A great turn out for the second week of our Easter Camps with over 100 of our juvenile members in attendance. Our teenage members are pictured above at the end of their advanced camp. No doubt all the extra hard work perfecting both hurling and football skills will be showcased on the pitch over the coming weeks.

If you missed out on these camps, never fear. Summer is coming and there are plenty more football and hurling filled weeks on the horizon. Keep these dates in your diary!

Mon 16th – Fri 20th July: Cúl Camps (6-12yrs)
Tues 24th – Thurs 26th July: Advanced Camp (12-16yrs)

ONENESS GALA

As you know from our Club launch night and previous newsletters, we’re looking to reach out to our US family, friends and colleagues to support our Oneness Gala fundraiser in Chicago in September. We picked up some great contacts from members at the Club launch night and we wanted to outline the way in which these contacts will be used.

The 3 step process is as follows:

1. Club member passes on their name and the name of their contact to a member of the Committee

2. Committee forward a copy of the ‘Introduction’ letter to the Club member to email to their Contact with some information on the event, a link to the promotional Video and the contact details of our event coordinator, Sheila Kelly and

3. Sheila follows up with all the details of the event and the many ways it can be supported from taking a table to auction prizes to sponsorship.

We’d love to hear from anyone else who has some contacts in the US too or maybe you have a corporate contact in Ireland who would be interested in sponsoring an element of the event. It might be a cousin working for Kerry Group, a friend living in Chicago or a work colleague with great connections – everything can help!

You can contact:

Ramona Kennedy:ramonaorourke@eircom.net 086 857 9000
Niamh Farrelly: niamhmurphy255@gmail.com 086 311 1895
Dave Walley: dwalley110@gmail.com 087 235 9679
Sheila Kelly: sheilakelly@oneness2018.com 086 878 2860

SECURE THE FUTURE OF OUR CLUB

Interested in becoming more involved in the running of the club? Workshops introducing corporate governance for sports club run in conjunction with the NEIC are being held in the coming weeks. This gives a valuable opportunity for club members to get involved in the future running of the club.
Wed 25th April @ 6:30pm – 9pm Marris Football Club, Richmond Rd.
Thurs 10th May @ 6:30pm- 9pm Laurence O’Tooles Recreational Centre.

If you are interested in attending or would like more information about these workshops, please email scoil.pro.eoc@gmail.com

MEET ADAM WILSON

This dual-star appreciates the simpler things in life - home match banter and a good aul stretch, Scoil's very own GI Joe... — This dual-star appreciates the simpler things in life – home match banter and a good aul stretch, Scoil’s very own GI Joe…

How long have you been involved in Scoil Uí Chonaill?
First togged out at 8 years old, so nearly 21 years now.

Do you have any nicknames? How do you like to be addressed?
Willo usually.

Where do you hail from?
Born in the North Strand. Mother hails from Carrickmines, father hails from Tanzania- neither a GAA stronghold!

How did you come to be involved in Scoil?
My mother brought me down after getting recommended to her by her friend (Orla O’Carroll).
.

Briefly describe your Scoil career as a player / mentor / contributor, if any.
Adult hurler and footballer for the past 12 years, some great league and playoff wins, most notably last year in the hurling. Still won’t be satisfied until the two championships are won!

What was the funniest thing that has happened to you in Scoil?
Wasn’t funny at the time but I can kind of look back and laugh now: We were playing Good Counsel away in a division 5 adult league game, probably about 10 years ago. We needed to win to make the playoffs. We were up by 2 points, well into added time in the last play of the match, ball gets played across our goal, I slid to try and put it out for a 45, I ended up putting it in the top corner of our own goal, Robbie Keane would of been proud of the finish!

What would you say you are most known for within Scoil?
Maurice Fitzgerald side-lines, and more time stretching than playing.

What has been your greatest Scoil moment / achievement?
We’ve had some great moments in both football and hurling playoffs. Most recently the Towers win last year. But the one that stand out for me is when we played Skerries Harps about 9 years in a Intermediate championship game, they were playing division 2 football we were playing division 5. We bet them in extra-time in a savage game of football, it gave us massive belief going forward.

If Scoil was a country, what would it be? Why?
Iceland, small population, still able to qualify for major tournaments

What is your profession / field of study / passion?
Signalman Irish Defence Forces. Strength and conditioning on the side.

What are your favourite hobbies outside of GAA?
Anything sport science related. Watching most sports in particular Rugby, Snooker and boxing.

What is your favourite sporting moment / sportsperson?
Sexton’s drop goal against France this year is right up there, along with Clucko’s winning free in 2011.

What is your favourite Scoil ‘quirk’?
The banter on the sideline at home matches can be quiet amusing.

If you could make one addition to Scoil in any way, what would it be?
I think with the weather is what is it is these days, an all-weather pitch is going to be a necessity in the future. A heater for the gym, and a cold water immersion room would be next on my list.

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

Under 9 hurling team are looking for an experienced hurling coach to help out with training sessions. Contact John Kelly on 086 606 2525.
Congratulations to the Dublin Minors and our very own Hannah Leahy following a great win against Kildare in the Leinster Championship Semi-Final.

TEAM NEWS

The AIG Féile is set to take place this Saturday 14th April in St Patrick’s Donabate. Scoil’s Under 13s and 14s girls have been hard at work preparing for this competition over the past couple of weeks. Get out to support the girls on Saturday!
A great win for the Under 13 boys following a last minute point against Faughs.
Congratulations to Liam, Jessica and Fionn – Nursery Players of the Week (pictured below)
Nursery continue to train in Scoil every Saturday morning from 9:30am – 11am. All newcomers welcome as always!

Hannah Dubs .jpg

POW 14th.jpg

UNDER 15 GIRLS

v Round Towers Clondalkin 7/4/18

Owing to injuries and illness and holidays we had only the bare fifteen to play this game while Round Towers arrived with 22 players. Add to that the fact that many of the girls had arrived home exhausted from their Carlingford trip the previous evening and we could see we were up against it. So it proved. Round Towers went into the attack straight away with two points but as the match went on we began to catch up and were just four points behind at half time 3.5 to our 3.1. Tiredness played its part in the second half when Towers attacked with gusto playing their seven subs with their fresh legs against our tired players. At the final whistle it was Round Towers who came out deserving winners Round Towers 7.111. Scoil 4.2.

Despite their win there were some great performances from our girls. Our two new members Amelia and Liadan proved to be great additions to the team. Sadhbh Murphy played her heart out and Holly slammed in three goals which were cleverly passed to her by Siofra M in a great display of team spirit. Aine played with guts and determination but overall the tired legs proved to be their undoing.

No game next Saturday because of Feile and we wish the girls every success.

UNDER 10 CAMOGIE

v Erins Isle/ Fingallians 7/4/18

To ensure that matches got played the under 9’s and 10’s girls teams moved west for the weekend and played Saturday and Sunday in National Sports Academy in Abbotstown. While for some girls this mean playing 5 games over the weekend, it meant that after the bad weather, we got to finally see all the efforts of training on the pitch

Team: Aoife, Nessa, Ella, Aoibhinn, Caoimhe, Eabha, Taiya, Abigail Alex, Laura, Aibhilín, Sadhbh, Niamh, Aishat, Emily, Joya, Priya, Millie, Martha, Orlaith , Lauren

Saturday was the first camogie outing of the year for the year for the u10’s girls. The weather disrupted season meant the girls were a bit rusty starting off but they soon got into their stride and produced strong performances particularly against Erin’s Isle.

Team Dave/Aidan had many notable performers none more so than Tayia who’s striking out of hand was a joy to behold. Nessa and Caoimhe made some excellent stops in goal and their long puck outs put Scoil on the front foot. Abigail’s ground hurling was of the highest standard, clearly benefiting from some practice with hurling mad Dad, Liam. Aoibhinn battled hard while Sadhbh cleared plenty of ball from the back. Lauren and Emily are a real sister act always eager to get involved in the action. Aoife showed that not only is she a great goalie but she has a good eye for goal too given half a chance. Eabha proved she has a strong future in camogie as well as football (Dad Aidan take note!).

Team Sinead/Sean battled hard from start to finish and showed a fast improving skill level following the slow start to the season. Aishat dominated the play as usual and her persistence for our first goal was typical of the effort put in by the whole team all afternoon. It was great to see the terrific twins Joya and Priya back in Scoil colours and their contribution was immense throughout. One special mention must go to Alex who got a bad belt in an accidental collision but carried on as if nothing had happened in true Scoil ui Chonaill tradition.

UNDER 9 CAMOGIE

v Raheny/ Clann na Gael 8/4/18

Team: Sinead/Aidan: Aisling, Aifric, Aoife, Abbey, Sarah, Orlaith, Ciana, Caoimhe, Emily,

Played 2 matches against Raheny and Clann na Gael and played very well from start to finish. In both games we started very fast and were scoring goals regularly with excellent ground striking. With everyone getting an opportunity to play in every position, all our skills were put to good use. Emily and Aisling never stopped running all day. Sarah and Abbey worked a great partnership stopping goals as well as scoring goals in the second game. Aoife, Orlaith and Caoimhe played well in all positions with some great striking and blocking. Aifric and Ciana both got stuck in with some important blocks and passes. It was a fantastic display for our second camogie outing of the year for this team and with more practice and concentration this team will be hard to beat.

Team: Sean: Nessa, Roisin, Taiya, Alex, Aibhilin, Lena, Cliodhna, Emilie, Blaithín

Had a very successful morning with all players contributing to two fantastic displays against Clann na Gael and Raheny. While the games were competitive in the first half on the ground as soon as the signal was given to start lifting there was only one team in it. A word of mention to Blaithín who played her first go-games match as able substitute for our next youngest player Roisín when she got tired.