Enter Playing Surface of Year competition

The Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces, in association with Leinster GAA, is inviting GAA Clubs in Leinster to take part in their 2010 Club Playing Surface of the Year Award. Details of the award scheme are below.

How Clubs Participate
• Each County votes for their best Club Pitch in the County using the easy to

follow criteria as set out below
• You cannot vote for your own Club.
• One vote per club

Voting criteria
• The Club Pitch in your County that has the best Grass Coverage over the entire pitch area, especially
• The most consistent green colour over the entire Pitch
• Plays best in all weather conditions

**Each Club who participates will enter a prize winning draw to win FREE Consultancy visit of their Pitch by the Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces along with a FREE technical material from Barenbrug Grass seed http://www.irishsportsurf.ie

Voting Slip for Club Pitch in Your County

Co. ...........
Club name ...........................................
Our Club votes for the ..............................................
Club as the best Pitch in our County
Closing Date is Sep. 5th and voting slips returned to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Contact Details
Mr Donal Kearney MSc & BSc
on phone number 0863644372 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Go Back

Larriers boss Hernon says summer months are not utilised to full effect

By Niall Scully

THE race to the knock-out stages of the Evening Herald Dublin Senior Hurling 'A' Championship is still very much on. There were some interesting results on Friday night. Boden being held to a draw by Vincent's stood out. So did St Jude's toppling Lucan. Granted, it's still the Group stages, but some of the results over the three rounds suggests that the standards are levelling out somewhat. Faughs have come on a ton this term, yet St Patrick's of Palmerstown drew with them on Friday night. Crumlin and Cuala also drew.

Earlier on, you had Lucan beating the Craobh and O'Toole's overcoming 'Boden, while St Brigid's, fresh out of the Senior 'B' ranks, won their first two games. The Brigid's v Craobh match was abandoned with 15 minutes remaining on Friday night at Russell Park when local lad Pat Rohan suffered a broken leg. We wish him well. But the championship is shaping up nicely and the upsets have made things more interesting.

Conclusions

Foregone conclusions seem to be off the menu. Two groups of six. The top four in each section progress to the quarter-finals. O'Toole's, Vincent's and Brigid's are now the only unbeaten sides in the competition. O'Toole's didn't play on Friday. Their game with Crokes was called off due to a bereavement in the O'Toole's club.

"We were looking forward to playing Crokes. They are a good side. They beat us well in the league," reflected O'Toole's manager, Damien Hernon. Damien won Championships with O'Toole's as a player. A commanding centre half-back who concluded his career in attack.

"We had some marvellous clashes with Chiaráin's and Vincent's. Really tough battles. They were good days," he recalls. He has seen the changes since. Teams are fitter and better prepared now," he judges.

"The game has advanced. Even the sliotars have changed. A few years ago they had this big, bouncy one, but they did away with it.

"People are trying to improve hurling all the time. But I think in Dublin it's only fair if the Championship was more condensed.

"I know it's always being spoken about, but we just have to find a way of compacting the Championship. April to October is too long. That's a stretch of seven or eight months. Life has changed from what it was 20 or 30 years ago.

"People are busier now. They have more interests. Life has moved on.

"Fellas need to know that they have a period, say for four months, that they can totally focus on the hurling and give it their best.

"We waste all these lovely summer months and we end up hurling into the autumn and winter.

"It doesn't give us any chance to prepare properly for Leinster. Dublin hurling has improved.

"It's improving all the time, but a shorter, more concentrated Championship timetable would bring the game on even more.

"If a solution could be found to run the Championship off in a shorter period of time, it would do everybody a favour."

Damien feels that the emergence of Ballyboden St Enda's has done the old craft a big favour in the city.

"Boden have raised the bar, that's for sure. Their underage structure is terrific. There's not many clubs who can field two teams at senior level.

"Some clubs even struggle to field one. Boden have brought things to a different level, even in terms of the expertise they have introduced to coaching and training.

"The key thing for clubs is to invest in the juveniles early. You'll eventually reap the rewards.

"Look at Offaly back in the '70s. They could hardly win a match. But they then got their structures right.

"They started going into the schools, etc and they went on to achieve great things for such a small hurling county."

At county level, Dublin's small ball is also spinning in the right direction according to the Lord of the Larriers. "The Antrim result was unfortunate. I don't know what happened. We all expected them to go on another bit.

"But that's sport. You never know who is going to win or what's going to happen. That's the nature of it.

Scoured

"The Dublin management scoured the county to get the best players. There was a good spread of clubs on the team.

"But that's the way it goes sometimes. Anthony Daly has added so much to Dublin hurling. He has lifted it.

"And he has good men around him -- Ritchie Stakelum, Vincent Teehan and 'Hedgo', all good hurlers in their own right and men who know their hurling.

"There's a lot of positive developments in Dublin hurling. And it's great to see the progress being made at all the different levels in the underage and colleges."

Last season, O'Toole's came close enough to ending the three-in-a-row ambition of Boden.

They brought them to a replay in the semi-final.

"When it came down to it, we just didn't have the depth of panel that you need. We got a few injuries and that cost us.

"But we'll give it a good rattle again this year. We have plenty of young lads. The trick is to find the right blend.

"And Damien has advice to all the young clan -- enjoy every minute. What fellas forget is that hurling is a short career.

"You have to do it between the ages of 20 to 32 or thereabouts. You have about eight or nine years to make an impact. You have to do it then. Young fellas think it will go on and on."

- Niall Scully

Wednesday 05th May, 2010 @7-00pm.
Senior A Hurling Championship Group A	Shankill	Cuala	vs	Lucan Sarsfields
Senior A Hurling Championship Group A	Pearse Park	Crumlin	vs	St Brigids
Senior A Hurling Championship Group A	Clonshaugh	Craobh Chiarain	vs	St Judes
Senior A Hurling Championship Group B	Glenauline Park	St Patricks P	vs	O Tooles
Senior A Hurling Championship Group B	Tymon North	Faughs	vs	St Vincents
Senior A Hurling Championship Group B	Pairc Uí Mhurchu	Ballyboden St Endas	vs	Kilmacud Crokes
Senior B Hurling Championship Group A	St Annes Park	Raheny	vs	Naomh Fionnbarra
Senior B Hurling Championship Group A	PNU	St Vincents	vs	Ballinteer St Johns
Senior B Hurling Championship Group A	M. Savage Park	St Oliver Plunketts ER	vs	Naomh Mearnog
Senior B Hurling Championship Group B	McGee Park	St Marks	vs	Round Towers C
Senior B Hurling Championship Group B	St Mobhi Road	Na Fianna	vs	Ballyboden St Endas
Senior B Hurling Championship Group B	Pairc Uí Bhriain	Naomh Olaf	vs	Erins Isle
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group A	Russell Park	St Brigids	vs	Clan Na Gael Fontenoy
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group A	Dolphin Park	Kevins	vs	Naomh Barrog
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group A	Druimnigh	Trinity Gaels	vs	Thomas Davis
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group B	Cloghran	Whitehall Colmcilles	vs	St Peregrines
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group B	Rathcoole	Commercials	vs	Kilmacud Crokes
Intermediate Hurling Championship Group B	Poppintree	Setanta	vs	St Sylvesters
Junior Hurling Championship Group A	Ballycullen	Ballyboden St Endas	vs	St Judes
Junior Hurling Championship Group A	Shankill	Cuala	vs	Na Fianna
Junior Hurling Championship Group A	Silverpark	Kilmacud Crokes	vs	Castleknock
Junior Hurling Championship Group B	Galtymore Raod	Good Counsel	vs	Fingallians
Junior Hurling Championship Group B	Blunden Drive	O Tooles	vs	Craobh Chiarain
Junior Hurling Championship Group B	Rivervalley	St Finians S	vs	Faughs
Thursday 06th May, 2010 @7-00pm
Junior B Hurling Championship Group A	12th Lock	Lucan Sarsfields	vs	Parnells
Junior B Hurling Championship Group A	Liffey Park	Liffey Gaels	vs	Clontarf
Junior B Hurling Championship Group A	Pearse Park	Crumlin	vs	O Dwyers
Junior B Hurling Championship Group B	Islandbridge	Civil Service Hurling	vs	Ballinteer St Johns
Junior B Hurling Championship Group B	John Paul Park ll	Naomh Fionnbarra	vs	Scoil Ui Chonaill
Junior B Hurling Championship Group B	Finglas	Erins Isle	vs	St Brigids
Junior C Hurling Championship Group A	Community Centre	Round Towers C	vs	St Maurs
Junior C Hurling Championship Group A	Ballycullen	Ballyboden St Endas	vs	Naomh Fionnbarra
Junior C Hurling Championship Group A	Tymon North	Faughs	vs	St Judes
Junior C Hurling Championship Group B	Torcaill	Naomh Mearnog	vs	Na Fianna
Junior C Hurling Championship Group B	Shankill	Cuala	vs	Crumlin
Junior C Hurling Championship Group B	PNU	St Vincents	vs	Kevins
Junior D Hurling Championship Group A	M. Savage Park	St Oliver Plunketts ER	vs	Raheny
Junior D Hurling Championship Group A	Grangegorman	St Brendans	vs	Parnells
Junior D Hurling Championship Group A	Malahide Castle	St Sylvesters	vs	Whitehall Colmcilles
Junior D Hurling Championship Group B	Pairc Uí Bhriain	Naomh Olaf	vs	Commercials
Junior D Hurling Championship Group B	Kiltipper Road	Thomas Davis	vs	Clan Na Gael Fontenoy
Junior D Hurling Championship Group B	Tymon North	Faughs	vs	St Monicas
Junior E Hurling Championship Group A	St Mobhi Road	Na Fianna	vs	Skerries Harps
Junior E Hurling Championship Group A	St Annes Park	Clontarf	vs	Kilmacud Crokes
Junior E Hurling Championship Group A	St Annes Park	Raheny	vs	Erin Go Breagh
Junior E Hurling Championship Group B	Oldtown	Wild Geese	vs	St Josephs OCB
Junior E Hurling Championship Group B	Poppintree	Setanta	vs	St Peregrines
Junior E Hurling Championship Group B	Islandbridge	Civil Service Hurling	vs	St Patricks D
Junior F Hurling Championship Group A	Lawless Park	Fingallians	vs	Naomh Barrog
Junior F Hurling Championship Group A	12th Lock	Lucan Sarsfields	vs	St Patricks D
Junior F Hurling Championship Group B	Torcaill	Naomh Mearnog	vs	Realt Dearg
Junior F Hurling Championship Group B	Galtymore Road	Good Counsel	vs	Castleknock

EVENING HERALD DUBLIN SHC A

Group A: Lucan Sarsfields, Craobh Chiaráin, St Brigids, Cuala, St Judes, Crumlin.
Group B: O Tooles, Ballyboden St Endas, St Vincents, St Pats Palmerstown, Kilmacud Crokes, Faughs.

EVENING HERALD DUBLIN SHC B 
Group A: Naomh Fionnbarra, St Oliver Plunketts/ER, Ballinteer St Johns, Raheny, Nh Mearnóg, St Vincents.
Group B: Round Tower (C), Naomh Olaf, Ballyboden St Endas B,, St Marks, Erins Isle, Na Fianna.

INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
Clanna Gael Fontenoy
Trinity Gaels
Naomh Barróg
St Brigids
Thomas Davis
Kevins

Group B
St Sylvesters
Commercials
St Peregrines
Setanta
Kilmacud Crokes
Whitehall Colmcille

JUNIOR A HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
St Judes
Kilmacud Crokes
Na Fianna
Ballyboden St Endas
Castleknock
Cuala

Group B 
Craobh Chiaráin
Good Counsel
Faughs
OTooles
Fingallians
St Finians (S)

JUNIOR B HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
Parnells
Crumlin
Clontarf
Lucan Sarsfields
ODwyers
Liffey Gaels

Group B
Ballinteer St Johns
Erins Isle
Scoil Uí Chonaill
Civil Service
St Brigids
Naomh Fionnbarra

JUNIOR C HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
St Judes
Ballyboden St Endas
Naomh Maur
Faughs
Naomh Fionnbarra
Round Tower (C)

Group B
Na Fianna
St Vincents
Crumlin
Naomh Mearnóg
Kevins
Cuala

JUNIOR D HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
Parnells
St Oliver Plunketts/ER
Whitehall Colmcille
St Brendans
Raheny
St Sylvesters

Group B
Commercials
Faughs
Clanna Gael Fontenoy
Naomh Olaf
St Monicas
Thomas Davis

JUNIOR E HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
Skerries Harps
Raheny
Kilmacud Crokes
Na Fianna
Erin go Bragh
Clontarf

Group B
St Josephs/OCB
Civil Service
St Peregrines
Wild Geese
St Patricks (P)
Setanta

JUNIOR F HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Group A
Naomh Barróg
Ranelagh Gaels
Lucan Sarsfields
St Patricks (D)
Fingallians

Group B
St Vincents
Good Counsel
Castleknock
Naomh Mearnóg

For those who wish to purchase hurleys before the season gets going  a call to Jimmy Byrne from Coolbricken, Kilkenny [086 8360223] might be worthwhile.

Balla Ball

 

Regions and Clubs

 

1. Region One:           Humphrey Kelleher.

Na Fianna, O’Tooles, Craobh Chiarain, St.Vincents, St. Brigids, St. Peregrines, Naomh Mearnog, Fingallians, Erins Isle, Naomh Barrog, Raheny, Trinity Gaels, St. Sylvesters, Beann Eadair, Whitehall, Clontarf, Scoil Ui Chonaill, Wild Geese, O’Dwyers, Skerries Harps, Ballymun, Setanta, Ballymun, Naomh Fionbarra, Parnells, St. Maurs, St. Finians.

 

2. Region Two:           Niall Corcoran

Kilmacud Crokes, Cuala, Bray, St. Judes, Naomh Olaf, St. John’s Ballinteer, Faughs, Ballyboden.

 

3. Region Three:        Eugene Davey

Clanna Gael, Liffey Gaels, Good Counsel, St.Kevins, Oliver Plunketts, Castleknock, Crumlin.

 

4.  Region Four:         Michael O’Grady

Lucan Sarsfields, Commercials, St. Patricks Palmerstown, Faughs,Round Towers, Thomas Davis, St. Marks,

 

1. The Co-ordinator to encourage clubs to hold their own internal competition first.

2. Clubs to inform the co-ordinator by Saturday Feb. 27 who their two representatives are.

3. Regional finals to take place on Saturday March 6 at 3.00pm. Two winners from each category to qualify for the county finals on Saturday March 13^th at 3.00pm at Clanna Gael.

 

BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS 3-10 LUCAN SARSFIELDS 1-9

Ballyboden completed the double when they added the Dublin AHL Division 1 title to their SHC A crown in this top-flight league decider at Sancta Maria on Tuesday night.
Lucan led for most of the opening half but a quickfire goal and point from Paul Ryan just before the interval gave Boden a 1-8 to 0-7 half-time advantage, the goal coming direct from a free.
Three minutes into the second half David Sweeney struck for goal when in classic Sweeney style he cut lose from the chasing pack and finish with power and accuracy.
Lucan though were determined not to let the game slip their grasp with Kevin OReilly going close to goaling from deadball. A second OReilly free was brilliantly saved by Finn McGarry but Aidan Roche was on hand to sweep the rebound to the net.
However, ten minutes from time Boden sealed victory for sure when Conor McCormack drilled to the net.
SCORERS - Ballyboden St Endas: P Ryan 1-10 (1-8f), D Sweeney, C McCormack 1-0 each. Lucan Sarsfields: T Somers 0-5 (0-5f), A Roche 1-0, P ODriscoll, P Brennan, P Kelly, K OReilly (65) 0-1 each.
BALLYBODEN ST ENDAS - F McGarry; J Duffy, S Perkins, P Buckeridge; S Hiney, B Treacy, D Spain; M Travers, D Curtin; M Griffin, C McCormack, J Doody; P Ryan, D Sweeney, N McMorrow. Subs: S Lambert for Doody (45); E Carroll for Griffin (45); M Lambert for McMorrow (56); B Kennedy for McCormack (58).
LUCAN SARSFIELDS - D Cunningham; J Byrne, P Callaghan, B McGarry; M May, P ODriscoll, N Gleeson; J McCaffrey, B Aird; P Kelly, A Duff, T Somers; A Roche, P Brennan, R Lambert. Subs: K OReilly for Lambert (35); T Clandillon for Gleeson (54); P Ward for Somers (54).
REF - JC Ryan (St Marks).

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