A look back at the year that was 2013
- Dec 19,2013
A look back at the year that was 2013 … by Patricia Monahan
January:
The month of January was really all about administration and getting Dublin back up and running following the delay in the appointment of an incoming executive committee. Newly appointed Chairperson Paul McLoughlin and his fellow committee members took charge of the County’s affairs on the 10th of January. As the newly appointed committee settled into their various roles, Inter County trials had gotten under way and the search was on to find the players who would don the much loved and coveted sky blue jersey in 2013.
On the club scene we welcomed clubs Naomh Fionnbarra, St Brendans and St Vincents to the family fold of Dublin LGFA. We also saw Croi Ro Naofa and St Finians of Newcastle launch their juvenile sections by fielding teams at U14 level a step on the road to their continued growth and development.
February:
The TESCO Homegrown NFL commenced and Dublin under newly appointed Manager Paul (Pablo) Gilheaney began their league campaign against old foes Meath. The game which was played before a sizeable crowd in Russell Park saw Dublin edge out a morale boosting two point win. Next up was another home game the opposition this time was a young and enthusiastic Donegal team. In abysmal, wet and windy conditions a Geraldine McLaughlin inspired Donegal saw off the Dublin challenge with the Ulster side returning home from the newly furnished home of Parnells GAA, Chanel college, with a six point win. A week later, Dublin returned to winning wins when on the road they clocked up a valuable two point victory over a Laois side who had up to this point had been unbeaten in the competition.
The Dublin minors commenced their championship campaign vying to retain their All Ireland and Leinster titles. Dublin in their opening game of their 2013 season saw off the challenge of Kildare before a large crown in Blakestown by 3-17 to 2-06.
Meanwhile on the club scene affiliations and team entries were coming in thick and fast. It was soon becoming evident that 2013 was going to be a bumper year for Dublin clubs as the number of teams / players was on the rise. The increase in membership is a credit to all the hard work going on at grass roots levels but also another challenge for the County’s administration and structure.
March:
Our juvenile club season got under way in March with approx. six and half thousand players from U9 up to and including minor playing Ladies Gaelic football. Due to the popularity of our sport especially at the tail end of our association a new U8 competition will be introduced in 2014 to cater for those girls who wish to make the move sooner from the club nursery to more structured games.
On the County scene our U16 and U14 Inter County squads commenced their respective championships. The U16’s enjoyed victories over Meath, Kildare and Wexford while the U14’s lost out to Meath and to Kildare - this result could have gone either way with Dublin giving an impressive performance throughout the sixty minutes with Kildare’s form arriving late to edge past Dublin in injury time.
Our senior team were now fully immersed in their NFL campaign with the Dubs clocking up a mixed bag of results during the month of March. Dublin travelled to Cork to face the mighty Rebels in a match which saw Cork dominant, forward Valerie Mulcahy was in superb form throughout the game.
Despite the loss to Cork there was a plus side out of the trip to Lee Side for Dublin as both Denise Masterson and Siobhan McGrath returned to Inter County duties both togged out for the Dubs against Cork, giving the management and the squad a major boost for the season ahead.
Dublin next went onto bag three valuable league points at home to Tyrone in a match which was once again played in adverse weather conditions this time at the home of UCD, Belfield. In their penultimate league fixture Dublin totally succumbed to the then reigning league champions Monaghan in a display which was out of character for the sky blues.
Our minors had a comprehensive win over Wicklow 4-30 to 0-01, the match and outcome was of no benefit to either side as the Leinster minor championship moved on to round three.
April.
One of the highlights of the Dublin Ladies Gaelic football calendar is without question, Feile Atha Cliath. Once again our Feile competition was being proudly sponsored by Everbuild who have been associated with Dublin Feile since 2008, this partnership is now synonymous with this fantastic festival of U14 Ladies football.
A big thank you to Matt O’Dell and Everbuild for their continued support of Dublin Ladies Football, their funding of Féile is appreciated by everyone involved with the competition.
2013 saw 49 teams participating in Feile with over 1083 players involved in the thick of the action, the group stages took place on Saturday 13th of April in St Sylvester’s and Naomh Mearnóg GAA clubs while all the finals were played the following day in Lawless Memorial Park, Swords home of Fingallians GAA.
Congratulations to all our divisional winners, Foxrock Cabinteely (Div 1), St Brigids (Div 2), Cuala (Div 3), St Oliver Plunketts ER (Div 4), St Jude’s (Div 5) and Na Fianna B (Div 6). Foxrock Cabinteely went on to capture the National Féile All Ireland title beating Corofin of Galway in the final.
Organising the group stages of the Féile competition in one centralised venue will have to be reviewed for 2014 as the tremendous growth this competition has undergone over the last year or two is testing the boundaries on pitch resources, facilities, referees and administration to the max. Our FéÃle committee will require more assistance of more clubs in order to oversee the smooth running of this splendid competition.
Dublin welcomed Mayo to the capital for their final NFL fixture of the 2013 league despite an improved team performance by the Dubs it was the Connacht side now managed by former Dublin manager, Peter Clarke who left Portmarnock with a five point win. Dublin’s focus now turned to their Leinster championship campaign which was over two months away.
Meanwhile the Dublin U16’s were ticking along nicely in their Leinster campaign picking up two victories over Offaly and Laois respectively. The U14’s also got back to winning ways with a fine result over Laois. The minor team continued to impress with victories over Wexford and Laois respectively setting the Dubs up for another Leinster Minor final meeting with old rivals, Meath.
Fintan O’Curry was beavering away in the background diligently putting together his Dublin U21 squad for the forthcoming inaugural U21 Ladies championship. Preparations were somewhat hampered by the timing of this new competition which was to run over six weeks from May to June clashing directly with both college and state exams therefore curtailing players availability to the Dublin cause.
May:
This month saw the renewal of our sponsorship deal with TESCO Homegrown. Since 2011, Tesco have been playing a supporting role in the Dublin Ladies Club Championship. Tesco Homegrown are the title sponsor of all Dublin Ladies Football Club Championships from the U/13 Championship right up to and including the Senior Championship.
In addition to sponsoring the Dublin Ladies Club Football Championships, Tesco Home-grown also supports Dublin clubs through a number of initiatives including a sponsored jersey scheme, player's awards, fundraising activities and support of the Championship finals.
Our adult club championships from senior to Junior B commenced in May with thirty six clubs setting out to reach their respective holy grail come August / September.
This month the first of our TESCO Homegrown Player of the Month awards was presented to Nichola Murphy (Browne) of Croi Ro Naofa while Fingallians picked up the Club of the Month award.
May was a month were Dublin contested three Leinster finals winning two, our minors defeated Meath 2-14 to 0-04 to retain their Leinster crown. Pat Kane’s U16 team had a tough task against Kildare in their provincial decider but a strong second half display saw the young Dubs winning out in the end by 4-10 to 1-08. Our Dublin U14’s gave a brave and gallant display in their Leinster final clash against a rejuvenated Westmeath side, losing out marginally in the end by 3-07 to 3-09.
Dublin also commenced their U21 campaign in May picking up a fine win over Wexford only to fall to near neighbour’s Meath in their second round clash.
June:
Our juvenile season took its annual summer break but our adult leagues, cups and higher end championship games where in full swing. Our TESCO Homegrown Player of the Month award was presented to Martha Byrne of Cuala while Foxrock Cabinteely picked up the Club of the Month award for June.
Our U21’s bowed out of the championship following a heavy defeat to Laois , a huge effort had been given to the cause by both management and players alike but with the timing of the competition causing conflict as it stands going forward the same issues will arise again unless addressed directly and head on by Croke Park.
Out in Portmarnock the senior team got their Leinster championship campaign off to a flying start with a 3-17 to 1-12 victory over a well drilled Kildare team. The game which was played before a sizeable crowd was a fast paced encounter with a number of Dublin players on the score sheet leading the way was Lyndsey Davey who bagged a personal tally of 1-05.
Dublin scorers v Kildare: Lyndsey Davey 1-05, Natalia Hyland 1-03 (1f), Sinead Goldrick 1-01, Sinead Aherne 0-03 (1f), Noelle Healy 0-02, Amy McGuinness, Orlagh Egan, Elaine Kelly 0-01 each
Dublin would now face Meath in the provincial decider which was moved to Saturday 14th of July to avoid a clash with the GAA provincial decider involving the same two Counties, Dublin and Meath the following day in Croke Park. With meetings and on- going discussions taking place amongst all Gaelic games associations maybe one day not so far away both senior provincials deciders from the two footballing codes will feature on the same bill in Croke Park – this level of publicity would provide Ladies football with a brilliant promotional platform.
Meanwhile this month the pride of the County where Foxrock Cabinteely who defeated Corofin of Galway to win the Féile All Ireland title, final score in Celtic Park (Derry) was Foxrock Cabinteely 5-03 Corofin 1-05.
July:
Our TESCO Homegrown Player of the Month award for July was presented to Niamh Rickard of Fingallians while Trinity Gaels picked up the Club of the Month award.
The TG4 Leinster senior final was played in sweltering heat in Dr Cullen Park Carlow, Dublin saw off the challenge of Meath with a 3-14 to 0-09 win. A number of Dublin players gave fine performances on the day in the sky blue jersey however the Player of the Match award went to Noelle Healy of St Brigids.
Dublin Scorers against Meath were: Lindsay Peat 2-01, Sinead Aherne 1-2, Noelle Healy 0-05, Lyndsay Davey 0-03, Amy McGuinness, Orlagh Egan, Siobhan Woods 0-1 each.
Conor Barry’s, Dublin minor team travelled north to take on Donegal in Breffni Park the score line from this encounter ended up trending on Twitter as the girls in blue clocked up an impressive 10-17 to 3-06 win over the Ulster champions. The win set Dublin up for an third All Ireland minor final appearance in a row their opponents this time around would be Galway who had seen off the challenge of Cork in their semi-final.
August:
August was to be one of the most dramatic months on the playing field for the Capital since the Associations foundation way back in 1984.
On August 5th Dublin faced Galway in the Minor All Ireland final, the game which was played before a huge crowd turned out to an absolute thriller. Cian NÃ Churraoin's injury-time point salvaged a draw for Galway, holders Dublin had come from eleven points down to almost snatch victory at the death when sub Margaret Mohan and wing-forward Carla Rowe netted stoppage-time goals. In an incredible first half NÃ Churraoin, Emma Reaney and Shauna Hynes had all goaled to leave Galway 3-5 to 0-3, clear approaching the break.
Shortly after half-time, Leah Mullins dragged Dublin back into contention with a scrappy goal from close range. Dublin inched their way back before Mohan and Rowe struck to turn the game on its head. It looked like there was more heartbreak on the cards for Galway against Dublin but NÃ Churraoin stepped forward with a fine point from play to level the game.
The final score Dublin 3-10 Galway 3-10, Scorers for Dublin: C Rowe 1-2 (0-2f), M Mohan 1-1, L Mullins 1-0, M Davoren 0-2, M Lamb, C McGuigan, É Rutledge, M McGrath and K Dwyer 0-1 each.
The replay would take place on August 14th in Cusack Park, Mullingar meanwhile as the County eagerly awaited the minor replay on the 10th of August, Dublin’s U16 team booked their place in the All -Ireland decider with a 6-13 to 0-02 win over Cavan. The half time score was 0-06 to 0-02 with the Dubs turning up the heat in the second half keeping the Ulster championship scoreless for the second period. Round Towers Clondalkin ace forward Amy Conroy and St Margaret’s Emma Colgan both came good for the blues in the second half with both players bagging a couple of well taken goals.
Dublin Scorers: Emma Colgan, 2-5(1f), Amy Conroy 2-3, Aoife Kane 0-03, Lucia Hughes 1-00, Hannah O'Neill 1-00, Shauna O'Hara 0-02
Will anyone ever forget the drama that unfolded in Cusack Park on Wednesday the 14th of August?
All-Ireland Minor ladies football final replay, Galway 3-13 Dublin 2-14
Super sub Leanne Walsh netted in the eighth minute of stoppage time to clinch the All-Ireland minor ladies football title for Galway in Mullingar. Dublin had netted two last-gasp goals in a thrilling drawn encounter in Nenagh but this time, it was Galway who raised two green flags in additional time, to stun the champions in a superb replay.
Dublin's dreams of back-to-back All-Ireland crowns were dashed in dramatic fashion in front of a bumper Cusack Park attendance. Boosted by second half goals from Leah Mullins and Kate Dwyer, in the space of 20 seconds, the Sky Blues were in cruise control. They led by seven points on three occasions in the second half but still Galway refused to yield as referee John Niland added on a huge amount of extra-time for stoppages.
The Tribeswomen needed a Ciana NÃ Churraoin free to salvage a draw at the first time of asking but there was more late drama. In the sixth minute of injury time, Louise Ward banged home her second goal for Galway to cut the gap back to just a single point, 2-13 to 2-14.
And there was still time for one more decisive twist as Walsh, introduced in the second minute of stoppage time for Reaney, struck gold with a low angled drive across the boughs of Emer Nà Éafa and into the bottom corner. Like its predecessor, this was a game that had almost everything, with each team losing a player to the sin-bin in the second half.
The sides were level, 1-6 to 0-9, at the end of a first half that was level four times. Inspired by Rowe, Dublin cruised into a 0-6 to 0-1 but Ward netted a superb 17th minute individual goal to haul Galway back into contention. Three minutes later, Ward had a chance to raise another green flag but the influential centre forward screwed a penalty wide. Divilly hauled Galway level, and put them ahead, with three unanswered points but three from player of the match Rowe had Dublin 0-9 to 1-4 clear.
That was before points from Megan Kelly and the lively Divilly hauled Galway level at the break.
On August 24th it was a Dublin v Cork double bill in Birr as both the senior team and our U16’s would once more face the might of the rebel County, Cork.
In the senior clash it was Cork who produced a remarkable comeback against Dublin to book their place in the semi-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship. Dublin looked on course for a landmark victory over Cork in the second half as they led by 2-12 to 0-9.
But after Sinead Aherne popped over a point to put the Sky Blues nine points in front, they would not score again for the remainder of the game. Instead, All-Ireland champions Cork ran riot with a run of 1-10 without reply in the final twenty minutes to clinch a sensational four-point win.
As Dublin supporters sat in the stands in Birr dumbstruck by Eamon Ryan’s rebels second half come- back Pat Kane’s young Dub chargers took to the field to take on another Cork side this time in the All –Ireland U16 final.
Dublin got the dream start in the final when Emma Colgan scored an early goal for the blues but Cork soon settled with Eimear Scally converting a number of frees to bring her side back into contention.
Cork kept their domination up with another score from Hannah Looney to put them ahead by a point. Cork maintained possession and pushed their lead out further when Kate Leneghan netting a goal. To their credit Dublin kept digging deep and in doing so tagged on a couple of points and kept playing away their efforts were eventually rewarded when Shauna O'Hara got Dublin’s second goal to bring the gap in scores to just three points.
However, Cork soon hit back with Leneghan bagging another goal with two minutes left in the half Cork had two frees awarded to them which were both taken and converted by the in -form Scally.
Just before the half time break Leneghan took another Cork point leaving the half time score 3-08 to 2-02 in favour of Cork.
The Rebels wasted no time in getting the second half underway with two very quick goals from Scally and Leneghan to bring their lead right up to sixteen points. Dublin via O'Hara tagged on a free to give the blues a much needed score. Shortly after Dublin’s, Hannah O'Neill scored her first point since coming on as a substitution at half time. Cork's Niamh Duggan tagged on another point to push Corks lead further ahead.
Dublin battled hard with substitute Ann Marie Troy knocking over a point under pressure but as Cork made a substitution bringing on Evie Casey for Abbie Scannell, Rebecca McDonnell scored a goal for Dublin. With just 5 minutes to go in the game Cork's Casey scored another goal and this brought the full time score to 6-09 to 3-05 in favour of the Rebel County, heartbreak on the double for the Dubs!
While Our Inter County season had come to a dramatic conclusion the club scene was now reaching the ultimate stage – County final time!
In the Tesco Home-grown Intermediate final last year’s Junior All Ireland champions Thomas Davis overcame the challenge of Kilmacud Crokes by 1-12 to 1-10 to win back to back County titles. Fellow Tallaght club, Croi Ro Naofa saw off the challenge of Man O War by 2-13 to 0-014 to claim the Junior crown while twice runners up St Jude’s narrowly hung on against O’Tooles to win the Junior B title by the narrowest of margins, 2-05 to 1-07.
Our TESCO Homegrown Player of the Month award for August was presented to Siobhan O’Connor from Man O War while Whitehall Colmcille picked up the Club of the Month award.
September:
Our clubs came to the fore in the month of September as our adult competitions were coming to their exciting conclusion our juvenile championships were just beginning following their summer break – it was all to play for!!
The senior final between Na Fianna and Fingallians was an exciting affair the level of football on display was top drawer. This clash had everything, huge crowd, cracking goals, dramatic sin bins, a spectacle from start to finish. In the end an Amy McGuinness late second half goal which was followed up by a Fiona Hudson free earned the Swords club a replay and everyone another day out in Parnell Park, final score 2-06 apiece.
The replay which was played once more before a large crown and was also streamed live over the internet was to be classic display of football by Fingallians although to their credit Na Fianna inspired by Orlagh Egan never gave up the chase taking the game to Fingallians time and time again.
Dublin minor Niamh Rickard gave a commanding performance well beyond her years in doing so picked up the player of the match award.
Fingallians v Na Fianna:
Emer Ni Hefa, Deborah Doherty, Sinead Finnegan, Sinead O'Mahony, Aoife O'Reilly, Fiona Hudson, Laura McGahan , Claire Murtagh, Rachel Brogan, Niamh Rickard, Amy McGuinness, Ann Marie McDonagh, Rebecca Davey, Nicola Fitzgerald, Lyndsey Davey.
Subs: Siobhan Melvin for Doherty, Denise McKenna for Fitzgerald, Victoria Browne for R Davey.
Scorers: Amy McGuinness 1-05, Lyndsey Davey 0-04, Ann Marie McDonagh 1-01, Niamh Rickard 0-03, Denise McKenna 0-02, Nicola Fitzgerald 0-1
Na Fianna v Fingallians:
Sorcha Turnbull, Denise Cassidy, Fiona Maye, Deirdre Lyons, Linda Casey, Leah Caffrey, Sarah Quinn, Bronagh O'Donnell, Alma O'Donnell, Fiona Tuite, Ciara McDermott, Claire O'Hara, Aoife Nolan, Laura Walsh, Orlagh Egan.
Subs: Lorraine O'Sullivan for Deirdre Lyons, Lucy Collins for Fiona Maye
Scorers: Orlagh Egan 1-05, Aoife Nolan 2-00, Laura Walsh 1-00, Claire O'Hara 0-1
Half Time score:
Fingallians 0-09 Na Fianna 1-04
Sin bin: Fiona Maye (Na Fianna) 24 minutes 1st half, Laura McGahan (Fingallians) 52 minutes 2nd half.
In a quick turn- around Fingallians travelled to Louth to play Cooley Kickhams in the Leinster Club quarter final four days after the replay. The newly crowned Dublin champions had an impressive win with the final score reading 4-18 to 0-07.
Our Junior champions Croi Ro Naofa were narrowly defeated by Simonstown of Meath in the Junior club championship losing by a single point, 0-10 to 2-05.
In the remaining Tesco Home-grown Junior club championships, Kilmacud Crokes claimed the Junior C championship with an empathic win over a young Templeogue Synge Street side. Crumlin added another championship title to their impressive haul when they overcame the challenge of Ranelagh Gaels in the Junior D Final. Whitehall Colmcille took the Junior E crown following a ten point win over Parnell’s B team. The Junior F title went to St Patricks of Donabate who had to hold off a late second half challenge from Wild Geese to secure their first adult championship crown.
Our TESCO Homegrown Player of the Month award for September was presented to Serena Hannon from Clanna Gael Fontenoy who claimed back to back All Ireland kick fada titles when she won the Bray Emmets competition for a second year in a row with a kick measuring fifty five metres.
While Man O War received the Club of the Month award.
October:
Senior champions Fingallians exited the Leinster Club Championship at the semi-final stage when the lost to eventual competition winner Sarsfields of Laois however Thomas Davis enjoyed a marvellous Leinster championship run during October accounting for the scalps of Adamstown, Tinahely and St Ryanaghs en route to the provincial decider.
The majority of juvenile championships came to a conclusion in October, congratulations to everyone who won championships, shields or cup competitions. The full list of competition winners is entered in the 2013 roll of honour at the end of this report.
Sinead Deegan of Thomas Davis was awarded the TESCO Home-grown Player of the Month award for her performance throughout the Leinster championship to date.
Every year rumblings of discontent where heard regarding the pressure on our young players who were dual stars for their clubs. Both the Ladies football and Camogie association knew something had to be done to protect our young players who so desperately wanted to remain playing both codes.
So following an intensive feasibility report carried out by Dublin LGFA chaired by Camillus Kilpatrick (Naomh Olaf) both the Ladies Football and Camogie County Board in October recommended the following proposal to be put to both associations affiliated clubs for their consideration at their respective AGM’s
Proposal for the 2014 Playing Season:
Dublin Ladies Football will establish U8 non-competitive football
U8 - Alternative weekends
U9- Alternative weekends
U10 - Alternative weekends
U11 - 2 in 3 playing weekends with a cup competition to be established for football clubs
U12 - To remain same as current playing structure
Additional recommendations:
(1) A review committee will be formed with representatives from both associations who will meet in July of 2014 with the purpose of appraising the development of the above proposal and if required to make further recommendations to enhance the format of the proposal for the second half of the 2014 playing season. (2) The committee are recommending that clubs who currently don't participate in either Ladies football or Camogie or vice versa be actively encouraged to promote or introduce the relevant non- playing sport within their respective clubs especially at the U8, U9, U10 and U11 age levels. (3) The committee are recommending that a Joint Ladies football and Camogie blitz be organised in the second half of the season whereby children will be given the opportunity to play both sports at the one event (half and half). Again this joint blitz will be organised for girls from U8, U9, U10 and U11 age groups. (4) The committee are proposing that a review will take place following the 2014 playing season (review of the new format).
The proposal is still a work in progress but it is seen as a major break -through and will hopefully ensure that young girls who want to play both football and Camogie will now be able to enjoy both sports without having to choose one over the other.
At the end of October the highlight of the Dublin LGFA social calendar was once more our Annual Awards Gala Event which was again kindly sponsored by O’Neills Sportswear.
Award winners on the night were: Senior Team – Noelle Healy (Players Player of the Year), Rachel Ruddy (Player of the Year), U21 team – Oonagh Whyte (Players Player of the Year), Caroline O’Brien (Player of the Year), Minor team – Carla Rowe (Players Player of the Year), Aoife Curran (Player of the Year). The distinguished contribution award this year was presented to Mary O’Connor who works so diligently on behalf of Dublin LGFA in her role (s) as County Secretary and Fixtures Secretary.
November:
Thomas Davis continued to be the pride of both Tallaght, Dublin and indeed Leinster when they not only became Provincial champions following their win over Miltown of Westmeath but by qualifying for the All –Ireland Intermediate club final later in the Month having despatched Glen of Derry in the All- Ireland semi-final.
Thomas Davis faced Claregalway in the All- Ireland Intermediate final on Sunday November 30th despite a brave and courageous performance from the Tallaght crew it was the women of Galway who came out on top following an enthralling encounter, final score Claregalway 1-09 Thomas Davis 0-09.
November was an exciting Month for Dublin LGFA with two huge announcements first up Dublin GAA launched their new five-year partnership, which sees AIG exclusively sponsoring the county’s hurling, football, ladies football and camogie teams at all levels.
This is the first time in Dublin GAA history that all codes have been united under one sponsor.
Commenting on the sponsorship, AIG Ireland General Manager Declan O’Rourke said: “This sponsorship is a clear statement of AIG’s commitment to the Irish market and our intent to raise our profile and awareness of our products. It is with great pride that we unveil the new Dublin jersey with the AIG logo which will be worn by the entire Dublin GAA family.â€
Following the announcement of the new sponsorship deal with AIG, Dublin LGFA second announcement in November revealed that DCU will become the “home†of Dublin LGFA.
Dublin’s Inter County panels will be based at the Ballymun Road complex, with the state-of-the-art facilities at DCU providing essential training and development amenities for all our Inter County players. The DCU sports facility has two Grass Gaelic pitches which are both of championship dimensions plus a newly constructed all -weather 3G pitch. The pavilion houses changing rooms, referees' rooms, a 50 seated meeting room and a high performance gym.
The new Dublin LGFA “Centre of Excellence†will ensure that Dublin LGFA in partnership with DCU will continue to develop and nurture our players who will carry on and maintain Dublin’s proud sporting tradition at Inter County level.
Dublin LGFA will also play all their home national league and championship (all grades) home fixtures in DCU.
Dublin received three nominations for the 2013 All Star team, Sinead Aherne, Sinead Goldrick and Noelle Healy on November 9th last, Dublin captain – Sinead Goldrick picked up her second All Star award as she was named as centre back on the All Star team of 2013.
Sinead will have the fantastic opportunity to go on the All Star trip being organised by the Ladies Association in Croke Park, the venue of which was confirmed as Hong Kong.
On the 22nd of November over two hundred people gathered in Westmanstown GAA Sports Complex for the presentation of medals and awards to our U16 and U14 players.
Dublin senior star’s Sinead Goldrick and Sinead Finnegan were on hand to help present the Dublin U16’s with their Leinster Championship and All Ireland runners up medals while the Dublin U14 team of both 2013 and 2012 received their Leinster runners up medals.
The highlight of the evening was the announcement of the Player of the Year awards, congratulations to Hannah Hegarty (Dublin U16 - 2013), Shannon Murtagh (Dublin U14- 2013) and Erica Byrne (Dublin U14- 2012).
This week former Monaghan boss Greg McGonigle was appointed New Dublin Ladies Senior manager taking over from Paul Gilheaney meanwhile Dublin minor trials under the stewardship of Manager Conor Barry are well under way like- wise Dublin U14 boss, Fearghal Brennan has started his search for the Dublin stars of tomorrow.
So exciting times all round for the Ladies of the capital – roll on 2014!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW ROLL OF RESULTS OF 2013