BALLYBODEN ST. ENDA’S G.A.A., CAMOGIE & LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB IRISLEABHAR BAILE BUADÁIN NAOMH ÉANNANo. 30 ISSN 0791-9778 www.bodengaa.ie e: info@bodengaa.ie Nollaig 2003

’BODENewsThe

Two “Prunty type” pitches and asynthetic all-weather pitch are tobe developed at the club’s

grounds in Sancta Maria. Work on theall-weather pitch will commence earlyin 2004, in the area nearest the wallthat adjoins the grounds of ColáisteÉanna. The development will mark thefirst phase of the provision of facilitiesthat are urgently needed to meet thegrowing needs of the club.

A number of specialists in this areahave tendered for the project and theExecutive Committee hopes to appointthe successful company/companiesshortly.

General Manager Noel Sheridan toldthe ‘Boden News “as you know part ofthe purchase deal in relation to thegrounds at Sancta Maria involves theprovision of a sports hall for joint useby the school and the club. We arepresently in the process of definingexactly what the needs of the schooland the club are and we will be seekingprofessional advice as to the best loca-tion for this badly needed facility. Wewould then propose to move quickly on

Prunty Pitch gets the Nodthe design of the building with a viewto lodging a planning application at theearliest possible opportunity.”

Prunty type pitches are in use in

many GAA grounds including ClannaGael-Fontenoy’s pitches in Ringsend. Arange of possible options were exam-ined before the choice was made.

Noel Sheridan took up his position as theclub’s first General Manager on 8December, 2003. He comes with a very

substantial track record of voluntary involve-ment in the club over the past two decades.

Noel Sheridan – the first General Manager of the clubNoel joined the club in 1982 on being

approached by Kathleen O’Sullivan to take ajuvenile Camogie team for training. He had asuccessful spell winning the Junior Champi-onship in 1986 and an Intermediate Champi-onship in 1988 as manager of the teams. Healso served as Secretary of the Camogie Com-mittee for four years during this time.

He became Secretary of the Hurling Com-mittee in 1989. In the hurling section, Noelhas been selector on Junior, Intermediate andSenior teams winning championships atJunior and Intermediate levels.

Noel was elected to the Executive Commit-tee also in 1989 and became Club Vice Chair-man in 2002. Up until his recent appoint-ment as General Manager, he served a periodof 14 consecutive years on the Executive Com-mittee.

While on the Executive Committee, Noelchaired the Social Committee for periods aswell as the Development Committee for thepast year.

Noel is a native of Stoneyford in CountyKilkenny and is married to Rose from CountyLeitrim. They have three daughters Marie,

Helena and Aideen. Noel spent over 30 yearswith Van den Bergh Foods (formerly HB).

The role of the General Manager willinclude carrying out the day-to-day manage-ment of all facets of the Club with responsi-bility for implementing Club policy. Theduties will include, supervising all full-timeand part-time staff employed by the Club.Along with the club’s professional advisers,oversee the major development projects thatthe Club is embarking on; visit all the localschools periodically to ensure that the Gaelicgames needs of the schools are being met asfar as is possible; work in close co-operationwith all Sub-Committees operating withinthe Club and, where appropriate, attendmeetings of those Sub-Committees; work inclose co-operation with Dublin County Board,South Dublin County Council and Dúchas toensure that the interests of the Club are pro-tected in every respect; interact with otherclubs as necessary; represent the Club atfunctions/events where appropriate; examineall expenditure by the Club on an ongoingbasis to ensure that value for money isobtained.

D.J. Carey – guest coach at the Rathfarnham and District Credit Union sponsoredhurling/camogie School of Excellence.

It has been another eventful year in the club. Voluntary service, as in previousyears, was once again at the centre of our operation and I would like to thank allour club members and friends, who gave great support to our teams and club

activities over the recent months. The increase in numbers is most welcome. Interms of honours won, we have added eight championship titles to our growing rollof honour (at the time of writing) as well as a number of leagues and cup victories.But more impressively, well over 1,100 players, male and female, wore the blue andwhite (and the green and white) during 2003. Another 200 or so mentors wereinvolved in making this possible. Well done to all concerned.

On the playing front I extend congratulations to our most recent championshipwinners – the Under 21A Football Team. Particular thanks to Manager Liam Tully,Coach Dan O’Sullivan and Mentors, Enda McNulty, Paddy Walsh and Liam Delaneyand a special word of thanks to Mick O’Regan.

Hard Luck to our under 21 Football B Team who were narrowly beaten in the finalChampionship Final – thanks to Manager Peter Shovlin, Conor Hand, Neil Bren-nan, Eddie O’Sullivan and his crew.

Well done to our Junior A Hurlers on winning an Corn Fág a Bealach under Man-ager Emmet Pullan with Ultan MacMathúna, Dermot Maguire and Mick Fletcher.While at the time of writing I am optimistic that our Under 21 hurlers will make ita championship double at this grade.

The Senior Footballers are through to the semi final of the League for the secondyear in a row. Well done to Sean Fitzmaurice/Paul Bealin and fellow mentors. Suc-cess is there for the taking and hopefully by now we are celebrating our secondsenior football league title. Many thanks to Pat Conway, Brendan Timbs, BobbyO’Sullivan and Noel O’Reilly.

Well done to our Senior Ladies Football Team – League and Championship win-ners for the fourth year in a row – a remarkable achievement for Bill Daly, MarkMagahran, Shane and Elaine Keane who have been ever present and more recentlyPat Nash.

Congrats to our Under 16A Camogie Team who won the Championship underNuala Pope, John Byrne and Eileen McNamara to complete the double at this agewhen the Under 16A Hurling team captured championship honours. Special thanksto Liam Hogan, Brendan Swords, Robbie Lambert, Denis Nagle and Colin Durkin.

We also took championship titles at U13A Camogie (Micheál Glynn, Clarinda Noo-nan and Sheila O’Shea); Under 12A Camogie (Mona O’Sullivan, Catherine Cum-mins, Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin) and Under 10A ladies football (Derek Ward andSeamie O’Neill)

To all our Players/Managers/Mentors – a big thank you.The Rathfarnham and District Credit Union sponsored Summer Camps were a

big success with over 1,300 boys and girls attending. We had 28 Club Coachesinvolved. The introduction by Enda McNulty, Coaching Director of Schools of Excel-lence was a very progressive development and one that we hope to expand. Well doneto P.J. Donohue and Brian O’Regan.

We had nine Senior Players on the Dublin panel that lost to Mayo in the LadiesAll-Ireland Final. While Martina Farrell won an O’Neills/TG4 all-star award. Con-gratulations to Conal Keaney, Stephen Hiney and Enda McNulty on Railway Cupsuccess; Conal Keaney/Declan O’Mahony/Niall Clarke on winning All-Ireland under21 Football medals with Dublin and to Darragh Spain as well as Conal and Stephenon their Walsh Cup honours. As well as that we had seven players – Ciara and EmerLucey, Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin, Aoife Scallan, Joanne Cummins, Mary Hyland,Emma Seery on the Dublin Under 18 camogie team that won the Leinster Champi-onship with manager P.J. Donohue.

Under the excellent leadership of John Ryan and with the assistance of other clubsections, the Juvenile Section held its first Annual Golf Classic. This was a real suc-cess, with substantial funds raised going towards providing Juvenile facilities.

The Fashion Show was very well organised and a great success. A Special thankyou to Nuala Pope, Mona O’Sullivan and Bernie Corrigan and the Ladies FootballCommittee ran a very successful Raffle.

On the development front the sale of Oldcourt is now complete and we are veryproud of this deal. We have finally completed the purchase of Sancta Maria and planto commence work shortly on an all-weather pitch and two Prunty Type Pitchesearly in 2004.

We have appointed Noel Sheridan as the club’s First General Manager. Noel tookup the position on 8th December 2003. We wish Noel every success in his new role.

A special word of thanks to Peter Fitzpatrick barman who is retiring at the endof December, for all his hard work and dedication while a member of our staff.

Finally, I would like to wish all members and friends a very Happy Christmas andprosperous New Year. Nollaig faoi sheán is faoi shonas do gach duine.

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2

Eagarthóir:

Gerry O’Sullivan

Photographs:

• Mark MagahranPhotography

• Sportsfile.com

• Evening Herald

• The Echo

• EamonnO’Sullivan

• Brian O’Regan

• Mark Monahan

• Philip Griffin

• Tomás ÓRiordáin Snr.

Many thanks to allwho contributed in

any way.

• Aisling Farrellyand Diane Spillanewere selected onthe LeinsterLadies Footballpanel for theInterprovincialSeries held inMullingar. BillDaly was aSelector.

• Martina Farrellwon anO’Neills/TG4 AllStar.

• Emmet Carroll andConal Keaney wonBlue Star Hurlingawards andDarragh Spain andDerek Byrne(football) earnedReplacementAwards.

• Conal Keaney andStephen Hineywon Railway Cupmedals withLeinster in 2003and Enda McNultywon his firstRailway Cupmedal with Ulster.

• Ciara Lucey (UCD)and MichaelGriffin (IT,Tallaght) havebeen awardedLeinster CouncilThird LevelBuraries.

Printed by Kilkenny People Printing LimitedTel� �����������

P02 – Chairman's address 15/12/03 3:47 pm Page 1

Next year will see the OlympicGames return to its birthplace inAthens, 100 years after the first

Modern Games.Irish sportspeople have enjoyed a fair

measure of Olympic success over the yearsbut not always in the colours of this country.

One such Olympian is Paddy Ryan of Pal-lasgreen, County Limerick who is thegrandfather of senior Camogie player Siob-han O’Dwyer.

At the height of his fame Paddy was liv-ing in America and represented the USA ininternational competitions including win-ning a gold medal for the Hammer eventand a silver medal for the 56lbs weightthrow in the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp. Healso held the world hammer throwingrecord from 1913 to 1938 – a period of 25years. The record was set on 17 August atthe Fireman’s Athletic Games in LongIsland, New York. The distance set was 189' 6".

At a time when the GAA also ran athlet-ics (that’s the reason for the inclusion of the

world “Athletic” in the title), Paddy won 9All-Ireland medals spread across three dif-ferent events.

A Group has been established in the country to raise funds for a monument toPaddy Ryan to be erected in his native Pal-lasgreen. The group needs to raise €30,000and is aiming to have the monument inplace in time for next Summer’s Games.Anyone who would like to lend support cancontact Siobhan O’Dwyer or John Keating.

Siobhan, his granddaughter, has playedwith distinction for Ballyboden St Endassince 1993 and has won 4 Senior Champi-onship medals in Dublin (3 with the Bodenand 1 with UCD) as well as a TipperaryChampionship honour with her nativeCashel. She was selected on the CombinedColleges team in 1992 and 1993 and herbrother Ryan is in line for a place on theTipperary Minor Hurling panel in 2004.Siobhan is also a very active Camogie coachimparting the skills as part of her job as ateacher in St. Mac Dara’s CommunitySchool.

Paddy Ryan Olympicand World Champion

- the Boden Connection -

Incidentally, the 1920 Games were awarded to Antwerp to honour the sufferingthat had been inflicted on the Belgian peopleduring World War I. The Opening Ceremonywas notable for the introduction of theOlympic flag and the presentation of theAthletes’ Oath.

Co. Limerick man Paddy Ryanrepresented the USA in 1920 Olympic

Games held in Antwerp

Ten Club members visited Rome for theWeekend when the Railway Cup Hurl-ing Final between Leinster and Con-

naught was played there on the 8th Novem-ber. Emmet Pullan, Joe O'Brien, Brian O'Re-gan, Paul Daly, Aideen Sheridan, Sylvie andMary Keaney went to support the two Boden

lads playing for Leinster - Stephen Hineyand Conal Keaney.

The match itself was a hard fought contestwith Leinster winning by the narrowest ofmargins. Both Conal (at midfield) andStephen (at wing-back) played their part inthis victory.

The rest of the weekend was spent with the

gang following Sylvie on a tour of severalRoman historic points of interest - the MeanFiddler, Trinity College Bar and Druids RockPub, to name but a few. Oggy and myselfwere particularly impressed at Sylvie'sknowledge of the Ancient City???!!!

A Great Weekend was had by all.

Supporting the Railway Cup Hurling Final played in Rome were (from left): Paul Daly, Sylvie Keaney, Conal Keaney, Brian O’Regan, Stephen Hiney, Emmet Pullan, Joe O’Brien, Aideen Sheridan and Mary Keaney. Kneeling: Ceara Nic Coitir

Reporter: Emmet Pullan

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4

For more than 20 years, boys and girlshave played gaelic games on thegrounds of St. Endas’ Park better

known to all of us as the Hermitage after thehouse that adorns this beautiful location.

The club is extremely fortunate in havingsuch a facility so close to our heartland.Numerous juvenile hurling, football,camogie and ladies football teams play thereduring most weeks of the year and eachSaturday morning – the nursery coachingsessions introduce hundreds of children tothe games.

Currently the likes of John Healy,Eamonn O’Sullivan, Donal Regan, JaneHogan, Pat McNamara, Donie Kerin,Michelle Ryan are actively carrying on thattradition each week. In the past KathleenO’Sullivan, Bill Daly, Niall Kelly, ConorDoolan, Mick Kennedy, Charlie O’Connell,Vinny Bradley, Denis Ryan, Tony Lynch,Eamonn O’Sullivan (Barton Road), andothers did trojan service.

The Hermitage is known principally asthe site of Scoil Éanna, the school foundedby Pádraig Pearse and the site where heendeavoured to put into practice therevolutionary educational ideas that heespoused in his famous work the “MurderMachine”. The playing of gaelic games hada core part in Pearse’s educationalphilosophy and without doubt he would bepleased at the sight of seeing our nationalgames being played there throughout theyear.

The presence of the club in St. Endas Parkforges a connection with several of the majorevents of Irish history of the past twocenturies.

In the Summer of 1910, Pádraig Pearseand his brother discovered the Hermitageand were immediately convinced that thiswas the ideal home for their fledgling school– Scoil Éanna - which opened its doors two

Donal Regan and Jane Hogan with Camogie nursery group.

The Hermitage - Scoil Éanna

Football Starter-Pack with Donie Kerin

The Garden at St Enda’s Park

years previously on 8 September inCullenswood House, Ranelagh.

Pearse was captivated by the sylvansetting, the peace and tranquillity, awayfrom the distractions of the noisy city as in1910, the Hermitage was very much a partof rural Dublin.

According to Scéal Scoil Éanna publishedby the National Parks and MonumentsService of the Office of Public Works in 1986,the freehold of the “Fields of Odin” (as theHermitage was formerly known) wasgranted by Thomas Connolly in 1786, toEdward Hudson, a prominent Dublinmedical man. One of Hudson’s neighbourswho lived across the road from the mainentrance was John Philpott Curran.

Curran did not take took kindly to hisdaughter Sarah’s romantic interests in ayoung man named Robert Emmet. To avoidthe attentions of Sarah’s less than pleasedfather, the young couple used to meetregularly in the grounds of the Hermitage.However, a few years later in 1803, RobertEmmet met his death at the end ofhangman’s noose after his failed rebellion of1803. His association with the Hermitage iscommemorated by the tree-lined avenue tothe left of the house which is known asEmmet’s Walk and a folly in the South Eastcorner of the park called Emmet’s Fort.

On Edward Hudson’s death in 1827, theproperty passed to his son William ElliotHudson who is remembered for, amongother things, donating £500 (€635) to assistthe publication of the first comprehensiveIrish dictionary. W. E. Hudson died in 1853.

From the time Pádraig Pearse moved tothe Hermitage, financial pressures

Hurling nursery group with coaches (from left): John Crowley, John Healy and Mark Mellett.

Bust of Padráig Pearse

Hermitage hurlers – Cian O’Sullivan, Niall Kiernan (Faughs) and Denis Healy.

The ball is in...

5

threatened the future of the school. Therent plus the fall in student numbers due tothe distance out from the city were themain causes of this difficulty and Pearsedid not always give the project his fullattention due to other ambitions on thepolitical front.

Although in deep financial trouble, Pearsecontinued to keep Scoil Éanna open andwith others planned the Easter Rebellion of1916 at the Hermitage. When a shipmentof guns was landed at Howth from theAsgard in 1914, a number of them werehidden at the School.

All of this time, Pearse was underconstant financial pressure to meet thedebts on the house which was leased from aWilliam Woodbyrne but with support fromAmerica he just about managed to keep hishead above water.

On Easter Monday, 24 April 1916, theRising began. But by 29 April, theInsurrection was over. Fifteen ex-pupils ofScoil Éanna fought in the Rebellion and on 3May at 3.30 am, Pádraig Pearse wasexecuted by firing squad.

The British briefly occupied theHermitage in the aftermath of the Rising asScoil Éanna returned to Cullenswood House.Three years later, the school returned to theHermitage in 1919 and after a fund-raisingcampaign the property was purchased andhanded over to Mrs. Margaret Pearse,mother of Padraig and William, in December1920.

Financial difficulties and the loss of thePearse Brothers were fatal blows to theschool and in 1935, it was forced to close.Three years before that Mrs. Pearse diedand in her will she bequeathed theHermitage to her daughter Margaret for theduration of her life and thereafter to thenation.

Margaret Pearse was later appointed aSenator and remained at the Hermitageuntil her death in 1969, the year BallybodenSt. Endas was formed from the merger ofBallyboden Wanderers (1910) andRathfarnham St. Endas (1966). Thegrounds and the house passed into the careof the state and are now superblymaintained by Dúchas.

During the celebrations of the 1916Rising, then President Eamon de Valeraaccepted the key of the house on behalf ofthe nation. Ten years later on the centenaryof Pádraig Pearse’s birth (10 November1979), President Patrick Hillery declaredthe house and the grounds formally open tothe public.

So the next time you are lining out in theHermitage, taking a training session or justenjoying the beauty – remember you arewalking in the footsteps of the history of thisgreat nation. Spare a thought from time totime for those that dreamed the dream.

PPeeaarrssee MMuusseeuumm aanndd SStt.. EEnnddaass PPaarrkkTel 01 493 4208

Open (Daily): November – January ................................10.00 – 16.00February – April ........................................10.00 – 17.00May – August ..............................................10.00 - 17.30September – October ..................................10.00 - 17.00

Closed for lunch 13.00 – 14.00Admission: Free

Field of dreams.

Peaceful setting at St Enda’s Park

6

KKeennMMuurrrraayy

MMEEEETT

NNaammee Ken Murray

DDOOBB ��/��/����

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OOccccuuppaattiioonnCivil Servant

FFaammiillyy Married to Nóirín- � children; Eimear & Niamhage � and Niall age �0

SScchhoooollss AAtttteennddeedd:: Loretto National SchoolSt Mary’s BNS0Coláiste Éanna CBS0

HHoonnoouurrss wwoonn:: Member Dublin Hurling Panel ��;;/;�Member Dublin Football Panel ����/��Senior Football ChampionshipSenior Div � Football League0� Blue StarsSenior Div � Hurling leagueAIB Cup x �St V de P Cup x �Boland Cup x�Junior Hurling ChampionshipJunior Hurling LeagueCorn CeitinnCorn Fag a’ BealachCorn FogartyU/�� Football Div �SU/�� Div � Hurling League0Minor Football Div � leagueCentenary Minor CupMinor Hurling League Div �0And various underage leagues at both hurlingfootball0

Ken Murray hasbeen playingsenior footballfor the club for20 years – Ken isseen here withhis twin daugh-ters Niamh (left)and Eimear.

Ken and Nóirín

SSeenniioorr CClluubb DDeebbuutt:: ��;�/B V0 Kilmacud Crokes in Cup match0��;�/B V0 Faughs in Senior Hurling League0

IInntteerrccoouunnttyy DDeebbuutt:: ���� National League V0 Armagh in Armagh (F) 0��;; National League V0 Kerry in Croke Park (H)0

FFaavvoouurriittee PPllaayyeerrss:: Brian Kelleher- Ben Molloy at club0Eamonn Heary and Dessie Farrell at countylevel0

PPllaayyeerr ttoo wwaattcchh ffoorr tthhee ffuuttuurree:: Me or any of our current U/��’s0

FFaavvoouurriittee nnoonnFFGGAAAA ssppoorrttssppeerrssoonn:: Keith Wood0

AAllllFFIIrreellaanndd HHuurrlliinngg TTiipp ��HHHHBB:: Kilkenny0

AAllllFFIIrreellaanndd FFoooottbbaallll TTiipp ��HHHHBB:: Dublin0

BBeesstt ppiieeccee ooff aaddvviiccee rreecceeiivveedd:: Concentrate on the next ball0

LLaasstt mmoovviiee sseeeenn:: Monsters Inc or Shrek daily viewing in my home0

FFaavvoouurriittee aallbbuumm//ccdd:: The Best of Dr Hook0

LLaasstt bbooookk rreeaadd:: Bad Men by John Connolly

BBeesstt ddaayy iinn BBlluuee aanndd WWhhiittee:: Winning championship in ����0

WWoorrsstt ddaayy iinn BBlluuee aanndd WWhhiittee:: ��;; Senior Hurling Championship final defeat0

DDeesseerrtt IIssllaanndd PPaarrttnneerr:: Nóirín0

WWhhaatt wwoouulldd yyoouu ddoo iiff yyoouu wwoonn tthhee LLoottttoo:: Buy � new knees0

FFaavvoouurriittee JJookkee ooff tthhee mmoommeenntt:: None of my jokes are printable

?

KEN MURRAY

KEN MURRAY7

During June it was decidedto sand Páirc Uí Mhurchú.On a Friday before a Junior

Hurling Cup game scheduled forthe Sunday, tons upon tons of thestuff were spread on the hallowedturf.

By late Friday evening, it wasmore like Ballybunion than Bally-boden so panic was beginning to setin among Emmet Pullan and theboys. There was only one course ofaction open. So on Sunday morn-ing, the emergency services had tocalled up to get the pitch ready.

How were they going to get thepitch playable? “Mousey” wasobjecting – he had his bucket andspade and was already busy build-ing sand castles. He was just about

to put in the wiring when Emmetthreatened to draft him into theteam and after that there were nomore complaints.

Philly Larkin and the HellsKitchen crew could see nothingwrong with the pitch. They wereeagerly looking forward to raisingmore dust around the square –they even considered using a ballevery now and then.

In any event “Operation Whatthe hell was PJ doing sanding thepitch in the driest Summer sinceAdam was a boy!!!” was mobilisedon the Sunday morning of thegame. Brushes and rakes werecommandeered and the gang wentto work for hours and hours…

Work done, the boys headed forCroker to watch Laois beat Dublinin the Leinster Football Final andthen return to the club for thegame that evening.

A notable absentee from thephotograph was Liam Phelan whokindly left his brush and his rakein Martin Donohue’s porch andheaded back to bed. Junior managerEmmet Pullan wasn’t impressedand promptly dropped him fromthe team.

By evening time all was in readi-ness and after a cracking game, theJuniors beat St. Brigid’s which isjust as well because if the gamefinished level, the replay was beingplanned for Dollymount.

8

A clean sweep – By our Marine Correspondent

Back (l-r) Ciaran Smith, Brendan Wall, Emmet Pullan, Ultan Mac Mathúna, Philip Larkin, John HealyFront: Martin O’Sullivan, Finn McGarry, Peadar and Ruarí Mac Mathúna, Martin Donohue and Andrew Kiernan.The dog belongs to Martin.

Ballybunion orBallyboden!!!

Well done toSorcha Timminsand Vivian Ruddymentors of the St.Colmcille’s GirlsFootball Teamwhich won theCumann namBunscol CornAustin Finn 2003.

Ballyroan Boys NS with John Joe O’Sullivan were winners of an CornMhic Phiarais in a see-saw battle with St. Maelruain's to win by 4-7to 4-6. Twelve of the first 15 play for the club

St. Mary's hurlers line up in Croke ParkBarry Kehoe of St. Mary's raises the HeraldCup aloft in Croke Park.

St Mary's Boys NS Junior Team which reached the Cumann na mBunscol Final 2003.

St. Marys Boys NS Senior Football team - Corn Kitterick winners 2003with Edward O'Riordan, Chairman Cumann na mBunscol

St Mary’s N.S., Grange Road

BallyroanBoys N.S.

St Colmcille’s, Knocklyon

This first term in StMary’s Boys Schoolhas indeed been a

very busy and historictime in terms of football.The school entered arecord four teams inCumann na mBunscolcompetitions whichensured that over 85boys donned the blueand gold of St Mary’sthis season. Thanksmust go to the variousteachers who lookedafter each team namely,Ms Hampsey and MsNaughton (Junior B), MrO’Farrell and Mr O’Neill(Junior A), Ms Heffernanand Mr Ó Murchú(Senior B) and MrO’Riordan (Senior A).

9

The club had nine representativeson the Dublin panel that waspipped by a last minute goal by

Mayo in the All-Ireland Ladies FootballFinal. A total of five players played inthe final. This is the largest number ofclub players from Ballyboden St. Endasto play in an inter-county All-Irelandfinal.

In addition to the five players featured,the other panelists were Sarah Denvir,Sorcha Timmins, Tonya Allen and OrlaSmith.

Photographs courtesy of Sportsfile.com

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TG� All�Ireland Ladies Football Final ����TG� All�Ireland Ladies Football Final ����Karen Hopkins

Gemma Fay Louise Kelly

Martina FarrellSorcha Farrelly

Ladies Football – Niomh Madigan

The Ladies Football section enjoyedanother excellent year with champi-onship titles being recorded at either

end of the age spectrum. The Under 10A team (Derek Ward and

Seamie O’Neill) brought the first champi-onship title at this grade to the club whilethe Senior A team managed by Bill Dalywith Mark Magahran, Pat Nash, ShaneKeane and Elaine Keane made it four cham-pionships (beating Garda in the final) andleague titles on the trot – an unprecedentedrecord in the club.

The club had the distinction of beinginvolved in both the Junior and SeniorChampionship finals on 9 August in ParnellPark when the Senior B team (Kevin Cahillwith Marie Denvir, Gerry Keane and MickHunt) reached the final against Fingallianswho went on to reach the All-Ireland JuniorClub Final.

11

An Blian seo thart...................2003

Senior A Ladies Football Championship winners Back (l-r); Mark Magahran (mentor), Shane Keane (mentor), Mary Waldron, Diane Spillane,Claire Butterly, Aine O’Sullivan, Tonya Allen, Paula Murray (captain), Niamh Smith, Bill Daly (manager), Sharon Molloy, Aisling Farrelly,Elaine Keane, Orla Keane (child), Pat Nash (mentor). Front (l-r): Orla Smith, Martina Farrell, Louise Kelly, Sorcha Farrelly, Tara Murphy,Ceara Nic Coitir, Orla Scolard, Sorcha Timmins, Karen Hopkins, Sarah Denvir, Gemma Fay, Helen Barr.

Conor Dolan, Captain of the victorious Under 21A football team

Paula Murray, Senior Ladies captain withhusband Sean and son Sean. Senior final action

The Senior A team relinquished theirLeinster Club title to Seneschelstown ofMeath who were beaten by our old rivalsDonoughmore of Cork in the All-IrelandFinal.

The Under 16 team responded well toPaul Coffey’s training and reached thechampionship final before going down toFingallians.

We didn’t quite make it to the finals ofFéile Peil but the Under 14 team (LebbyGalvin, Tom Madigan and Niomh Madigan)made a trip to Trabolgan and enjoyed them-selves immensely. The Under 14B side(Ceara Nic Coitir and Bill Daly) gave a num-ber of games to girls who otherwise wouldhave had a limited playing involvement dur-ing the year.

The progress of the Under 12A team(Robbie Murphy, Joe Brennan, Karl Young)which won the league augurs well as doesthe fact that we field three teams at this agegroup - Under 12B (Cormac O’Farrell, JerBasquel) and Under 12C (Barry Coll, GerMcGirr),

The Under 10B side (Eugene Duffy andPat McGrath) played 13 games and a blitzand improved immensely during the year.

Nursery Coaching Between Páirc Uí Mhurchú (Barry Coll)

and the Hermitage (Michelle Ryan) nurs-eries over 80 girls between the ages of 6 and10 years are receiving coaching. Added tothis Donal Spillane is doing great work inLoreto Primary School.

The section is now 10 years and hasgrown to a team for each of those years. In2003, 279 players were registered with

Under 12A Camogie championship winners...Back row (From left) Mona Uí Shúilleabháin(mentor), Sarah Cummins, Caoimhe Murray, Rachel Duke, Laura Murphy, Aoife O'Leary,Colleen Daly, Dearbhla Hone, Eadaoin Walsh, Lorna McMullan, Dearbhla Brennan, Róisín NíShúilleabháin, Laura McCarthy, Catherine Cummins (mentor). Front row (From left) SheenaStyles, Sarah Barrett, Ciara Farrell, Caoimhe Merriman, Kym Doyle, Jane Nolan (captain),Una McSherry, Danielle Brogan, Megan O'Byrne, Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin (mentor)

Cumann Peil Gael na mBan with 246 ofthese belonging to the juvenile section.

Camogie – Mona O’SullivanThe Camogie section enjoyed a fine season

recording three championship successes andboosting participation.

Championship titles were garnered atUnder 12A (Mona O’Sullivan, CatherineCummins, Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin) who puta poor start to their season behind them tocome good at the finish; the Under 13A(Mick Glynn, Sheila O'Shea and ClarindaNoonan) added the league title to a greatchampionship win and the Under 16A’s win(Nuala Pope, Eileen McNamara, JohnByrne) was even more meritorious because

the squad was largely made up of Under15s. The bulk of this side also took part inthe Under 15 championship and reached thesemi final stages.

The Under 10 Hermitage team (FionaColeman, Nora O'Sullivan, Donal Regan)have one of the most beautiful training envi-ronments while “colour coding” has beenintroduced to organise the huge numbers atUnder 10 Cherryfield (Sorcha Farrelly,Mary Hyland, Ciara Lucey, Emma Seery,Sarah Pope, Catherine Pope, Deirdre Far-relly, Rachel Ruddy, Aisling O’Leary).

At Under 11A level (Mick Kennedy,Deirdre O'Reilly, Carol Ann Woulfe, RichardFitzpatrick, Jackie Boyd Lyons) had anenjoyable year which included the inaugural

Under-10 Championship winners: Back row L to R; Seamie O Neill (coach),Niamh Doyle, Alison Plant, Ashling O’Neill, Ciara Ruddy, ElaineMcGrath, Alice Gillen, Saidhbh Ní Shúilleabháin, Aoife O’Gara, Stephenie Conall, Aoife Cantwell, Niamh Rowland, Megan Kelly, Derek Ward(coach). Front row L to R; Brona Henry, Orlaith Rafferty, Jenny Whelan, Michelle Clancy, Michelle O’Reilly, Jennifer Ward, Teresa BasquelleFahy, Nicole Basquel, Sarah O’Brien (capt.) Cathy O’Neill, Tracy Kennedy, Megan Carney.

Under-12 camogie County Final action with Naomh Bríd at Cherryfield

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Mini All-Ireland internal blitz. The Under11B team (Ciara Scallan, Niamh Scallan,Maeve Gaynor, Claire Gaynor) is in the for-tunate position of being coached by threecurrent players – two double sisters as well!

The Under 12Bs (Gerry O’Driscoll, Rose-marie Deevey, Gladys O’Connor) playedtheir best and enjoyed their trip to CrokePark for the All-Ireland finals.

The Under 13B team (Patricia Higgins,Paula Gorby, Pádraig Ó Duibhir) weregreatly encouraged by a much improvedshowing in 2003.

Despite going down to St. Vincents, theUnder 14A side (Quentin Nea, DaveO’Driscoll) were among the few sides to givethe All-Ireland Féile champions a stiff chal-lenge. The Under 14B (Anne McGarrigle,Ciara Blair) gave their all during the year.

A great year for the Under 16Bs(Bernadette McGlynn) was crowned withtheir first ever league title.

The Junior B team (Grace O’Neill, OrnaLucey, Bernie Corrigan) captured theleague title with an unbeaten run. TheJunior A team (John Hayes, Jim Cremin,Trish Seery, Rosie Tracey) put in a greateffort but were beaten by eventual champi-onship winners Ballinteer St. Johns by justa single point.

The Senior A team (Gearóid Ó Súilleab-háin, Micheál Mac Fhloinn, Éamonn ÓSúilleabháin with assistance from Mona UíShúilleabháin) reached the Open Cup finaland the semi finals of the league. A numberof young players were introduced to topflight camogie and will have greatly bene-fited from the experience.

The Senior B team (John McCormack,Dermot Hughes, Enda Hughes) has quali-fied for the Open Cup semi finals whichhave been deferred until 2004. Best wishesto John McCormack for a speedy return tofull health.

There were 318 players registered withCumann Camógaíocht na nGael.

Juvenile – John ArchboldA major innovation in the past year has

been the opening of the club’s third coach-ing nursery centre at Knocklyon Park in

Under-13A Camogie Championship Winners. Back row (l to r): C. Noonan (Mentor), R. Gaffney,N. Cunningham, R. Tyson, S. Fleming, O. Clarke, L. Coffey, N. Hyland, A. O’Leary, P. McGrath,S. Noonan, A. Giffney, A. Cunningham, M. Glynn (Mentor). Front row (l to r): K. O’Farrell, FO’Shea, J. Ryan, S. Hughes, L. Barnwell, C. Corrigan, (C) S. Glynn, A. Noonan, K. Synnott.

Under 16 Camogie Championship Winners. Back row (l to r): Simone Comerford, Laura Nolan,Susan Kelly, Aoife Burke, Maeve Galvin, Sharon Glynn, Niamh Scallan, Lorna Curtis, AlanaCronin, Orla O’Shea, Triona Ní Dhuidhir. Front row: (l to r) Nuala Pope (Mentor) CaoilfhionnNí Neill, Rachel Ruddy, Deirdre Farrelly, Anne Griffin, Emer Lucey, Niamh Hogan, Aoife Clarke,Cliona McNamara, Catherine Cope, Rachel Mansel, Noelle Brogan, John Byrne (Mentor), EileenMcNamara (Mentor).

Under 16 Hurling Championship winners: Back row (l-r) Daragh O'Gorman, Pierce Kenny, Dermot Manley, Ciarán Twomey, Brendan Treacy,Shane Durkin, Paul Ryan, Kevin Doody, Barry McCarthy, Niall Brew, Shane Dunne, Alan Kennedy, Maurice Nagle.Front row (l-r) Alan Lambert, James Doody, Conor McCormack, Simon Lambert, Martin O'Sullivan, Simon Hughes, Tiernan Swords, PadraigLawlor, Mark Judge, Alan Carter

Ballycullen. The decision was made necessary by virtue of the large numbersthat are attending Cherryfield where spacewas at a premium.

From this year on children who were born

in 1995 onwards are being catered for atKnocklyon Park which is turning out to be afabulous facility. The club is deeply appre-ciative of South Dublin County Council whohave developed and maintain the grounds.

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A nursery coaching group was initiatedby Enda McNulty, Director of Coachingchaired by Derek Ward. The Group meetsapproximately once a month and discussescoaching issues that might arise. The othermembers of the group are Mick Keville,Brian O’Regan, Seamie O’Neill, EndaMcNulty, Vincent Carney, Barry Coll, MickRyan, Eugene Duffy, John Healy and LiamCarter.

The annual David Maycock MemorialTournament took place on Saturday 28June. The cup was won by Dublin withPaddy Corrigan as manager and EoghanO’Neill as the winning captain. We wouldlike to thank the Maycock family for theirattendance on the day. We would also liketo thank David Sweeney, Darragh Spainand Conal Keaney for helping out referee-ing and coaching on the day.

Rathfarnham and DistrictCredit Union SummerCamps 2003

The Summer Camp 2003 was a great suc-cess. The camp was co-ordinated by PJ

Junior Hurlers - Corn Fág a Bealach Winners 2003 Back row (l-r): Liam Phelan, Brendan Wall, Niall O'Neill, Brian Kennedy, Chris Nagle, ShaneMurphy, Brian O'Regan, Michael Phelan, Stephen Nagle, Thomas Cronin, David Fletcher and John Healy. Front row (l-r): Philip Ryan, Brian Keary,Martin Donohue, Gavin Duff, Emmet Pullan (captain), Philip Larkin, Micheál Spain, Ciaran O'Neill.

Donohoe, Enda McNulty and Brian O’Re-gan. Over 1,300 boys and girls took partover the 7 weeks. The exceptional weatherreally made this camp one of the best campsyet. The two all sports weeks were a greatsuccess and the trip to Dublin Zoo wentdown a treat with both children and thecoaches. There were over 28 club coachesemployed at different stages over the sum-mer.

As an added feature of the summer campthis year, a School Of Excellence for boysand girls between the ages of 13 and 16 wasrun. There was one week of football/ladiesfootball and one week of hurling/camogie.Over 100 boys and girls attended these twoweeks.We would like to thank the following GAAstars for attending both the summer campand the School Of Excellence: DJ Carey, SueRamsbottom, Paul McCormack, ConalKeaney and Oisin McConville.

Juvenile Hurling On the playing front, the Under 10 hurl-

ing squads (Paudie Ó Neill, Paddy Corrigan,Niall Desmond) enjoyed a great year that

included trips to Naas, Portlaoise, Ahaneand Bennettsbridge.

At the Under 11 age group (CiaranMaguire, John Ryan, John Small, MickGarry) – an Féile Iomána was the highlight(reported elsewhere in this edition) and theyenjoyed a great success in winning theCamaint competition in Parnell Parkagainst St. Vincents.

The high point of the year for the Under 12(Seamus Ryan, Pat Kenny) was winning thePortlaoise tournament in August.

While at Under 13A (Paul Daly, FrancisSharkey, Aidan Kennedy - First Aid: RobertWoodcock) the side remain unbeaten in theleague and captured the P. J. Troy Trophywith a great win over Erins Isle.

Féile na nGael is always uppermost in theminds of players and mentors at Under 14and in the season finished, the team (EithneMcGarry, Joe Young, Michael Phelan. Coach-ing: Michael McGarry) turned in excellentperformances to reach the All-Ireland Divi-sion 2 final after losing the Dublin final byjust one point to St. Vincents. The side isstill in contention for the League.

At Under 15A (Vincent Bradley, Eamon

Under 14 hurling team All-Ireland Féile na nGael Div 2 Runners-up 2003. Back row (from left) Killian Cannon, Ciaran Archbold, Eoin O’Reil-ly, Tomás McNamara, Andrew Kiernan, Colin Hyland, Michael Howard, Brian Flaherty, Andrew Breen, Peter Buckeridge.Front row (from left) Dermot Coffey, Turlough Chambers, Finn McGarry, Matthew Weldon, Eanna Walsh, Alan McMullan, Mark Lambert,Thomas Deane, Paul Young, Shane Lucey, Niall McMorrow, Daniel Sinnott, Matthew Curran.

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Treacy, Liam Carter, Frank O’Connor) agood championship run ended with a onepoint defeat to St. Vincents in a thrillingsemi-final. The team is unbeaten in theleague with two matches remaining. Whileat Under 15B (Gerry O’Sullivan, MalachyBuckeridge) this team was unlucky to losea few games narrowly and showed greatimprovement as the year went on.

The Under 16s (Liam Hogan, RobertLambert, Brendan Swords, Denis Nagle,Colin Durkin) took the championship instyle to earn the first major honours for thispanel when they beat Lucan Sarsfields inthe decider.

Juvenile Football The Under 9A (Jimmy Walsh, John Kee-

gan, Martin Dunne, Ger Flaherty), Under9B (Mary Byrne, Sean O’Reilly, EugeneMcGee, Brian Byrne) and Under 9C (Sea-mus De Frein, Neil Buckingham, MaryCostelloe, Aidan Byrne) all thrived and con-tinued to learn the game.

At Under 10A (Ned Flood, Patrick Mur-phy, Tom Mullany, Niall Desmond) – leaguewinners, Under 10B (Paul Waters, SeamusO’Flaherty, John Robinson, Sean O’Connor,Philip Griffin) and Under 10C (Pat Drohan,Edward O’Riordan, Conor Farrelly, TomBoyle) work at improving the teams wascontinued.

The Under 11A (Noel Basquel, SeanCrowley, Kevin Murray) emerged as Jointwinners of the Winter league 2002 andwere narrowly beaten in the Final of theCup last Spring. They have a great chanceto win the league outright in 2003. TheUnder 11B (Tom Mullen, John O’Toole)team has made great strides and won theirleague and the Under 11C (Neill Johnston,John Swan) made progress.

Under 12A (Vincent Carney, Tony Seery,Shay Devlin, Bob Sheehan), Under 12B(Dave Ryan, P.J. Claffey, Sean Fahy, ConorMcGreevy) and Under 12C (Pat Shine,John Joe O’Sullivan, Jim O’Reilly) are com-ing along nicely.

The Under 13A (Vivian Ruddy, John Mul-ligan, Jim Keane, Declan O’Reilly, KevinMaguire) won the pre-Christmas league2002 beating St. Vincents in a play-off. Theteam is currently top of the League withabout 4 matches remaining. While theUnder 13B (Tony Wallace, Eamon Clancy,

Larry Quinn, Pat Finnerty, Sean Bonar)team has already captured the league titlewith the Under 13C (Maurice Murphy,Michael Irwin, Tony O’Reilly, MichaelMcTiernan) performing solidly.

The Under 14A (Liam Deane, FionnanHyland, Padraig Chambers, John Archbold)fell to the eventual All-Ireland Féile nanGael winners – Kilmacud Crokes at theDublin stage and the Under 14B (JohnBurns) enjoyed a mid-table league finish

Still in contention for league honours, theUnder 15A (Liam Carter, Conor Doolan,Matt Fletcher, Helen McGuinness) saw luckdesert them in a one point championshipdefeat to St. Judes in the semi-final.

The Under 15B (Gerry O’Kelly, MichealCooney, John Turner) performed well andthe Under 15C (Paddy Brady, Dan Browne)also fared well.

A narrow defeat in the championshipdenied the Under 16A (Liam Monaghan,Robert Lambert, Denis Nagle) a better runwhile the Under 16B (Niall Kelly, AidanKennedy) reached the championship semi-final before bowing out to a very good Gar-ristown side.

Childrens Officer.In September last, the club was delighted

that Therese Keville agreed to become Chil-dren’s Officer for the club. Therese has hada long interest and involvement in Juvenilematters in the club and she outlined her rolein detail at the mentors evening in Septem-ber. It is imperative that all mentors areaware of the importance of this role in theclub, and make all players and their parentsaware of this office.

Adult Football – Sean FlynnTop marks to the Under 21A (Liam Tully,

Enda McNulty, Ronan Hore, Dan O’Sulli-van, Liam Delaney, Michael O’Regan) whichbrought the championship back to the clubafter a six year gap while the Under 21B(Peter Shovlin, Conor Hand, Neil Brennan,Eddie O’Sullivan) were pipped by a goal byBallymun Kickhams in the C Final.

The Senior team (Paul Bealin, Sean Fitz-maurice, Bobby O’Sullivan, Brendan Timbs,Noel O’Reilly and Pat Conway) didn’t have agood run in the championship but enjoyedbetter fortune in the league and is currently

Ard san aer, minor football winners of Thomas Davis tournament.

Hell’s Kitchen – Junior hurling full-back line – Micheál Spain,Philip Larkin and John Healy.

Under 21 Football Stars - Niall Clarke, Conal Keaney, MarkFitzgerald and Robbie Maher

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in the semi final at the time of writingagainst St. Mary’s. The team was alsopipped by a point in the Evening HeraldFloodlit Cup final by the same opposition.

The Intermediate football team (MickMaher, Ben Molloy, Martin Murphy, TonyMorgan) retained their status and had agood run in the Loving Cup.

The Junior A (Conor Hand, Tom Flynn,Jim Bolger and Denis Donoghue) competedin the B championship but due to circum-stances outside their control have beenawaiting semi-final opponents for sometime. They finished a very commendablesecond place in the league.

Eddie O’Sullivan and Neil Brennan werein charge of the Junior B team and were beat-en by the eventual winners of the C Champi-onship St. Brigid’s. The Junior C (AndrewConaghy, John Joe O’Sullivan and PeterShovlin) always managed to field and turnedin a creditable championship campaignbefore exiting at the quarter-final stage.

The Minor A team (Peter Shovlin) fin-ished fifth in the league and won theChristy Riordan Memorial Tournament runby Thomas Davis.

The Minor B (Sheila Clear, Paddy Hogan,Wally Durkan, Eugene Kenny, Don McMa-hon) team made it to the Championshipsemi final and enjoyed a nice week-end inWaterville. The Minor C side (Liam Mon-aghan, Robert Lambert) reached the ShieldSemi Final.

Adult Hurling – JoeO’Brien/Noel Sheridan

The Senior A hurling (Paudie Ó Neill,John Ryan, Paddy Corrigan) put in atremendous effort and had a promisingcampaign in the league phase of the cham-pionship but once again Craobh Chiarainproved a stumbling block as they also did inthe League final. Apart from the hugenumber of training sessions including guestcoaches Paudie Butler and Padjo Whele-han, the side played 24 matches.

The Senior B side (Conor Sheehan, PJBreen, Francis Sharkey, John Connolly,Donal Ryan) were very unfortunate to dropdown to Intermediate ranks after a one

point defeat to Trinity Gaels in a relegationplay-off.

At Intermediate level (Bernard Curtis,Brian Reilly, Ciaran Smith), the side main-tained its league status and went out of thechampionship to Lucan Sarsfields at thequarter-final stage.

The Junior B team (Emmet Pullan, MickFletcher, Dermot Maguire, Ultan MacMath-una) had a very good year reaching the finalof the championship and winning An CornFág a Bealach. The side played 29 gamesonly losing four. Unfortunately St. Finiansof Swords got the better of us in the championship.

The Under 21 team (Emmet Pullan, MickFletcher, Darragh Spain, Dermot Maguire)is through to the championship semi final atthe time of writing. While the highlight ofthe Minor A (Martin Donohue, Ollie Hickey,James Galavan, Hugh O'Neill) year waswinning the prestigious James StephensTournament.

The Minor B team (John Keating, LiamHogan, Joe Ryan) laid down a marker forthe coming year by winning the Minor Cchampionship and league.

Minor B hurling star Graham Ward receives his man of the match award from John Connollyof MUTEC, team sponsors after his performance in the Minor C championship final victoryagainst Parnells. Also in picture Noel Sheridan, Club Vice Chairman (2002/03) and teammanager John Keating.

Dublin Under 18 camogie team celebrate Leinster success at Páirc Uí Mhurchú

Man down – Senior Football Championship v Ballinteer St John’s.

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Coaching Director, Enda McNulty (left) at the Football School of Excellence with fellow Armagh Stars Oisin McConville and Paul McCormack.

Sue Ramsbottom, Laois Football Star at the Ladies Football School of Excellence.

UNDER-21 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS 2003back (l-r): Conal Keaney, Chris Cremin, Ciaran Whitty, Kenneth Walkin, Craig Curtis, Shane Tully, Gavin O'Gara, Robert Maher, Daire Walsh,Mark Fitzgerald, Craig Mooney, Eoin Nevin, Stephen Hiney, Paul Manley. Front (l-r): Declan O'Mahony, Colm Leane, Darragh Shovlin, MurrayBreen, Conor McAteer, Conor Dolan (capt), Andrew Kerin, Cian Hore, Cian Hiney, Niall Clarke. Pic courtesy of the Evening Herald

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The second annual anything is always achallenge. You can be a bit complacentbecause you’ve done it before, but

there’s always a desire to improve on theoriginal. It was with such feelings that weset about organising the second annual FéileIomána for the last weekend in August.

We threw in the ball and agreed the for-mat in early June. It was going to be biggerthis year. Last year, it was for Under 9s andUnder 10s, but last year’s Under 10s werenow Under 11, and they weren’t going to beleft out. Liam Phelan was press-ganged intorepresenting the U9s, while Niall Desmondrepresented the U10s. In order to matchsuch talent, the under 11s needed to put inthree stooges - Kevin Geoghegan, John Ryanand Ciarán Maguire.

Preparation began in earnest after theGolf Classic and, very quickly, an importantlesson was learned about hurling down thecountry - they only play in even numbers.Niall made three phone calls, and he hadthree delighted participants for the under 10competition. Dúrlas Óg, James Stephensand Tullamore signed up straight away, andthe job was done. The under 9s and under11s, however, scoured hurling-speakingGaeldom to find teams in their age group.Eventually, Liam secured Ballyragget, Port-laoise and Bray Emmets for the under 9competition.

The U11s ran two separate competitions:on Saturday, St. Judes, Ballinteer St Johnsand Lucan Sarsfields came over to Cherry-field and had a good competition which was

eventually won out by St. Judes whobrought up to 40 players over from TymonPark.

The Under 9 competition was heading fora Dublin v Wicklow finale when tea wascalled. The Boden and Bray teams haddefeated their rivals from Kilkenny andLaois and were ready to square up to oneanother in the final. Everybody headedinto the hall for tea and sandwiches andcake. There were allegations that BridiePhelan was saving the best apple tart forthe Ballyragget contingent, but not enoughhard evidence was left to secure a convic-tion.

The final itself was a free-flowing affairwith excellent displays from both sides.There were great skills shown by many ofthe Boden crew including Conor McKeon,Ben Griffin, Conor Maher, Evan Flanagan,Eoin McKenna, Andrew Hughes and FionnMaguire. With such warriors in battle, itwas no surprise that the home team werethe eventual winners.

Kilkenny corner forward, Eddie Brennan,fresh from his destruction of Tipperary, wason hand to present sliotars and tee-shirts.Eddie was very complimentary of the skillsand commitment that he had seen and wasworried that Dubs would soon be overtakingKilkenny with players like these.

Next, it was the turn of the under 10s totake to the field. Each club was representedby not one but two teams, and separate com-petitions were run in Páirc Uí Mhurchú andin Cherryfield. Tullamore from Offaly, Dúr-

las Óg from Tipp, The Village (JamesStephens) from Kilkenny and the Bodenfrom Baile Atha Cliath gave battle for theglory of their parishes on opposite sides ofthe Firhouse Road.

Due to another hurling match takingplace that evening in Donnycarney, NiallDesmond was left to fill the role of Organis-er in Chief, Coach, Manager, Steward andCrowd Control Executive! But for the greathelp he received from parents of the players,especially Nicky Jermyn who did sterlingwork, it’s certain that Niall would have beenreduced to a blubbering mess in the middleof the field.

Paul Waters and Ned Flood managed thetwo Ballyboden teams in the absence ofPaddy & Paudie. Niall also received somevery encouraging remarks from denizens ofthe Marble City which helped revive hisdrooping spirits. Kevin Warren, who hasnever played hurling, spotted a crisis loom-ing and without discussion with anyone,grabbed the whistle and refereed some of thegames. No one seemed to notice his lack ofmatch practice.

Back on the field of play, both finals werecontested between Ballyboden and JamesStephens with the Noresiders narrowly win-ning out on both occasions. There were ter-rific displays of hurling from Piaras Griffin,Eoghan O’Neill, Brian McCarthy, AdamJermyn, Gavin Corrigan and JamieDesmond. Paul Doherty was probably Manof the Match in the final. Afterwards, every-body was fed courtesy of Una Johnston,

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Féile Iomána 2003 – “It’s even better the second time ’round”

says Ciarán Maguire

Féile Iomána 2003 – “It’s even better the second time ’round”

says Ciarán Maguire

Catherine Robinson, Yvonne Corrigan andthe whole team of parents. Sliotars and tee-shirts distributed and everybody retiredhappy.

Sunday dawned, bright and sunny and itwas the turn of the U11s. There was a greatgeographical spread with teams from Tipp(Moycarkey-Borris and Holycross-Ballyc-ahill), Kilkenny (St. Lachtains and Bennets-bridge), Antrim (St. John’s), Meath (Ash-bourne-Donoughmore), Laois (Colt) andDublin.

Boden came in as runners up in theirqualifying group being narrowly beaten bySt. Johns. We had to face the men from Moy-carkey-Borris in the semi-final as they hadwon the other group. The game was toughand tight until the last five minutes or sowhen the home team pulled away to win bysix points.

The scene was set for a great finalbetween Boden and St. John’s. The gamewas hard and close all the way through, andthe spectators were treated to a great dis-play of skill by both teams. St. John’s hadthe edge as the second half wore on, but themighty Boden men never gave up and playedsome of the best hurling they’ve ever played.In the final minute, Boden raised the greenflag from a free and pipped the boys fromBelfast by a point.

Club Senior Hurling captain, DarraghSpain, did the presentation to both finalistsand gave an inspiring talk to the lads urgingthem to wear their county jerseys with pride.

We were delighted that so many parents,club members and especially senior hurlerscame out to support the lads in the final.

Thanks to all who supported the weekend– Liam Carter, Juvenile Chairman attendedthroughout. Six of the under 15 hurlingteam including Liam McCarthy and AlanCarter refereed the games. Mick Ryan did agreat job as Road Safety Manager. The greatNed Slattery was, as usual, a rock through-out. He never complained once not evenwhen he was dragged out of bed at nineo’clock on Sunday morning. Special thanksare due to the catering teams headed byGeraldine Reynolds, Una Johnston andAngela Ryan who did a loves and fishes actand fed about 450 people over the weekend.

It must be nearly time to start planningFéile 2004 – John, have you booked thepitches yet?

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John Small and Mick Garry issue half time instructions to the U-9s.

Kilkenny All-Ireland and All-Star winner, Eddie Brennan presents prizes to the Bray Emmetscaptain watched by Liam Carter, Juvenile Committee Chairman and Ciarán Maguire.

Under-9s team with coaches Ciarán Maguire, Ray McKenna, Liam Phelan and John Maher.

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South Dublin FordCentre inject thedrive into the Under21A Football teamwhich won thechampionship.

At the launch of thesponsorship were Aidan Kane(Sales Manager) second fromleft, with Niall Clarke, LiamTully (team manager), ConorDolan (team captain) andDanny Griffin (ClubSponsorship Manager)

MUTEC sponsors ofthe Minor Hurlingteam that won theJames StephensTournament – thefirst Dublin winners

From left – Noel Sheridan,Ollie Hickey (mentor), JohnConnolly (MUTEC), BrianKennedy, Jimmy Galavan(mentor) and MartinDonohue (mentor)

Danny HorkanCostcutters – sparenothing on Junior BFootball teamBack left Brian Jennings,Brendan Sheehan, GerryBlake, Neil Brennan (mentor),Cillian Blake, PaulNaughton, Darren Gordon,Eoin Dillon, Michael Ryan,Derek Saville

Front left Mark Magahran,Peter Farrell, Ciaran Griffin,Craig Curtis, EddieO’Sullivan (manager),Darragh Shovlin, JohnnyWhite, Charlie Kennedy.

“Inever retired just nobody askedme to play anymore” is howTomás “Tom” Ó Riordáin

describes the way his playing careercame to an end at The ‘Boden. And whatage were you then? “54 years” – theanswer is flashed back with that charac-teristic twinkle in the eye of a man whoplayed hurling and football in threeprovinces.

He passed his 75th birthday last Octo-ber and in that space of time there hasseldom been a moment when the GAAwas far from his thoughts. A member ofthe club since 1971, Tom’s long associa-tion with Ballyboden St. Endas couldhave ended a few years after he joined.

“28 years ago in 1975, after playing agame in Scholarstown Road I suffered a

Tomás

Ó Riordáin Snr.– a member of the first adult hurling team

in the club to win a championship in 1973 on life in Lovely Leitrim and

how he joined the ’Boden

Anglo Celt (Cavan) 22nd January 1971Eamonn, Kathleen, Seán, Tom and Lily.

heart attack on the 7th of December. Ithappened in the car. I was carted off to Vin-cent’s Hospital. Tommy Furlong (Crumlin)was refereeing the match and he was justafter doing a first aid course. To this day hemaintains he saved my life. I came out ofHospital on Christmas Eve. Most peoplewould say what sort of eejit were you play-ing hurling at 47 but Dr. Risteárd Mulcahy– the heart man in Vincent’s – said youwere a lucky man you were playing. Hetold me ‘I don’t know how far you hit theball but when you get out make sure you hitit twice as far’.”

Life began for Tom in the town of Kilmal-lock in County Limerick in October 1928.He was the son of Sean T. Ó Riordáin, anactivist (First Galtee Battalion) in the War

of Independence who spent time in jail inWormwood Scrubs, Parkhurst and otherEnglish prisons in the lead up to the Trucein 1922. His mother was Josephine.

One of a family of six, Tom has two broth-ers and three sisters. Along with his broth-ers John (who passed away earlier this year)and Eamonn, they donned the colours of theKilmallock club. And in one year – 1945 –Tom played minor, junior and senior (ingoals) for the club – all at the age of 16.“John was a very good hurler but wasn’t asinterested as I was and Eamonn was a greattrier.”

He played minor hurling for Limerick in1946 and junior in 1947. His only countyhurling title in his native county was aminor award. “The Kilmallock club had arow with the South (Limerick) Board and asa result they withdrew all teams from com-petitions. This left John and myself free toplay with the next parish – Bulgaden - andthat’s who we won with. There was a greatcharacter there – Dan O’Brien - who pickedup strays from everywhere. I don’t think wewere legal at all.”

Success on the hurling front with Kilmal-lock in terms of championships didn’t mate-rialise but he did win a South LimerickJunior Football Championship in 1947against Galbally. “It was the greatest thrillof all time. We had two footballers and thir-teen hurlers – a Kerryman who was in theArmy in Kilmallock and the other fellow wasI think a rugby player. The Kerryman putme at midfield. He knew I was very fast sohe told me to run like hell when I got theball and then kick it. There was a hurricaneof a wind the same day and we were playingagainst it in the first half. We were only fivepoints down at half time - then we knew wehad a chance. About ten minutes into thesecond half we weren’t getting many scores.I got this ball and I remembered what yourman said to me. So I ran and this moun-tainy man came at me and out of solid fear Ikicked the ball up in the air – I never kickeda ball as far in my life. The goalkeeper andour full forward were after having a ‘barney’and the two of them were flat on their facesin the square and the ball hopped into thenet. We got several scores after that.”

After National School in Kilmallock, hecycled the five and a half miles to and fromthe CBS in Charleville during the height of

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World War II rationing. The school had afine hurling team and reached two HartyCup semi-finals but unfortunately St. Flan-nan’s of Ennis powered by Jimmy Smithended their dreams.

Before he had a chance to do his LeavingCertificate, he succeeded in getting a job in1947 as a Post Office clerk and was postedto Boyle, County Roscommon to assist withrelief duties. About four weeks later he wasswitched to Ballina, County Mayo where notmuch more than 24 hours later he lined outfor the home club in the Mayo County Hurl-ing Final – which they won.

After Ballina, he was posted to Balli-nasloe – “the 3 Bs” as Tom calls them –Boyle, Ballina and Ballinasloe - and soonjoined forces with the local club. He quicklycaught the attention of the Junior andSenior Galway selectors. He won a Con-nacht Junior Championship with Galwaywhen they beat Roscommon in 1948 andwere unlucky to be beaten by Limerick by apoint in the semi-final. He was also addedto the Senior panel for the 1948 All-Irelandsemi final against Waterford. The Munsterside went on to win the Liam McCarthy Cupthat year. Colm Corless was one of Tom’steammates on the Junior side.

The Friday before the Waterford game,Tom was told to report for duty to Carrick-on-Shannon the following Monday. “WhenI arrived in Carrick, I was told I shouldn’tbe there. So I took a week’s holidays andheaded back to Ballinasloe. I returned toCarrick-on-Shannon, told I shouldn’t bethere but said I’d stay for a couple of daysand that turned out to be 23 years. I had nowish to go to Leitrim. There was no hurlingthere – it was like going to Siberia.”

with Galway) reaching an All-Ireland finalagainst Meath in 1970. For 22 years he wasa member of the St. Mary’s Club winning 8county senior hurling medals and one seniorfootball award.

He also played senior football for hisadopted county and won a Connacht Juniortitle in 1962 when they beat Mayo by 2 – 11to 2 – 7 in Ballinamore. Playing at left cor-ner forward, the Longford Leader reportedthat “O’Riordan tried hard to outwit theMayo star Willie Casey.”

During the late 1950s, Leitrim had a finesenior football team and reached four suc-cessive Provincial finals from 1957 to 1960going down to Galway on each occasion.This was the golden era of Packy McGartyand Cathal Flynn who were prominentmembers of many Railway Cup teams. AsCounty Secretary, Tom was a selector. Poli-tics was never far from the agenda. “Pick-ing the Railway Cup team was the best ofall. There was no point in going to the Gal-way or Mayo selectors, I always did a dealwith Sligo and Roscommon to vote for eachother. If we didn’t Galway and Mayo wouldhave dominated the team. I never failed tohave a Leitrim man on the team for the 17years I was selector. Connacht haven’t wonone since 1969 and I travelled to Americawith the team that year.”

He was never asked to be a selector on theConnacht Hurling team, a fact that stillrankles with him. “Galway dominated that.If I was good enough to be a sub on the 1948team, I was surely worth a consideration aswere Sean Clohessy (Kilkenny) who workedin Mayo as well as Jackie Power of Limerickwho was also based in Mayo for a spell.”

Life was never less than interesting. “IfI told you all the stories – I’d end up in theHigh Court.” One that he allows to filterout concerns a Sligo referee who was incharge of a Junior Football final. “He wasdoing all right until he gives a penalty toGalway. At half time I went in to him andhe said to me ‘how I am doing’ – I saidyou’re doing fine but what the **** did yougive the penalty for. ‘I thought I was givingit to Leitrim’, he replied. He says then tome ‘tell the full forward the first ball hegets to go to ground in the second half andI’ll make up for it’. I called the full-forwardaside and explained things to him. What Ididn’t know was that the selectors hadchanged your man to centre forward andbrought in the centre forward who knewnothing about the deal. But as luck wouldhave the first ball he got he went to groundand we got our penalty. ”

Galway 1948 All-Ireland semi-final v Waterford - Tom is the first player on the left in thefront row.

The local club in Carrick had disbandedthat year (1948). “Things were in total dis-array and the County Board wasn’t muchbetter. I ran a Sweep in the Post Office andcleared off all debts and got the club back onits feet again. As a result I was nominatedfor Secretary for the Leitrim County Boardwithout my knowledge. Under protest I waselected in 1953 and remained in the positionuntil 1971.”

He started hurling in Leitrim and wasalso Secretary to that Board. Tom has thedistinction of being possibly the only Coun-ty Secretary to also play at the same timefor his county. He went on to win two Con-nacht Junior titles (to add to the one he won

From left: Christy Ring and Tom in Carrick.

Christy Ring with Eamonn and Seán Ó Riordáin.

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During his time in Leitrim, the greatChristy Ring was a frequent visitor to Tomand Lily’s home in Carrick-on-Shannon.Mick Mackey was also another who wouldcall when on trips from Ardnacrusha toArigna. On the day that the photographswith Christy Ring, shown in this feature,were taken, the Ahane maestro was also inCarrick but time prevented him calling tothe Ó Riordáin household. “I could havehad the greatest photograph of them all. AsI said afterwards – the three greatesthurlers in Ireland!!!!”

While in Leitrim, Tom met Lily and theymarried in 1951 and have eleven children –all born in Leitrim. Presently the grand-children tally stands at 29 and this is oncourse to rise to 30 next May. The entirefamily gathers each St. Stephens Day inCypress Drive and a certain Santa Claushas been known to make a late arrival.Lily has her own sporting distinction win-ning the first ever Leitrim Senior Camogiechampionship with Carrick-on-Shannon.

The family pecking order runs like this -Kathleen is the oldest, mother of Orla Col-reavy of the Dublin Senior Ladies footballteam; Seán, Eamonn, Maura (whose daugh-ter Aoife Tobin plays camogie for theBoden), Una, Siobhán, Gráinne, Rory,Tomás, Niall and Orla – the last three beingtriplets.

Tom and his sons Sean and Eamonn linedout together for Leitrim and St. Mary’s andalong with Rory, Tomás Óg and Niall – allfive sons and father have played for Bally-boden St. Endas and all have played forLeitrim.

Despite his earlier misgivings about mov-ing to a county with no hurling tradition,Tom grew to love Leitrim and it was with alot of sadness that he left the county whenpromotion caused him to move to Dublin in1971.

His lasting legacy to the county howeverwas Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon. Tom was the major mover ingetting that project to a successful conclu-sion and he compiled a fine programme forthe official opening on 24 May 1964. Washis job in the Department of Posts andTelegraphs a help? “Of course it was, shureI didn’t cost the County Board a bob!”

Before he left Leitrim, he became heavilyinvolved with the GAA’s early initiatives atintroducing a more structured approach tocoaching. As a member of the GAA’s Coach-ing Council, along with Donie Nealon, Fr.Tommy Maher, Des “Snitchie” Ferguson –

Tom was active in the influential coursesthat took place in Gormanston College inthe late 1960s.

From 1981 to 1983, he was AssistantDirector to Mick Kinsella of Wexford at theChristy Ring Hurling School of Excellencewhich was held in Carraig na bhFear; St.Kieran’s College and Gormanston Collegeover those years with the aim of boostinghurling particularly in weaker counties. In1984, he took on the job of managing theDown minor hurling team and ended upmeeting Limerick powered by the likes ofGary Kirby in the All-Ireland Semi Final.Later he took charge of the Down Seniorteam.

When he left Leitrim in 1971, John D.Hickey of the Irish Independent wrote atribute and commented “I will be surprisedif he is not ‘signed’ by some club in theMetropolis that needs an uplift.” Manyclubs did in fact make approaches exceptBallyboden St. Endas which in 1971 did nothave any adult hurling. But a Leitrimacquaintance by the name of Noel Mulhern,a Garda who played football for the clubinvited Tommy along for a game and therest as they say is history.

In 1972, the first junior hurling team wasformed in the club boosted by the arrival ofa number of players from St. Columbas inCrumlin most notably Nicky and NoelKeary and Martin and Paddy Kenny.Backed by other stalwarts like MikeSweeney, the late Dan Matthews, Jim

Cremin, Kevin Griffin, the Dohertys, LiamHyland – the club had the makings of agood junior team.

Tom was the first Secretary of the Hurl-ing Section and although he played astormer in the Championship semi final of1973, he was on the bench when the teamwon the championship beating St. Ita’s ofPortrane in the final. This was the firstadult hurling title won by the club – all ofthirty years ago this year. His son Eamonnplayed in goals.

He was a Board delegate for a number ofyears, served on the club’s Executive Com-mittee and was the first Schools Coachappointed by the club when he worked forabout 5 years in Coláiste Éanna to be suc-ceeded by P. J. Donohue.

Writing in the programme for the open-ing of Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada almostforty years ago in May 1964, the thenUachtaráin of the GAA, Alf Ó Muirí wrote“the new more complete club which I wouldlike to see would be one which would pro-vide the rallying point, the social centre, fora district…It would make the local GAA animportant force in local life and it wouldallow the National influence to reach, notonly a few players but all the people of a dis-trict.” These are sentiments Tomás ÓRiordáin would subscribe to and he hasplayed a major part in helping them reachfulfillment in Ballyboden St. Endas and inLeitrim.

30 Years Ago - Junior Hurling Champions 1973 Back (l-r) Kevin Cardiff (mentor), Liam Hyland. Jim Cremin, Sean Doherty, Kevin Griffin, MickDoherty, "Golly" Galvin, Paddy Kenny, Noel Keary, Mickey O'Sullivan, Bernard Droney, Tomás Ó Riordáin. Front (l-r) Brian Brennan, DanMatthews (RIP), Martin Kenny, Louis Duffy, Nicky Keary, Tom Harty, Paddy Maddock, Denis Donegan, Ted Doherty, Eamonn Ó Riordáin,Eamonn Coleman

20 Years Ago - Senior Hurling Team - First Appearance in Championship Final 1983. Tom'stwin sons Niall and Tomás and Eamonn played in the 1983 County Senior Final in Croke Parkon the occasion of the first appearance of a club team in a Senior Championship Final. Back(l-r) Niall Ó Riordáin, Jim Kennedy, Mick Kennedy, Tom Brown, Aidan Power, John Cum-mins, John Hayes, Tony Donohoe, John Kirwan, Mick McCarthy, Kevin Griffin, Niall Scolard.Front (l-r) Ray Glynn, Eamonn Ó Riordáin, Martin Donohue, Paul Coffey, P. J. Donohue, TonyGleeson, Joe Ryan, Ken Ryan, Tomás Ó Riordáin.

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Camogie goes Gaisce… Beirt imreóirícamogaiochta Fiona Ní Shúilleabháin agusCliona Ní Giollagáin a fuair gradam GaisceUachtarain na hÉireann i mbliana. Tá an beirtcailiní ag freastal ar Coláiste Iosagáin agus táFiona ina Captaen Spoirt i mbliana sa scoil.

The Lone Spectator… Noel Callan is aregular supporter at all games no matterwhat the grade. Noel is a former playerand Executive Committee member of theclub.

Bill Daly, Senior Ladies Football Manager –Pondering his next move

Santa’s Grotto… a wonderful creation enjoyed by Ciara O’Byrne and Evan Soave and allwho visited – well done to Noel Browne and his team of workers.

Santa Claus as popular as ever… Santa Clauswas an enormous hit with the young and theyoung at heart when over 300 children turned up tomeet him. Contrary to rumour Santa did not askthe children “have you paid your membership???

The Ballyboden St. Endas Club Lotto Year 5 has a total prize fund of €110,000. The proceeds areearmarked for coaching development. Results to date can be accessed at www.bodengaa.ie. At the launchwere from left: Dan Browne (Lotto Committee), Emma O'Regan and Cathal Macarthy of MacarthyAuctioneers and Estate Agents - sponsors of the Lotto Brochure.