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| Adult Teams |
U21 Hurling Victory Marks Historic Achievement 
Cuala's U21 Hurlers overcame Craobh Ciaran in the Dublin County Championship Final and set the seal on an historic double - Champions of Dublin in Hurling and Football. A tremendous outcome reflecting the enormous work done on the pitch and behind the scenes. Well dome to all concerned and of course we send our best wishes to Rory Cole for a speedy recovery. You can read a comprehensive match report in the Evening Herald ("Cuala Run Riot . .") .and see llots of pictures of Saturday's thrilling tie in the Cuala Gallery and external sites.  Cuala Backroom Team in confident mood as match progresses (Photo: Harry Roberts) IImages courtesy of the "Cuala Snappers" - Harry Roberts Colin Behan Michael Goodwin Images by professional photographers - Chris Lynam - Sports-in-Focus Caroline Quinn Photography Another Good Day at the Office for the U21 Hurlers Our Under-21 Hurlers booked their place in the Final last Sunday when they beat a battling Ballyboden St Endas side in Hyde Road by the narrowest of margins. We hear that, in the other half of the draw, Na Fianna beat Lucan to earn a semi-final appointment with Craobh Ciaran next weekend. Winners will play Cuala on Saturday 13th Feb but the venue has yet to be decided In the meantime, 3 sets of pictures for your viewing pleasure. . . Chris Lynam BP Donnelly Cuala Gallery 1976 Captain's Reflection 
I finished breakfast on Sunday 13th of December to the wonderfully
descriptive voice of the late Liam Clancy singing:“Once upon a time there was a tavern, Where we used to raise a glass or two, Remember how we laughed away the hours, And dreamed of all the great things we would do? Those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end. . .” I set off on bicycle to O’Toole Park. Cuala were in the Under 21 Football Championship Final for the first time since Saturday 6th of March 1976. Cycling provides time to think in peace about life and if one does not concentrate - death! My thoughts were on the game ahead could this team win against the old enemy- Crokes. I hoped to see friends and faces from the 76 team who provided so many happy memories to me. Would many be present .....did everyone hear about the final?.....what shape are they in after all these years. There are many I have not seen for some time, some have slipped away. As I came to the turnstile I met the legendary mentor Paul Keogh looking fit and well. I met Shay Hayes who stood behind me in goal. I recalled how, time after time, he reassured me he was comfortable under the high dropping ball into the square - how my heart used to skip a beat! Michael Quigley at midfield.... one remembered his thoughtful incisive passes & long flowing hair. Pat Dolphin & Brian Murdock from our lethal half forward line. Johnny (watch my side step) Sheanon from our full forward line. Of the 1-11 scored back in 1976, scorers of 0-10 were present. Remaining scores came from Pat Curran 1-0 and Tom Johnson 0-1. I also though of those, for whom being there, was not in the plans of the good Lord - our centre back Mick Holden and right corner back - Colm Mullen. We shook hands, chatted, leg pulled, fidgeted around nervously ahead of the kick off. Shay hoped to straighten his back which was carrying the burden of last success for 33 years! He didn’t have to worry for long. The game was only minutes old when I could see that our tenure as the last Cuala U21 Championship winners was over. A superbly taken opening goal by young Schutte set the tone. The second goal minutes later from John Sheanon would befit a winning goal in a senior championship final. Breathtaking – the older guys reckoned the modern footballs travel faster, straighter and now bend away from goalkeepers!!. Bring back the heavy leather ball. At half time a friend from Crokes said it was our game to lose. So it proved. Great memories came back as the Cup was presented to our Captain............. Cycling home that other verse came to mind “Then the busy years went rushing by us, We lost our starry notions on the way If by chance I’d see you in the tavern, We smile at one another and we’d say Those were the days my friends . . .” I started comparing teams, individuals and looking for similarities between the current team and that 76. There were many. Overarching both teams is the Sheanon family connection, Pat Sheanon, Johnny’s dad and John’s grand dad was our mentor, a father figure to many, he was also our social committee! Johnny was a key member of the '76 team. A young Mikey Sheanon was by his dad’s side in ‘76 learning team management skills, skills that had an enormous influence on this years winning team as they had on the Minor success of 3 years ago. and it was a sad irony that this year, Colm Sheanon accompanied his dad Johnny and would surely have featured on the day but for an injury that kept him sidelined. I was hugely impressed at the level of teamwork & commitment towards supporting each other. This team appeared to have a unique bond and comeraderie that one sees perhaps once in a generation, built up through years of training, coaching, growing together and success. Both teams shared a similar gritty determination to grind out a win when the odds were against us. That last 10mins v Na Fianna in the semi reminded me of our draw in the 1st final & our win over Crokes in the semi. This team is based on a successful Minor Team as was the ‘76 team. This team displayed a level of defending and accurate passing from defence one would normally expect to see from county players. This was also a high disciplined group – a credit to players and current management. No silly fouls or frees given away while not opting out of a hard tackle. This was possibly the most comprehensive display by a Cuala football team in a Championship final. On behalf of the 76 team members present, I congratulate this special team, current and past mentors who brought them to this level of success. I am reluctant to offer advice as it not my place. If I did, I’d suggest you enjoy this unique time in your lives – we did. Stay together as a group and go forward to greater success. Dual players – play all games for as long as you can, as there is no evidence to say playing football and hurling will shorten your sporting career or reduce success levels. You all carry a confidence & swagger of a winning group of men – I believe we did also. A team with a winning belief has no limits. This win can be a stepping stone to further success in sport and in your personal lives. Members of the 76 team who saw your performance last Sunday were proud of your success and especially the manner in which you achieved this win. I later went down to the club bar and as I entered, that final verse came to mind. . “Through the door there came familiar laughter, I saw your face I heard you call my name Oh my friend, we’re older but no wiser, For in our hearts the dreams are still the same” “Those were the days...................oh yes Those were the Days.” Eamonn Brennan U21 Footballers - Dublin Champions  The 33-year U21 silverware famine was declared well and truely over at O'Toole Park on Sunday when Cuala Under 21 Footballers earned their place on the Championship podium after an exciting battle against a spirited Kilmacud Crokes side and cheered on by the customary large contingent of Cuala supporters of all ages.  And now Hollywood bekons - Conor Bass is taking orders for a special DVD - costing only €5, its a great idea for a Christmas stocking filler (no hoops please, Santa). Just send a text (086 0750687) or an email with your name and quantity and Conor will do the rest. Match Repot (Hill 16) Generous Sporting Reflection (Kilmacud Crokes) Colin Behan Pictures (Cuala Gallery) Stephen Findlater Pictures (External site) Post-Match Celebrations (Cuala Gallery) ts Great to Look at But is it Art?  Of
course it is - Hurling, played well, in an environment that Cuala
folk have only dreamed about, is surely up there with Caravaggio,
Walpole and Gough (Van, that is). And Cuala have just been presented
with just the canvass to practise their beautiful art. We have recently
concluded an agreement with the Institute of Art, Design &
Technology (IADT) for the use of their state-of-the-art (excuse
the pun) 3rd-Generation flood-lit sports field with new dressing-rooms
planned for next October. But you wont be seeing much still Life up
there - the Adult hurlers and Footballers will be using the facility
on Tuesdays & Thursdays 19:00 21:30 until mid April. And we've
designs for next winter too - the pitch is already booked for Tuesdays
& Thursdays for October, November and December. This is a great
facility for the Club for winter training and the use of this facility
frees up some badly needed time in Loreto for our Juvenile Section.
Life's Too Short Trophy Goes to O'Callaghan's Men  Ken Fitzgeralds results all came back positive in Hyde Road on Sunday. There was an impressive turnout of legends and would-be-legends for the annual Life's Too Short Trophy. This year's experiment to test "whether Hurling & Football stayed in the system" was also an opportunity to raise funds for the Niall Mellon Trust and produced a festive concoction of fun, fine Football, heroic Hurling and some dodgy jerseys. Pictures Managers Wanted for Adult Teams (Closed) The Adult Games Committee are looking to fill 7 Team Management positions (4 Football, 3 Hurling) for the 2009 season. Interested members are invited to submit nominations by email or in writing, to any of the following - Pat Divilly (pat@divilly.com . 087-2225962) Liam Breathnach (liam.breathnach@hotmail.com, 087-6182183) Paul Linnane (linnane17@eircom.net, 086-8281249). Applicants will be expected to present their ideas, training strategies, development plans and identify their managment team to a sub-committee of the Adult Games Committee Appointments will be subject to ratification by An Coiste. CHAIRMAN'S REPORT Paul Linanne presented his Annual Report to the Adults Games AGM on 5 Nov 2008. It makes for very encouraging reading. The Committee has presided of another great seasonsome of the highlights being - Michael Fitzsimons - the star story for 2008 -
bringing great honour to his family and Cuala by achieving an All
Ireland Junior Football Final medal playing full-back for Dublin. The preparation of a Draft Cuala Hurling Strategy intended to initiate a thorough review of Adult Hurling. This after the Senior Hurling Team (mid-table in Division 1) secured its premier position in next years championshi; the second team is in the top three in Division 5 and the third team, (Div 6) going all the way to the final. More than their fair share of injuries to contend
with throughout the year and sadly, a particularly alarming incident
where an Intermediate footbaler was seriously injured by a cowardly
strike to the face in an off-the-ball incident. |
Cuala
GAA "Old Dogs" teach "Young Bucks" Some Seasonal
Tricks |
A
unique Christmas competition was inaugurated in Dalkey this year.
Organised by Ken Fitzgerald, Manager of the southside club's Sports
and Social Integration Project, the match of two halves - Football
& Hurling - pitted Cuala's singles, the so called "Young
Bucks" against their married 
team
mates, the "Old Dogs". The prize at stake was the right
to hoist Corn "Saol Ró Gear" ("Life's Too
Short" Cup) and, of course, the associated bragging rights.
At the end of a well-contested game, the "Old Dogs" pack
leader, Derek Dunne, stepped up to receive the Cup. Judging by the
success of the St. Stephen's Day event, it seems certain that this
will become a popular fixture in Cuala's calendar. Pictures of well-contested
engagement can now be seen in the |
Club
Calendar
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