starting place on the Senior team next year.
Zack M's main sport is soccer but once again he committed himself to the school's Go Games team and performed even better than last year. Zack has plenty of athletic talent but perhaps the most impressive aspect of his GAA game is his ball-striking which is very powerful but also accurate. And watch out for Zack's brother Douglas come Cross Country Season as he is a fine long distance runner indeed!
Connor McD is a hardy bit of stuff. Connor may be as tough and brave as they come but he always plays fair. He is one of the top blockers on the team for sure and his kick-passing has been excellent this year. Considering how brave Connor is, I really hope he considers taking up hurling as we all know that that's a trait that can come in very handy in that sport indeed!
Conor McG lives and breathes the GAA. He plays both hurling and football for Towers and even goes to support his sister every weekend too. Conor is a particularly brave goalkeeper and if you ever need a player with a good kick to take a free for you, Conor is your man. Conor is a big Mayo man and Paddy Durkin is his favorite player. I just hope he wants Sruleen to break our 'Finals Curse' before Mayo do!
Conor W is a player that I believe has huge potential. Any time he has trained with the older lads, he has been well able to mix it with them. Conor is a big strong lad for his age and possesses an absolute rocket of a shot. Once he really perfects his GAA skills, he's going to be a very difficult player to stop and he is certainly one of the main men to watch out for next year!
Alex O'H is a player with a very high ceiling. He's got speed, he's got good hands, he's a great ball striker and has good control on the solo run. Alex just has that bit of a spark about him and has been very impressive this year. In fact, he wasn't far away from the Senior Standard at all and I think he will explode onto the scene at Senior Level next year!
Ollie from Third Class was the youngest player on the team but he performed superbly well this year. He always looked very lively when he got the ball in his hands and he does a lovely little sidestep to get away from defenders. He just seems to be able to pick up the skills of this sport much more easily than most and is one to watch out for, for sure!
Ben has been super-
committed to this team from the first training and has produced a number of solid performances in defense. Nothing gets past him easily and he has a great ability to time his last ditch tackles to perfection. Above all, Ben is a fantastic catcher of a football! He seems to have really enjoyed the Go Games league so hopefully we will be seeing a lot more of Ben in a Sruleen jersey!
Sean C is in Third Class and only joined Towers earlier this year but I know the coaches have been hugely impressed with him. Sean is a super-talented ball player who can kick off both feet and catch high balls over his head that most players can't! And he is always eager to keep practicing so I fully expect him to be one of Sruleen's main men at Senior Level once he gets a bit older!
Volodymyr is a young boy who is eager to try his hand at lots of different activities. He's a lovely singer and was in our music club last year but he also enjoys playing sport and is now a Towers GAA star! Volodymyr has worked hard on his GAA skills. His handpassing has really improved. As has his catching. Volodymyr will always try his best and seemed to really enjoy playing for the school this year.
Last but most certainly not least is Alfie P. Alfie was perhaps our most unlucky player this year. He was injured (on crutches) for the Senior trials and missed the first two matches for the Go Games team due to the injury. However, once he got back to full fitness, he really impressed, especially with his 'Player of the Match' performance vs Gaelscoil na Camóige. Alfie is a livewire of a player that will pounce on any breaking ball and he is more than capable of taking a score. Alfie is now playing with Towers and is very driven to improve himself and I've no doubt he is going to be having a big impact at Senior Level next year!
So there you have it! As you can see we have so much talent in Sruleen and so many boys eager to play GAA in the school. As for next year's teams, we have so many boys who want to play now that it is going to be difficult to manage to accommodate everyone but we will try. Regarding the Go Games team, it is generally a team for Fourth and Fifth Class. However, we have a rule that if a Third Class girl or boy is playing for a GAA club, they will also be allowed to try out for the Go Games team. We have this rule because the numbers interested are already so big and we feel like it is a great incentive for girls and boys to join their local GAA club. For example, when we brought this rule in last year, within the space of a couple of weeks three girls joined Towers and they are absolutely loving it down there now!
As for the Senior panel, the competition for places on the panel and starting team next year will be the stiffest it has ever been. Just like with the girls, we will still have 11 players from the current Senior panel with us next year and I'm sure there are plenty of boys on the current Go Games team who will be determined to make it. We will try our best to accommodate all who want to play but given the numbers, it might be difficult to give all the boys a satisfactory amount of game time here at the school. This is why we encourage the boys to join Towers if they are really interested in playing GAA because Towers can field numerous teams and their GAA season lasts much longer than it does here in the school. Any of the boys who have joined in the past year, have been really loving it there.
Mr. Kelly was extremely proud of all our girls and boys who took part in the GAA season this year. He is very passionate about the promotion of sport in our school and couldn't have been more pleased for the kids. As for the Boys Senior team, Mr. Flynn has been a huge help this year. He has taken most of the Wednesday trainings by himself and as the season progressed became more and more excited by the prospect of getting the lads to Croker. He was like a kid before Christmas on the bus to Croke Park on Tuesday. He's from Kerry - you'd think he'd have seen the place enough by now!
Speaking of sport in the school, there will be plenty more sporting opportunities for the boys in the school year. The Cross Country running, soccer and hurling seasons will all be back some time in the next term. Soccer is still the most played and most popular sport in the school amongst the boys. Unlike Gaelic Football, it's only 11 a side and the FAI instructions are that there are to only be 16 players on each squad. We have so much soccer talent in the school and whoever the boys football coach is next year will have a difficult job on his/her hands trying to narrow down the squad to just 16. For this reason, we do want to highlight that there is also a great opportunity to make the school hurling panel as far less boys in the school play hurling so if someone puts in a bit of extra hurling practice over the next few months, it certainly won't hurt their chances of making that squad. We have a former Dublin hurling Minor coaching us called Mr. Whelan who is ably assisted by another great hurler, Mr. Scott, and they are very eager to get the hurling training going again in the school.
We also want to thank all the parents and grandparents who have been so supportive of all the boys and girls all throughout the campaign. We always had more than enough volunteers to provide lifts to the away matches. We want to assure you that these sacrifices do not go unnoticed. We also have to thank the Fitzsimons family for their generous donation to the buses for Croke Park, the Lennon family for the delicious doughnuts, the O'Connor, McQuaid and Kenny families for paying for and
organizing the pizza and chip party, Frank Costello for his donation towards school sports and Kieran O'Toole for providing our players with all those energizer drinks! We also have to thank the Maldron Hotel and Wayne Gaynor from R'n'R cleaning for sponsoring our jerseys and the Fitzsimons and Kenny families for sponsoring the team jackets and bags respectively. Above all, it has been great to see so many people come out and support the girls and boys this year and long may it continue!
Finally, we want to congratulate Holy Cross National School for their well deserved victory against us. You were very gracious and classy winners on the day and I hope you all enjoyed the celebrations back in Dundrum!
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