“Were On the One Road”
The drums were still beating and the flags still flying after the fantastic win last Sunday in Intermediate Championship Hurling final and the 2 days of celebration that followed ended when the panel were all called back to training Tuesday night. Dave Fogarty had a chat and put them through their paces. Nicky hovered around checking everyone for injuries, giving words of wisdom, words of encouragement, words to get the lads focussed again, Niall Paget is carrying a knock, Stephen Costello a sore ankle, Gary McAuley all stitched up after his heroic’s last week and the rest recovering from the weekend. All should be ok for our trip to Arklow on Sunday (2.30) to play Wicklow Champions, Newcastle.
Trip to Wicklow in the Leinster Club Championship – a first for the Club! Theresa and Ann making more flags, Buses are being organised with Liam Keating, Noel our Chairman thinks we should get 2, a lot of supporters want to attend, spare seats in cars are being checked out. Everyone who wants a lift will get a lift; no one gets left behind, not in this Club.
Someone asks, “When’s the last time we played in Wicklow”? The Junior hurlers played a friendly a couple of weeks ago. Pretty tough game but we know very little about this opposition. Memories of the early eighties when we travelled to Knockananna a number of times. Great trips, in the hazy days of summer organised by Matt Keane, our adopted son from Offaly. Play a match, went on the beer, had a sing-song, the craic was ninety, even hazier memories of the trip back home on the bus, but there was a story about a couple of kegs in the bus and Ray O’Reilly singing “Billy don’t be a hero”.
But this is not for the craic, this is history, this is the first time the Club has represented Dublin in the Club championship and we want this, we belong here and we want to stay. No club from Dublin has won this before, dare we think we could be the first.
Sunday – The Big Day – The convoy headed off about 12.30 all arriving around 2. How much in? A tenner, people lying down in back of cars, crouching down in coaches, the Barrs have arrived, something’s never change. Who brought the soup? We’ll need it at half time, as we’re in the wilds of Wicklow, gales blowing, rain in the air. Eilish Langan arrives, a Dublin hurling supporter, follows them all over the Country, probably had her best year with them this year, and now she has the chance to follow her Club, the Club her father helped to found in 1945. She looks trilled.
Teams are on the pitch, looks like Nicky has made a few changes from last week, Niall Paget hasn’t recovered, Patrick (Pado) Whelan replaces him, Christy (Git) Doyle is starting as is Brendan Quinn, Thomas Lynch is not playing, well he is getting Married this week and we don’t want him losing his good looks with a bang to the head. Some other changes as well. Nicky has made positional changes also, we trust his judgement, well he has got us this far. Playing against the strong wind this half we could do with a good start.
The opposition looks tough, with a few little fliers in their team, we get a chance to go in front with an early free but the strong wind takes it just wide, hard luck Stephen. The wind is going to cause problems today. Newcastle get stuck into our lads, their No.7, (someone shouts ‘Its Tomo Kelly’s long lost brother’ – 5” 2’ with a chicken chest, throwing his weight around) striking Gerard O’Reilly across the legs, Gerry gives him a LOOK, well done Gerry , no retaliation. Newcastle get a number of frees, scoring 2, 10 minutes gone, were down 2 and haven’t scored, the conditions are giving us problems.
After 11 minutes we’re on the score board, Stephen Costello putting over a free, they score again 3-1 down, Trollier scores brilliantly after a great move and Stephen puts over another free – we’re level. We seem to be taking control, Gary McAuley once again giving everything, harrying, chasing and tackling not giving an inch. Gerard O’Reilly winning most puck outs, our forwards starting to run at their defence. The ball is being worked well into our lads up front, then in one such move, one of our goal hero’s from last week, Carl Turner hits the back of the net once again – GOAL. On the attack again, weak shot, looks likes its going wide, Carl dives in and with a flick -GOAL. 2 minutes, 2 goals, just what we needed against the wind. Newcastle try hard to get back into it, their full forward brakes through, He’s going for goal, Our keeper Lar Sweetman (all Ireland winner with the Dublin junior footballers last year) stands tall, full forward strikes well, Lar saves brilliantly. Both teams trade a couple of more scores. We go in at half time 2-5 to 0-5 up. Sandwiches start to appear, Soup, sausages, drumsticks and other goodies are passed around. We could get used to this.
Second half, with the wind at our backs we should hold on to win, but Newcastle have already beaten the Wexford Champions with a good second half so we must be careful not to get over confident.
A bit of an anti-climax, the lads click, Newcastle can’t cope with our superb teamwork and hurling, Stephen is on song hitting over 65’s and frees, Ger Dodrill and Trollier bang over a few more, we could have, should have, scored even more. 8 points added to no reply, we coasting, Nicky makes 5 changes, Team plays even stronger. In the 58th minute Newcastle get a score from a soft free, their first score this half, then in injury they get a penalty, think the Ref felt sorry for them, but once again it’s saved brilliantly by Lar and it’s all over.
Final Score Naomh Fionnbarra 2-13 to Newcastle 0-6.
Semi-Final in two weeks, we play the Borris In Ossary who beat Wolftones Mostrim 1-20 to 0-9 . Match to be in Dublin. Can’t wait.
Were Still On The One Road.
Lotto result
No’s 5,12,15.
No Online winner Next week Jackpot €2800
Lucky Dip winners
Kim Curtin
Celine Talbot
Ray Byrne
Beau + Davin
Online – Niall + Grainne
Noamh Fionnbarra Blog
Do you know you can go to www.naomhfionnbarra.ie and blog. You can leave comments, wish the teams well or leave messages. If you need any news passed around club it is a good way to do it. With the semi-final of the Leinster Championship coming up leave some goodwill messages for the team. They will be printed off and put up in club.
Naomh Fionnbarra Annual Christmas Draw 2009
1st Prize €3000
2nd Prize €2000
3rd Prize €1500
4th Prize €1000
6th to 13th prize All €500
Draw will take place in Clubhouse On Thursday 17th December
Limited to 400 Tickets
Tickets €50 Each
You will be able to purchase tickets on www.locallotto.ie and just search for Naomh Fionnbarra. Hopefully we can also set up a link on www.naomhfionnbarra.ie to purchase tickets. You will need a credit/laser card and an email address. This Draw is one of our main sources of income and usually sells out quickly so get in early on the internet or see your usual ticket seller for tickets.
Entertainment This Week
Every Thursday Sing A Long with Bobby Smith
Friday 6th Karaoke
Saturday 7th Smack the Monkey
Balled Session on Sunday Afternoon
Sunday 8th Cool Breeze
Annual Karaoke Talent Competition.
Its that time of the year again and The Cubs Annual Karaoke Competition kicks off on November 6th
Once again it is being run by Paul and Ann and the prize money is €50 each week for the heat winner and €1000 for the overall winner.
Notice’s:
The Juvenile AGM is to be held on 9th November and all reports are to be returned to juvenile
secretary ASAP.
The Clubs AGM is also to be held on 6th December and NOT 26th November as you were told last week , and Mentors are reminded that their reports on their teams must be sent in by 18th to be sure to be included. Keep an eye on your post for nomination papers and return ASAP
And Finally, bad (Blond) Joke of the week
‘Oh, I’m sorry,’ the blonde apologizes, ‘do you want me to start over and talk slower?’
