Under 12 Girls League Winners 2004 The girls Under 12 s team were late to start their season due to the lack of mentors. The team started training at the end of February under Sue Lillis with the assistance of Paul Casey. With only two weeks training behind them, the girls were thrown in at the deep end with a challenge match against Scoil Ui Chonaill, with score of 1-3 to 3-3, they were narrowly defeated. A second challenge match two weeks later, told a different story, the girls beat Naomh Barrog by 5 points with a 2-7 to 2-2 win. The team was entered into the League s division 3b. In April Paul Casey took over the team mentoring assisted by Caoimhe Ni Bhreachain. The Under 12 s excelled throughout the league wining all matches that they played. In the Championship and Shield the girls survived three matches before loosing out to Cabenteely. Teams played included Cuala, St Marks and Cabenteely (Photo U12Girls Ballyboden). There was great excitement when Barry Coll, selector for the Dublin Under 12 s girls, turned out at the Ballyboden match looking for players for the Dublin A and B teams. Niamh McNally and Joanne Dufficy were both selected and made the Dublin A team for the Inter County Blitz in Carlow on the June Bank holiday weekend. Dublin won out on the day and both Joanne and Niamh were a great credit to Clontarf and they received Leinster County Medals (Photo U12Girls NiamhJoanne). The Dublin Senior Fullback, Barry Cahill, came to St. Annes park on a June Saturday morning to coach the girls. A great session was had by all and Barry said afterwards that he was very impressed with the way the girls played and behaved. A fun day was organised for the girls and their families. The idea of the day was to give parents a chance to see what the girls do at training, the drills/exercises and simply to give the girls a fun day before they broke up for the summer. The fun day was followed by a barbecue and a glass of wine for the parents. At an awards ceremony held in the clubhouse, the girls received their league Niamh McNally and Joanne Dufficy medals. Special awards were given to Sarah Purcell and Fiona McCabe for with Mentor Paul Casey. overall player of the year and most improved player. Shauna Casey and Rachel Bates also received awards for overall young player of the year and most improved young player (PhotoU12GirlsPresentation). Panel: Fiona McCabe, Sarah Purcell, Clare Malley, Chloe Prendergast, Sarah Rose Headon, Louise Doyle, Clare Winterson, Ann Donnelly, Aoife Lawlor, Hannah Craddock, Lisa Clarke, Niamh McNally, Joanne Dufficy, Juliette Nolan, Jill Taylor, Elizabeth O Neill, Alice Dunne, Shauna Casey, Kate Fennelly, Aine Ennis, Ellen Bennett, Amy Ward, Aoife Lawlor, Leah McCullagh, Laura Shannon, Flora Dalton and Rachel Bates. Newcomers: Caitriona Loomes, Ciara O'Byrne, Orla O'Donoghue, Lauren McClean, Megan Kidd, Genevieve Gleeson, Mairead Kelly, Sarah Ryan, Leah Grainger, Alison Millar, Maeve Shannon, Sarah McCaffery, Ashling Burke and Becky O Hanlon. Mentors:Paul Casey, Caoimhe Ni Bhreachain, Ray Doyle and Aoife McGinn.
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Junior Football, The Cornerstone of the Club Junior A Football The 2004 season concluded with our Junior A squad achieving a very similar mid-table record to that of 2003. On the positive side the team secured sufficient points to maintain their divisional status. Our league campaign started on track, as we secured 2 away draws and a win in our first four outings. Yet the goal of a top-5 league finish set out last February was one which had unfortunately diminished by mid-season. In the Championship we were drawn against intermediate side Parnells, a team competing 2 league divisions above us. We produced a very spirited display on the day but a failure to convert scoring opportunities and the concession of a goal in the closing stages swung the game in Parnells favour. A special word of thanks to Johnny Giles and Matt Whelan who both stepped down from the management setup at the end of 2004. For the 2005 season a management team of John Keegan, Chris McGinn (Coach) and Paudie Kelleher was put in place. Pre-Season training commenced in early January, with an 11 week novel spinning programme in Westwood gym. In addition the panel trained on Wednesday nights on the excellent new all weather facility at the club. With the long evenings coming in, training has now reverted to the traditional Tue/Thur in St. Annes. Competitive action so far this season has brought mixed fortunes. The team is well positioned in 3rd place in the Cup competition and wins in the remaining 3 cup games will secure a semi final spot. The league start was very disappointing with 3 defeated. But 2 decisive wins in 4 days in early May over Whitehall and Ballyfermot has put the team right back on track The panel also eagerly await the championship clash with the Garda at the end of May. Securing a league playoff spot via a top 5 finish is the main goal of the panel this year. To fulfil this ambition the team must win 2/3 league games, a tall order, but one not beyond the potential of this strong panel of 27 players. If this club is to harbour ambitions of gaining and maintaining Senior division 1 status, it is imperative our 2nd team competes at a higher level. John Keegan, Team Manager Junior B Football The Junior B football team started the 2004 season without mentors. After the first game Donal Nolan agreed to look after the team as a temporary measure until mentors could be appointed, but unfortunately nobody was willing to take on the role. The team depended heavily on minor players to field and in the early part of the season it required a huge effort with minors often playing 2 matches on the one day. The team struggled through most of the season loosing a number of games by 3 points or less. Thankfully the team managed to finish safely above the relegation zone with 10 points having taken 7 points from our last five games. The team had a great run in the Junior C championship. Having received a bye in the first round we beat Garristown by 4 points in the second round. We drew with Kilmacud Crokes in the quarter final and won the replay by a single point. In the semi final against Ballyboden the team played their best football of the year and led by 6 points at the break. Unfortunately we were unable to keep the momentum up in the second half and eventually went down by 5 points. In all, the team played 23 games (14 league, 5 cup and 4 championship) and received walkovers from Clanna Gael in the league and O Dwyers in the cup. For 2005, Joe Glackin was appointed Team Manager, with backup from Ray Hanley, Johnny Kelleher and Albert Martin. The team trains (on a voluntary basis of course!) with the Junior A s. There is tremendous potential for 2005, a realistic chance of getting promoted in the league and winning the Junior C championship, having reached the semi-final in 2004 and the quarter final in 2003.
Junior Football Gallery Clontarf Junior A Football Squad 2005 Back Row: C.McGinn, S.McGinn, M.Moylan, N.Synnott, P.Moore, M.Lally, D.Ryan, i.sunderland, D.Redmond, R.Kenny, P.Delaney, B.Keenan, R.Dodd, P.Kelleher, J.Keegan Front Row: N.Arthur, V.Whelan, C.Hickey, M.McGlinchey, K.Moore, S.McMorrow, C.Nolan, C.Fanning, B.Cotter, J.Doherty, F.Lynch. Missing (M.O Halloran, A.Lynch, L.O Donoghue, K.Spellman, K.Murray, J.Traenor) Clontarf Junior B squad Junior C Championship Semi Finalists 2004 Back Row: M O Neill, B.Cotter, B Farrell, K Murray, N Synnott, J Keegan, K Sculy, A Mullany, J O Toole, M Flanagan, M O Halloran, P Davis, J Giles. Front Row: R Stokes, D Nolan, R O Neill, C Nolan, A Sheridan, N Arthur, J Treanor, F O Riain, A Martin, I Sunderland, S McMorrow, P Downes.
UNDER 15 FOOTBALL AND HURLING This team played at Under 14 in 2004 and is currently playing at U 15 in 2005 We have a football panel of 25 players and a hurling panel of 13-14. The hurling panel is supplemented by 3 to 4 players from younger teams. Hurling This is an important team in the club as it is oldest juvenile team and in a few years time some of these boys will be playing adult hurling Last year has proven to be an extremely successful year. Competing in Division 4 at under 14 level, they won 12 of 14 matches and unfortunately lost out to St Monicas in a playoff for league after drawing the first play-off match. In May 2004 Clontarf hosted Division 4 of Feile na Gael at pitch 21. After defeating Scoil Ui Chonaill, Crumlin and Naomh Fionbarra in the group stages the team defeated Ballyboden St Endas in the semi final. Unfortunately a narrow defeat by 3 points against Division 3 team Setanta ensued. The 2005 (Under 15) season has started well with victory in the first and only hurling match to date. Football This team is playing football in division 3 at under 15 level this year, having been ain division 2 at under 14 level. With a win and a draw out of five starts to date in 2005, this team is looking to consolidate its position and get back into the winning habits which its ability clearly deserves. An Siopa For all your Club Gear / Merchandise Open Every Tuesday and Thursday 7pm to 8pm