Contents:

• Champo Semi Double

• Scoil Branding: In Numbers

• Save the Date: Dinner Dance 2019

• Oneness: A letter to Scoil…from US VP Joe Biden!

• Meet Conor Farrelly

• Other News

• Team News

• Fixtures

Intermediate Championship Semi Double

The Adult Footballers & Hurlers have been working hard to reach semi-finals in both Intermediate Championships, but the hardest work is yet to come as the four toughest games of the season approach.

First up is the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final vs St. Mark’s — throw-in @3pm on Saturday, October 6th in O’Toole Park. There’s more than a place in the final at stake in this one, with both finalists being promoted to Senior Championship.

Next up will be the Football semi-final vs Round Towers Lusk — throw-in @4.30pm on Saturday October 13th in Balgriffin.

All support encouraged for both of these huge games!

See some photos from the Footballers 1/4 final 3-13 to 1-2 win over O’Tooles below.

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Scoil Branding: In Numbers

There’s been a lot of talk of crests, colours & brands with the Club online store seeing more action than the umpires at the O’Toole’s goal in the Intermediate Football Championship 1/4 Final on Saturday!

Sure, everyone’s chuffed to have some dapper Scoil gear of their own — but what does this mean for our overall brand identity?

Well, to put it into context here are some important figures to consider:

0

Instances of a centralised branding process in the Club’s history before last year

18

Months since a working group sat down to assess our gear designs & processes

5

Different versions of the Scoil crest they found to be in circulation

3 + 3

Large Club-wide bulk orders + smaller team orders made since Aug 2017

374

1/4 zip Scoil tops with same three colours & crest in circulation

193

Scoil trackies with same three colours & crest in circulation

1,068

Total number of garments ordered since Aug 2017 (not including Club shop sales)

35,000+

Total figure in € spent by members on gear since Aug 2017

So, what does this mean?

It means that there is a large group of people who are proud to wear the three iconic colours of Scoil Uí Chonaill. It means there is a hunger among members to boast about who we are.

It means there are 1,068 chances of you seeing someone who may not even have known and being able to think ‘they’re my clubmate’

Most of all, it means we know we’re on to something.

More coming soon….

And register your interest for future orders, or offer your feedback

Save the Date: Dinner Dance 2019

Oh, it’s on!

A letter to Scoil…from US VP Joe Biden!

A shout-out from a former United States Vice President! Enough said…

Meet Conor Farrelly

How long have you been involved in Scoil Uí Chonaill?
Since birth probably, playing for 16 years

Do you have any nicknames? How do you like to be addressed?
I have a few nicknames, most recent one being McGregor

Where do you hail from?
Clontarf, Dublin

How did you come to be involved in Scoil?
My family being hugely involved in the club helped, no question of playing for any other club

Briefly describe your Scoil career as a player / mentor / contributor, if any. 
Played football and hurling all the way through juvenile, now involved with the adult teams. Bit of refereeing, bit of coaching thrown in too.

What is your favourite sporting moment / sportsperson? (any club, any sport)
Croatia vs England 2018 World Cup, what a moment

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you in Scoil?
Too many to list, recent one of locking my car keys in the car somehow after going to the gym with with Robert Kennedy, had to borrow a phone off two tourists out walking so my mam could bring the spare key.

If Scoil was a country, what would it be?
Brazil, on the way up

What would you say you are most known for within Scoil? i.e. what do people associate you with?
Hopefully from playing, but more realistically being Niamh and TJ’s son.

What has been your greatest Scoil moment / achievement?
Winning the u16 hurling championship, or playing u21s with my brother Paul and cousin Eoin.

What is your profession / field of study / passion?
Currently studying Communications in DCU

What are your favourite hobbies outside of GAA?
Going to concerts and watching other sports on tv

What is your favourite Scoil ‘quirk’?
Tennis ball at one one end of the pitch

Finally, if you could make one addition to Scoil in any way (don’t be restricted by the plausible!), what would it be?
Video analysis room with an analyst table to go full MNF* on matches

*Monday Night Football

Want to feature in the Stag’s Voice?

As a Club, we really pride ourselves on the close-knit community that we have at Scoil Uí Chonaill – help us in our effort in getting to know all of our members by filling out the Meet the Member’s Questionnaire! 

Other News

• The junior trad session takes place this Friday (Oct 5th) in the Clubhouse from 7pm-8pm. All are welcome.

• Sam Maguire will be making an appearance in Scoil on Saturday, 20th October, from 2pm til 6pm.

• Clontarf Residents Association AGM will be held on Monday the 15th October 2018 at 8pm in the Holy Faith Secondary School, Clontarf. 

  • Agenda includes update on the flood defences for the Clontarf Promenade and the campaign to Save St Anne’s.

Team News

Full reports (where available) below

• The Adult Footballers & Hurlers are both in the semi-finals of their respective Intermediate Championships,

  • First up is the Intermediate Hurling Championship semi-final vs St. Mark’s — throw-in @3pm on Saturday, October 6th in O’Toole Park.

  • Next up will be the Football semi-final vs Round Towers Lusk — throw-in @4.30pm on Saturday October 13th in Balgriffin following their 3-13 to 1-2 win over O’Tooles on Saturday.

• Narrow, but well deserved win, secures Cup Final spot for Ladies team.

• U15 Girls heroic in double defeat

• U10 Footballers squeeze two teams from one vs St Peregrines!

• New players shining skills for U9 & U10 camogie girls

• First game on the road sees the U9s take a crack at the amber & gold of Naomh Mearnog

• Scoil Uí Chonaill Under 7s (Scoil Academy) continue their preparations for league

LADIES FOOTBALL

Narrow, but well deserved win, secures Cup Final spot for Ladies team.

Following fine championship wins for the club hurlers and footballers in the past week, the Ladies team kept the good news flowing by beating Naomh Barrog in the Cup semi final on Sunday.

The final score was Scoil 2-11 Barrog 3-6, but in truth Scoil were in command for most of the game. Two fine solo goals by Aoife de Burca and Hannah Leahy on either side of half time put Scoil into a 2-8 to 0-2 lead. 

Barrog had been narrowly beaten in the Championship semi final the previous week and were clearly determined to avoid another defeat. They staged a remarkable comeback in the fourth quarter and aided by 2 fortunate goals got to within a couple of points in the final minutes. 

The Scoil players, unlike their the management team regained their composure and resumed control. They could even afford to miss a couple of scoreable frees before the final whistle. 

The opponents in the final are St Pats Wicklow and the game will be played in Scoil at a date to be arranged. The minor ladies team are playing in the championship semi final this Saturday at 3pm. 

U15 GIRLS FOOTBALL

vs Na Fianna Sept 29th

Another trip to Collinstown lane but the weather was much kinder this week.  This was  a close encounter where Na Fianna led at half time by 2.5 to 1.2. Our girls battled hard in the second half and were unlucky to go out in the end losing by a goal. The final score being Scoil 4.5 to Na Fianna 4.8. Scorers were Caoimhe, Holly and Siobhan.

Next game is a back match on Tuesday against Clanna Gael in Ringsend.

vs Clanna Gael Oct 2nd

This game was played under lights and the girls came across a a very well drilled team who scored 3.9 in the first half to our 2. In the second half their backs prevented many of our scores despite heroic attempts by our forwards. We did though slot in a few great goals and towards the end of the match scored some lovely points. Unfortunately it was too little too late and the game ended Scoil 4.8 to Clanna Gael 7.13.

Scorers were Sadhbh P Siobhan, Holly Lia and Caoimhe. Next game Saturday next no details up yet.

Our under 16 girls play Na Fianna on Sunday next at home in Championship semi final. Winners play Cuala B or Mary’s in the final two weeks later. 

U10 BOYS FOOTBALL

Despite only entering 1 team in the football this season we have been able to get 2 teams out as a few new faces have started this season. Saturdays game was out in St Peregrines on a nice sunny Saturday morning.

Unfortunately the overworked mentor got the teams mixed up on the day and put the wrong team on each pitch. This resulted in one Scoil team winning really well by a big score but the other unfortunate team having to battle hard against stronger opposition but being on the wrong end of a big score. 
Team Alan had Cillian, Jake, Isaac, Senan, Ruairi, Joe and Alex.Whilst this team racked up a big score what was more impressive was not the score but that the team are putting into practice all the things that we are doing in training – looking for passes, retaining their shape and most of all not giving the ball easily. 
Team Brendan had Temi, David, Richie, Conor K, Paddy, Callum and Reece.
This team had a much harder day and held their own for the first 10 mins scoring 1-2. Whilst they battled against a much stronger team the heads dropped following a few scores from the opposition. We kept going to the end with Callum in particular not giving up. The more the other team scored the more it seemed to motivate him to go after the ball and get in some hard tackles.

Next time hopefully will get it right.!

U9 & U10 GIRLS CAMOGIE

Girls under 10s Camogie

A trip to a sunny Howth on Saturday afternoon against Beann Eadair was the first outing of the weekend. 

Team Green –   In a break from the norm, we played all ‘air hurling’ for the full 2 games and we weren’t found wanting.  The girls got stuck in from the start and played with great skill and awareness especially Niamh and Taiya. We kept this up for the two games with great scores and good movement.  It was great to have Lauren back after injury and she played a full part in the whole team’s excellent performance 

Team Blue – The focus on striking from the hand in training certainly paid off on match day. From the off the girls were trying to lift and strike. Early on Cliodhna was quick to the ball and had two brilliant strikes from out of her hand. Sadhbh scored a wonderful goal from mid-field while Millie had her best game to date which included a well taken goal. A great team performance with improvements all round.

Girls under 9s

A slightly fresher morning waited us on Sunday for a blitz vs Fingallians and Erin’s Isle. 

Team Red – With some superb skills from all,including from our newest players, this team put on a great show against tough teams from Erin’s Isle and Fingallians. Aoife continued her hot goalscoring streak with 5 goals in the first match against the first Isle’s team. The next game was a classic against Fingallians with end to end action and bodies being put on the line, especially Alice and Aisling. In a game played at a tempo not usually seen from under 9s both sets of coaches were highly complimentary of all the players.  The final games was against the second Isle’s team and as can be expected after 2 games we were a little slower to start but we got back into the swing of things and finished strongly again. In all a great outing for this group.   

Team Yellow – Played three excellent matches against Erin’s Isle and two Fingallians teams. The games were fast and open with the ball moving from end to end at a very fast pace. Very pleasing to see all our players moving the ball quickly and keeping the opposition from on the back foot. Plenty of stars on the day but a standout performance from Alex who demonstrated great anticipation and skill on the ball. Also when we moved Orlaith to midfield opposition really struggled to pass this line.

Fixtures

We are getting ready for some local derbies next weekend  

Sat 6th    U10 Football vs Clontarf: Away @ 2pm

Sun 7th    U9 Football vs Raheny: Home @ 10am

U9 BOYS FOOTBALL

vs Naomh Mearnóg 29/09/2018

The u9 boys were on the road for the first time since before the summer break. They were joined by Aibhilín from the girl’s u9 team who’d heard Naomh Mearnóg donned Black and Amber stripes and fancied a crack at them. Overall the teams played very well and it’s great to see a little progress every week.

The importance of marking has been made clear to the Maroon team in recent weeks and they are starting to take this on board. This really enhanced the quality of the game and every score was hard fought. Brody played very well in defence and his long clearances releaved pressure when needed. The next step will be to make sure he looks up to try to pick out the right pass to his forwards. Jake was really in the mood and covered acres of ground, pulling out all the stops in midfield, while Matthew was superb in goals in the second half. There was some lovely passing by all of the team including Noah, Jamie and Sean and importantly the team stayed focussed for the full 40 minutes, playing right to the end. A very mature performance from the Maroons who are clearly listening to their coaches.

The blue team started slowly and tended to stand off our opponents in the first half. However, after re-grouping at half time, they delivered an excellent second half display with some great tackling and blocking. Caleb, in particular, tackled hard all day making himself big by putting strong arms out wide and getting his body between the opposition and his own goal. Darragh had a fine game in defence and showed great determination to get to the ball before his opponents. Rian had a super game in midfield and cleverly moved into space to win many kick-outs. He also bravely carried on after getting a knock to the face.

Finally, the Yellow’s had one of their best games of the season (for 3/4 of the match at least!). There were some superb team scores and Cónán was often the glue that linked them together with clever dummies and superb little give and go handpasses. Aibhilín and Zach (with his unerring right boot) were often the finishers. Rory was a dynamo as usual in midfield and at times his hand control looked like that of an NBA point guard. It was also great to see him organise his defence and make sure that everyone was doing their job. When Danny moved into defence his marking was top notch and on numerous occasions he made critical interceptions. In the last quarter a bit of daydreaing started to creep in (which is the second week in a row to see this from the Yellows!) and they conceded a couple of soft scores. But having played so well up to that point they could be forgiven.

Next week we find ourselves at home again. This time against St Pats Donabate in hurling @10 a.m..

NURSERY

The Scoil Uí Chonaill Under 7s (Scoil Academy) continued their preparations for league football by hosting 3 strong teams from Whitehall for football last weekend.  The standard of football was superb with great passing and tackling from all players.  All the training, both at home and at the club, is certainly paying off.
  
We started training in Larkin Community College on Monday night and its great to have access to such excellent facilities. Next up are hurling matches next Saturday away to Whitehall. Please be at St. Aidan’s School on Collins Avenue, Whitehall at 9.15am sharp for a 9.30am start. 

Nursery continued as usual for all the greens and yellows last Saturday morning at 9:30am and it was great to see some many new girls and boys. Congrats to our players of the week and as always new players are welcome to join in and have fun. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Fixtures