Leinster U14 and U16 Championship 2014
- Feb 28,2014
Leinster Championship – Dublin welcome the Lilywhites to the Capital
Tomorrow, Saturday March 1st sees the opening round of the Leinster Under 14 and Under 16 championships with Dublin playing host to Kildare in both age groups.
Dublin and Kildare Under 14’s will open proceedings at 2pm followed up by the Under 16’s clash at 3.30pm
Both games are being kindly hosted by Parnells GAA club, Chanel College which is located in Coolock Village.
Dublin Under 14’s are managed this season by Ballyboden St Endas, Fearghall Brennan along with his follow management team of Pat Kane (Clanna Gael Fontenoy), Damian Prout (O’Dwyers), Theresa Molohan (Ballyboden St Endas), Lee Moroney (St Anne’s) and Sinead Vivash (Clanna Gael Fontenoy).
This year’s under 14 panel consists of eighteen clubs with Foxrock Cabinteely leading the way with five players followed by Kilmacud Crokes and Ballyboden St Endas with three while Clanna Gael Fontenoy, Clontarf, Fingallians and St Monica’s have two representatives each. Castleknock, Craobh Chiarain, Cuala, Erins Isle, Na Fianna, Naomh Mearnog, Naomh Olaf, St Peregrines, O’Dwyers, Parnells and Scoil Ui Chonaill each have a player represented on the panel.
Sarah Fagan from Clontarf has been announced as this years Under 14 Captain while Ciara Holland of Naomh Mearnog will be this seasons Vice -Captain.
Remarkably Dublin last captured the Leinster Under 14 title back in 2011 having hit somewhat of a dip in form at this grade over the last few seasons however with an experienced management team in place combined with a strong panel Dublin will be hoping that the girls for the Capital can once again reach the great heights with in Leinster.
St Brigids Ken Nyhan is the manager of the Dublin Under 16 team Ken is ably assisted by Paul O’Hara (Round Towers Lusk), Shane Lyons (St Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh) and Lisa Byrne (O’Dwyers).
The Under 16 panel has representatives from 18 clubs across Dublin with Foxrock Cabinteely and Kilmacud Crokes leading the way with five players apiece. Both south side clubs have been to the fore in recent years at underage club level. In 2013 Foxrock Cabinteely where crowned All-Ireland Féile champions while Kilmacud Crokes took home the division one U15 championship title.
Cuala, Lucan Sarsfields, O’Dwyers and O’Tooles are next up with two representatives a piece while Ballinteer St Johns, Ballyboden St Endas, Naomh Barrog, Naomh Mearnog, Naomh Olaf, Parnells, Round Towers Clondalkin, Round Towers Lusk, St Brigids, St Maurs and Thomas Davis each have a representative on the final panel.
This seasons Under 16 panel of players have a blend of experience mixed with enthusiasm and skill. Twelve of the panel will be making their debut for the County on Saturday however seventeen of the group have all played previously for the sky blues at U14 level back in 2012 under former Dublin manager, Terry Jennings.
Notably four players from the under 14 panel of 2012- Ellen Curran, Hannah O’Neill, Mia Jennings and Erica Byrne also featured on Pat Kane’s Dublin U16 team who captured the Leinster title in 2013 only to lose out to a strong Cork outfit in the All- Ireland decider.
It has been four years since Dublin were last crowned under 16 All-Ireland champions having suffered defeats in 2011 and 2013 at the hands of Kerry and Cork respectively.
Everyone involved in Dublin LGFA will be hoping that 2014 will be the breakthrough year for the Dubs sixteens with championship success hopefully revisiting the Capital following the heart break of the last two seasons.
Dublin Under 16 Panel: (Ballinteer St Johns) Eleanor Ahern, (Ballyboden St Endas) Emily Flanagan, (Cuala) Billy Kate Huggard, Hannah O'Dea, (Foxrock Cabinteely) Ellen Curran, Hannah Foster Ryan, Hannah O'Neill, Tarah O'Sullivan, Megan Duffy, (Kilmacud Crokes) Katie Ronan, Mia Jennings, Muireann O'Gorman, Rachel Fleming, Robyn Kos, (Lucan Sarsfields) Danielle Murray, Sabrina Moloney, (Naomh Barrog) Laura Mc Ginley, (Naomh Mearnog) Sarah Kearns, (Naomh Olaf) Clara O'Sullivan, (O'Dwyers)Clare Mc Grath, Erica Byrne, (O'Tooles) Rachel Doughlas, Tara Fitzgibbon, (Parnells) Leona Corr, (Round Towers Clondalkin) Riona Mc Tavish, (Round Towers Lusk) Chloe Lawless, (St Brigids)Amy Fitzpatrick, (St Margarets) Martha Dwyer, (St Maurs) Niamh Carty, (Thomas Davis) Jade Sweeney Knot
Dublin Under 14 Panel: (Ballyboden St Endas) Ellen Dunleavy, Aoife Dwyer, Laura Smithers, (Castleknock) Ciara Murray, (Clanna Gael Fontenoy) Maria O'Dea, Niamh Shaw, (Clontarf) Sarah Fagan, Caoimhe O'Connor, (Craobh Chiarain) Niamh Hetherington, (Cuala) Eimear Loughlin, (Erins Isle) Megan Cluskey, (Fingallians) Laura Dempsey, Ciara Thorburn, (Foxrock Cabinteely) Jessica Connolly, Christina Hamill, Roisin McGovern, Siofra O'Brien, Eve Reidy, (Kilmacud Crokes) Sarah McMahon, Sinead O'Donoghue, Kate O'Hogan, (Na Fianna) Ellie McAleer, (Naomh Mearnog) Ciara Holland, (Naomh Olaf) Ciara Donnelly, (Naomh Peregrines) Rachel Brennan, (O’Dwyers) Erin Healy (Parnells) Kelly Jean Courtney, (Scoil Ui Chonaill) Sarah Keohane, (St Monica’s) Aislinn Somers, Robyn Whelan
There will be live updates from both games available via our Twitter account @dublinladiesg
Dublin LGFA is Proudly sponsored by AIG Ireland www.AIG.ie