Contents

• Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! a ticket to ABBA!
• Scoil Hurlers Frustration
• A Letter to the Editor: Hurler of 1969 
• All Ireland Ladies Sevens
• An Invite: Autumn Equinox Experience
• Meet Ciara Black
• Team News
• Fixtures

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! a ticket…

…available from the Super Troopers:

• Joan Cushen – Mobile 0838101332
• Gillian Linnane – Mobile 0863857846 
• Marian Mottram – Mobile 0861068028

The Ladies will be in the club Wednesday & Thursday nights & Saturday morning or anyone can just text & book tickets

I Have a Dream that you will all be saying …Thank You for the Music & Take a Chance on Me for what will be a wonderful night for all Dancing Queens (& Kings !!) Make sure you don’t miss out, BOOK NOW to avoid disappointment!

So grab Fernando and your Mamma Mia & head to Waterloo (Scoil Uí Chonaill) for a Voulez-Vous…& see…Does your Mother know that you’re out !

Looking forward to seeing you all there & remember The Winner Takes It All

Scoil Hurlers Frustration

Our Hurlers were due to take on Na Fianna at on Saturday, but due to a noshow referee the game is postponed (TBC). 

A Letter to the Editor: Hurler of 1969

A bright side to the unfortunate events of the Hurling semi-final on Saturday (above) is this wonderful tribute by our own Ramona Kennedy to the sight of 1969 Scoil Hurler Liam Blood and his daughter Fiona supporting on the sideline.

Ode to what we don’t know we have

With the rain pouring down, and the uncertainty at 5.20pm on Saturday evening, of whether a sliotar would be thrown in or not for the IHC semi-final between Scoil Uí Chonaill and Na Fianna, one could be forgiven for feeling a bit like the weather – dark, dreary, grey. 

But then you spot something that makes your spirits soar. A face in your crowd that you don’t know – proudly sporting the Scoil jersey. Is it somebody from America? Is it somebody we haven’t yet met who is a granny, grandad, parent of one of our many players from around the country? How important is the match to this unknown spectator among the Scoil die hards on the hill in Mobhi Road? 

He’s sure as hell not from our parish because we don’t have one.

We have something better.

The conversation is struck up – polite at first – not too probing but curious. The rain continues to drizzle down and the news filters out that the match won’t be played. No referee. In fairness to the county board, it’s a rare error at this level. 

Back to the stranger on the hill in Mobhi Road – the young lady in his company takes up the conversation – yes, we’re here for Scoil and we’re proud and yes, it’s important to us. We have history. In 1969, Dad had the honour of wearing a Scoil jersey. A Scoil jersey that’s unique, impeccable – the colours stand out – nobody mistakes it. But hang on, this die hard loves Scoil and is happy to be here but has a gripe. And more of that later. From Scoil Uí Chonaill in 1969 to America in the 70s, career and family like many of that generation take them from their community. But their community is not taken from them.

Lots to be said about America but the drizzly rain on Mobhi Road doesn’t encourage dwelling too much. And from America back to Tallaght and home to the GAA – that GAA being St. Marks. But is it really home? Or a temporary home? The years go by, ups and downs as we all experience, retirement and for matrimonial harmony, back to somebody else’s home – Balieboro in Co. Cavan.

But now’s the chance for the salmon to swim back up that river. Maybe with a little bit of trepidation, we decide, yes, we want a Scoil jersey – that’s where I come from. The Scoil jersey in the most modern of ways is ordered online and delivered to Cavan. What’s the next step? I’m going to get to a fixture and it’s an important one. Finding out about fixtures is not like it used to be in the Herald or Press or any other publication that you would buy for sixpence – you’ve got to assert yourself and overcome your fear of technology. But it’s worth it. There’s the fixture. There’s the match. I’m coming back!

Liam Blood and his daughter Fiona drove from Cavan on Saturday to attend the Intermediate Hurling Championship Semi-final – we hope to see you again at the re-scheduled fixture.

P.S. he’d rather the jersey he received in the post was more like the traditional one. 

What was that about needing a parish? We’re in every parish!

All Ireland Ladies Sevens

The Scoil Ladies side will take part in the All Ireland Junior Sevens tournament this Saturday in Naomh Mearnogs & Sylvesters GAA Clubs. Please support them in what is set to to be a great day. Details of times & opposition in fixture list below.

An Invite: Autumn Equinox Experience

An invitation has been extended to the club and friends of the Edmund Rice Community, to attend a celebration of the Autumn Equinox next Saturday evening, 23rd September 2017 at 7pm in The Emmaus Centre, Swords. See full invite here

Meet Ciara Black

How long have you been involved in Scoil Uí Chonaill?
3 marvellous years!

Do you have any nicknames? How do you like to be addressed?
Most people call me Ciara but people screaming “Physio!” across a pitch tends to get my attention too.

Where do you hail from?
Castleknock gal, born and bred.

How did you come to be involved in Scoil?
After a stellar recommendation from Ruairi Coady, I worked as a Physiotherapist with the (then) intermediate footballers at the end of their 2014 season. Originally it was supposed to be just one game, 3 years on I’m still there and I’ve managed to weasel my way into working with the hurlers too.

What would you say you are most known for within Scoil? i.e. what do people associate you with?
As the Physio/girl who carries 100 bags at all times or the extraordinary dancer who came 3rd in Strictly Scoil last year.

What has been your greatest Scoil moment / achievement?
Working with the footballers when they got promoted to senior football in the league playoff final in 2014 was a great moment. I had only been involved for about 6 weeks but I realised then that they were a special group that were going places. Being involved in Strictly Scoil was also a great experience, it was so good to see how much everyone pulled together & the end product was brilliant.

What is your profession / field of study / passion?
At the moment as a day job I work as a Maternity Physiotherapist in the Coombe Hospital, but I’ve a huge interest in Sports Medicine & Neurorehabilitation so I’ll probably move into one of those fields eventually.

What are your favourite hobbies outside of GAA?
I love most sports, particularly basketball. I do some running in my spare time & I’m currently training for the Dublin half marathon at the end of the month.

If you could make one addition to Scoil in any way (don’t be restricted by the plausible!), what would it be?
I’d have a state of the art bullsh**t detector, to keep the soft lads from wasting any more of my valuable time before games (you know who you are, lads…)

What is your favourite Scoil ‘quirk’?
I’m a big fan of Tommy Naughton’s animated pre-match motivational talks. Inspirational in all their glory.

If you close your eyes and envisage Scoil in 10 years, what do you see?
Both the Football & Hurling teams playing Division One & a few Championships under their belts. Hopefully Conor Coady will have retired by then and I’ll be wearing the number 8 jersey.

Finally, if you had to describe yourself as an animal, what would it be and why?
Alan Cronin once told me I was the Mother Hen looking after 30 lads every week, but I think I’m probably more of a fox 😉

Team News

SUMMARY

• Minors beat St Anne’s football championship with strong close.
• Half time speech spurs u15 girls onto strong victory vs Plunketts
• u12 Camogie Girls’ extra sessions come up trumps
• ‘Relentless’ u10 hurlers with another strong performance vs St Peregrines
• u9 Camogie Girls blitz sees the fruits of ample game time
• U8’s Rush to Victory against St Maur’s as skills continue to improve
• Nursery continues, and welcomes newcomers as always

MFC Scoil Minors (Isles of the Sea)

2-08 vs St. Annes 1-07 on 17.09.17 at Scoil

How it all played out

Second football game in the group stages of the B Championship for the minors last Sunday got off to a slow start. Scoil missed a few goal chances in the first half and at half time the score was 0-4 to Annes and 0-3 to Scoil. Second half got off to a livelier start with both teams trading 3 points each. Penalty awarded to Scoil and was slotted home to the bottom right-hand corner by David Kennedy. Another point tagged on left the home team 3 points ahead only to have that margin reduced to zero a few minutes later when Annes equalised with a goal the other end. It looked like it was going to end in a draw as time was nearly up, but, as seems customary now, there were several minutes added on which allowed Scoil’s half-time substitute (Dublin Seniors are not the only ones with a bench!), Kevin McGrath, score a well-worked goal. The icing on the cake, and the insurance score, was a fantastic point taken almost from the sideline by Seamus McCann which allowed the home team finish the game 4 points ahead.

Who were the star performers / scorers

Scorers: David Kennedy 1(pen)-02 (1f); Kevin McGrath 1-0; Des Duggan 0-3; Conor Hennessy, Eoghan McKay, Seamus McCann 0-1 each.

What’s up next

Second hurling match in the B championship on Sunday 24th September home to Ballinteer. Throw in 11am in Ringsend Park.

#UpScoil

Under 15 girls

vs Oliver Plunketts Eoghan Ruadh 16/9/2017

18 girls made it up to Navan Road on Saturday encouraged by their last win. By half time there was only a point between the sides and they were a little concerned. A pep talk by Captain Isabelle at half time lifted their spirits and their game.  As a result Scoil decided to put the pressure on and by full time they had beaten Plunketts 5.9 to 2.8

Aine started us off with a lovely point and as usual Siofra Malone and Holly added to the score. Caoimhe Keoghan hit the woodwork a few times in the first half but more than made up for it when she went on a goal scoring spree in the second half. Our backs defended with gusto and a few clever changes ensured a great win.

Next Saturday the girls hope to make it three in a row when they take on Castleknock in a postponed game in pitch 22 at 1.30p.m.

#UpScoil

U12s Camoige v’s Naomh Olaf

After a summer of fitness and skill work the girls were back into league action this week against Olafs who had beaten us well ion our first ever match in Feb of this year. We had asked the girls to do 3 sessions in the week leading up to the match to get their stick work sharper and it worked in great style.

Our girls although smaller fought from the front like tigers to prevent the opposition getting clean primary possession to launch it back into our half. This gave us a fantastic chance to level the playing field and put our stamp on the game.

The strength of the girls in tackling and winning the dirty ruck ball was a pleasure for the coaches to see as they had been standing off in previous games and allowing bigger teams dominate them. This created the chance for every player to ensure they met their target of lifting and hitting or handpassing to players in better positions which was the marker we had set for them.

As regards the game we scored two brilliant points from distance and a well worked and hard earned goal to run out 1.2 to no score winners and with a game against Lucan this Saturday the confidence is high and girls all wanted to keep the 3 days of training going again this week. Maith sibh !!!

#UpScoil

Scoil U10 Hurlers v St Peregrines

Sat 16/09/17 at Stag Park

How it all played out

Team Liam Ryan; 

Under 10 Hurlers welcomed St Peregrines to Clontarf this morning. The team were on top from the start but failed to turn possession into scores for the first quarter of the match. They picked up the pace towards the end of the first half with Nathan Oates scoring from pin point long range passes in from Adam Ryan.

Team Jp Courtney;  

Due to previous night’s celebrations, being tired & emotional, Jp handed over the reins this morning to Ronan Murphy.

Great performance by all the lads in particular Addi.. One of Peregrines parents said to me at half time.. “My God your kids/team are relentless”!! 

Who were the star performers

Team Liam;

Score of the match/season came from Luke Murphy in the 2nd half with some sublime interlink play with his brother Alan-even the visitors were applauding the score 4.18 – 0.1

Team Ronan;

Very difficult to single out someone, as all the kids played their part in a super win but some stunning pieces of skill/interplay from Addi, Kyle,  Aurelian & Fahad this morning. Obviously Ronan said he wasn’t going to drive them home if they didn’t score!!

Delighted to see Liam Carr getting some great points under pressure today & Big Finn getting stuck in..

What’s up next

Some Sleep! 

ABBA nite!!!

#UpScoil

Camogie u9

How it all played out

We welcomed teams from St Kevin’s, Commercial’s and neighbours from Raheny for a Camogie Blitz on Sunday morning. Both Scoil teams performed strongly through three rounds of matches. Skills are improving all the time and standard of Camogie rising rapidly with the matches coming thick and fast.

Who were the star performers / scorers

Special mention for Ciara who lead the defence at all times. Eabha striking who kept us going forward. Nessa who was very effective and used her great skill in middle. Also some great scorers on the day including Caoimhe, Ella and Simone

What’s up next

Another Blitz at Commercials Rathcoole and also including our other neighbours Clontarf

#UpScoil

U8’s Rush to Victory against St Maur’s

Our excellent start to the second half of the season continued with an excellent display against St Maur’s. Our skills, team spirit and game awareness are coming on in leaps and bounds. It is clear that all the hard work and extra training which our players have being doing in recent weeks is beginning to pay off. There is no doubt that they are becoming a great bunch of skilled footballers.

How it all played out

As a number of players dropped out on the morning of the match, all the players who made the long trek to Rush got lots of game time.

We were highly competitive in all games and more than held our own against solid opposition with excellent movement and passing.

Who were the star performers / scorers

The Blues team were very competitive in all three matches, Abigail ran tirelessly and made some super tackles and interceptions. Noah had a powerful game, winning great ball and smartly taking a number of excellent scores.

For Amber team, Jake had another outstanding game with some great tackling and blocking as well as sprinting up the field to get some fine scores. Danny also worked hard and showed great determination and tackling skills throughout.

For the Maroon, Aibhilinn was excellent in all three games and delivered long accurate passes to her team mates. Conán also worked hard and showed great determination and tackling skills throughout.

What’s up next

Hurling match at home to Erins Isle at the later time of 11:30.

 #UpScoil

Fixtures