OUR INTREPID UNDER 15B FOOTBALLERS HAVE SPRING IN STEPS!

ANOIS TEACHT AN EARRAIGH, BEIDH AN Lí DUL CHUN SHíNEADH

OUR INTREPID UNDER 15B FOOTBALLERS SET SAIL

Spring is here; the hibernation is over. The daffodils have bloomed
and the days are longer  - let the games begin....! Our under 15 B
footballers have had an excellent start to their campaign with two
solid team performances. In the season-opener, a loss to a strong St
Brigids team on an unusual scoreline of 7-1 to 1-3 masked the fact
that this was a very competitive fixture.  A week later our scoring
potential was unleashed in a 9-7 to 4-7 defeat of a lively Liffey
Gaels.

10th February 2013;- St Brigids 7-1 to Kilmacud 1-3. Played at Russell
Park.

For a newly constituted team we had a very bright and cohesive start
and led for most of the first half. The only disappointing aspect was
that the scoreboard did not truly  reflect our good work. Loughlin
Regan opened our account early with a well taken goal - his lob
completely deceiving the keeper- tús maith, leath na h-oibre!  Maith
an fear, Loughlin!  Sean Curley was lording the mid-field sector and
found time to land two well-taken points. Wing-forward Colm O' Shea
completed our scoring after being found by an excellent pass from
hard-working centre three-quarter Rory Fitzpatrick. It took a long
time for St Brigids to get into the game at all.That  was thanks to a
very vigilant rearguard. Full-back Eoin O' Siocrú was tenacious and at
centre-back Matthew Cahill broke up many attacks at source. The
dynamic Tom Cordial fetched a few high ones at left half-back.  On the
other side Cian Moriarty repelled all comers - one great catch in
particular underlining his potential.

But a few bad breaks yielded lucky goals against the run of play for
Brigids and gave them hope and a surprising half-time lead..

We were not helped in the second half by the God of weather unleashing
his worst at us. Wind and biting cold rain in our faces made our task
difficult. It took a while but Brigids ran in a few flattering goals.
But there was no surrender here. Players tried to the end.
Wholehearted defenders Jack Byrne  and Conal Keane competed for every
ball. Mid-fielder Daithi Sultan worked diligently especially when the
tempest blew at it's fiercest. Brother Barney would have been
impressed. Corner forward Kieran Horan linked the moves cleverly - one
instinctive flick in particular wrongfooted  the Brigids defence.
Sometimes you dont need more than one touch to make a difference. In
an excellent counter-attack Rory Fitzpatrick rattled the crossbar as
our attacks continued without any luck. Leaving the scoreboard out of
it, there were a lot of positives to be taken from this outing.
Everyone got a decent run which is the main thing.  There  was plenty
of bravery on view and the potential was there for all to see.

An interesting feature of the fine set up at Russell Park is the
handball alleys and there practising was Eoin Kennedy an All-Ireland
winner many times. Of course Kilmacud Crokes have had their own
handball players namely Kilkenny man Eugene Downey a world champion in
the early nineties. ( Eugene also was a star footballer)   His brother
John is also an ace handballer and current Crokes member. DJ Carey and
Peter Canavan among many others recommend this ancient game for its
benefits for fitness and reactions transferable to other sports. It is
also great fun to play as many do life-long.

GOAL GLUT DOWN BY THE LIFFEY SIDE

Under 15 league Division 5  played at Liffey Park on Sunday 17th
February 2013
Kilmacud 9 -7 to Liffey Gaels 4 -7.

If scores were scarce the week previously, the opposite was the case
here as our sharpshooters notched a very handsome tally. A bit like
Manchester United at present we leaked a fair few scores as well. It
made for an entertaining game and goals were the order of the day.
There was some outstanding individual displays and team work of high
calibre. The overture was bright and breezy against a stiff enough
wind. Mid-fielder Sean Curley slotted over a point to start the ball
rolling for us. Some good moves broke down usually due to a delayed
pass but eventually right half-forward Michael Roche forced home the
first of his two goals. Alex Kinihan surged powerfully from midfield
to score a brace of goals. Corner-forward David O'Farrell showed well
for the ball and linked the moves intelligently. We were on song.

However Liffey Gaels playing with plenty of heart gradually made
inroads in spite of the sterling efforts of our strong half-backline
of Jack Byrne, Cian Moriarty and Tom Cordial. Jack always willing to
carry the ball to the opposition. One catch of Cian's stood out. Our
full back line was also impressive, Calum Raffterty, Conal Keane and
Michael O' Connor - Conal's outstanding block underlining his fierce
commitment to the cause. It was real "end-to-end" stuff.  Scores were
swapped time and again. Liffey Gaels edged ahead but busy full forward
Jack Keating scored a rebound to leave us ahead 4-2 to 3-4 at the
break.

With the wind in our sails we set about our task with great gusto. Our
scoring rate quickly reached a crescendo. Centre-forward Matthew
Cahill fired a quick two goals and a point augmented by two excellent
points from Michael Roche. Some fine football yielded  a host of
scores even if occasionally we over-ran the ball when a pass to a
player in a better position would have paid dividends. Kieran Horan
scored a cool point and then flicked on intelligently to launch
another promising move. The flick was worth the admission money alone!
Further goals from Alex Kinihan, Michael Roche and Jack Keating
completed the goalfest. Jack's presence around the middle of the park
in the second half proved important. Sean Curley again sortied forward
from midfield to land a point . Our final score showed how simple a
game  gaelic football can be. The hard-working Rory Fitzpatrick hit a
long diagonal pass early into Matthew Cahill's path whose quick
transfer found Sean O' Sullivan unmarked. Sean nonchalantly tapped
over for his point. Cuilí­n deas!

Smiles all round. A lot to enthuse about here.  The improvement in
individual skills and team work is great to see.The players and team
are works in progress.  It all happens diaidh i ndiaidh. Comhghairdeas
gach éinne!

In the Liffey Gaels clubhouse, the regular Sunday morning Irish
classes were in full swing. As I entered I was greeted "trí­ gaeilge"
which was surprising and refreshing. With commitment to the language
like that it will always prosper. A plaque on the wall bore the
poignant legend " i ndí­l chuimhne Eilí­s Ní­ Fhionnagain a chailleadh sa
tsunami..." She was a "Múinteoir Gaelach" at Liffey Gaels between 1999
and 2001 who tragically lost her life in the tsumami in Thailand. One
of the teachers looked out the window as the teams readied themselves
for the throw in. "Tá an t-earrach ann anois, the young lads are out
playing again, it is great to see" he said. It is indeed.

In the meantime we have had two more games where the team has
performed very well. Although losing to St Patrick's on another quirky
scoreline of 5-1 to 1-9 some fine football was played. It is difficult
to take losing when you score four more times than the opposition but
these things things happen. The most important thing is that the
effort and performance were present and correct irrespective of the
result. In the most recent game a courageous "backs-to-the-wall"
performance away to Westmanstown Gaels was reward with a two point
victory. Fortune favoured a really brave performance from our lads on
this occasion. Bhí­ siad go léir thar barr.

Over all a good start to the campaign. Tús maith, leath na h-oibre!.

Older members will remember the  poem from their schooldays

    le Antaine Ó Raifteirí­ 1784-1835


    "Anois teacht an Earraigh
    beidh an lá dúl chun shí­neadh,
    Is tar eis na féil Brí­de
    ardóigh mé mo sheol.
    Go Coillte Mach rachad
    ní­ stopfaidh me choí­che
    Go seasfaidh mé sí­os
    i lár Chondae Mhaigh Eo."


    I gClár Chlainne Mhuiris
    A bheas mé an chéad oí­che,
    Is I mballa taobh thí­os de
    A thosós mé ag ól
    Go Coillte Mách rachad
    Go ndéanfad cuairt mhí­osa ann
    I bhfogas dhá mhí­le
    Do Bhéal an átha Mhóir.


    Fágaim le huacht é
    go n-éirí­onn mo chroí­-se
    Mar a éirí­onn an ghaoth
    nó mar a scaipeann an ceo
    Nuair a smaoiní­m ar Cheara
    nó ar Ghaileang taobh thí­os de
    Ar Sceathach an Mhí­le
    nó ar phlánaí­ Mhaigh Eo.


    Cill Aodáin an baile
    a bhfásann gach ní­ ann,
    Tá sméara is subh craobh ann
    is meas de gach sórt,
    Is dá mbéinnse i mo sheasamh
    i gceartlár mo dhaoine
    D'imeodh an aois dí­om
    is bheinn arí­s óg.


    Bí­onn cruithneacht is coirce,
    fás eorna is lí­n ann,
    Seagal i gcraobh ann,
    arán plúir agus feoil,
    Lucht déanta poití­n
    gan licence á dhí­ol ann,
    Móruaisle na tí­re ann
    ag imirt is ag ól.


    Tá cur agus treabhadh
    is leasú gan aoileach
    Is iomaí­ sin ní­ ann
    nár labhair me go fóill,
    áitheanna is muilte
    ag obair gan scí­th ann,
    Deamhan caint ar phingin cí­osa
    ná dada dá shórt.


   Matt Cahill


   Márta 2013.