Congratulations to the three Castleknock GAA representatives on the Dublin under-14s who won the Leinster Championship and reached the All Ireland semi -inal against Cork.
The three girls Leah Mullins, Sinéad Comerford and Ciara McDonnell have been training hard with the Dublin academy for the past three years and are looking forward to a great footballing future with Castleknock and Dublin.
The winner of the U2 competition for 2 tickets to see U2 in Croke park is Joy Scott, from the US, who is travelling over to see the band play in Dublin.
A close second was Joy Redond from Wexford. It was a hard choice but ultimately the American Joy just swung it marginally.
Well done to all who entered and hard luck to Joy Redmond.
The tickets will be posted out to Joy Scott asap by airmail today.
Here is a small video of the band at their best.
Castleknock GAA held an Open Day in Somerton recently to allow members, friends and supporters to see the progress made on the club's grounds development programme so far.
The feedback from all was extremely positive in relation what has been achieved to date coupled with amazement in relation to the scale and size of the grounds.
With work still to be finished, all who attended could see that the club is fast approaching this particular finishing line and with the continued support of all, Somerton will soon be a source of pride to all in the community.
Great credit is due to the grounds development committee, the fund raising committee and all who have supported and continue to support and contribute to this project.
The recent warm weather had the pleasant dual effect of keeping the numbers high and the scoring low for the captain’s prize at Elmgreen Golf Club recently.
More than 170 members teed off in glorious sunshine for the major competition of the club’s calendar. The winner of the prize was Tony Garrigan, playing off a handicap of 12, and his net 62 strokes was one shot ahead of the runner-up Ray Smith. Ray is a brother of one of Ireland’s finest and best-known golf professionals, Des Smyth who won eight tournaments on the European Tour across four decades. Ray also had the lowest gross score playing off a handicap of 9.
Elmgreen Golf Club, an 18 hole parkland course in Castleknock, was established in 1997 and is now a major fixture on the local sporting map. The facility also boasts a pitch and putt course and a magnificent driving range. Elmgreen has more than 500 members from all areas of Dublin West and it is affiliated to the Golfing Union of Ireland.
The club is currently offering a special membership rate for people who join before the end of 2009. However places are strictly limited for this offer.
Elmgreen also boasts a ladies club with more than 200 members.
On September 11th, Elmgreen will hold its annual Golf Classic. This important fund-raiser is an opportunity for local businesses and individuals to help in the maintenance and development of Elmgreen as an important local sports facility in the local west Dublin community.
Teams are available and sponsorship of tee boxes, greens or prize contributions will be warmly welcomed.
While Castleknock GAA club was inviting people to reflect on their work at Somerton over last weekend, the club’s under-13 hurling team was busy on the field of play. This was in the yearly PJ Troy hurling tournament where the club played in Division 2 and made a bit of history by becoming the first team from the club to win this prestigious hurling competition.
It was a very warm day in the Dublin mountains and the hurling seemed to compare to the weather. The hosts Thomas Davis provided a great setting and superb hospitality while also very strong opposition for Castleknock in the final group game. Eight clubs overall were represented in the Division 2 competition - Thomas Davis, Naomh Fionbarra, Scoil Uí Chonaill, St. Sylvester’s and Skerries Harps as well as the two Dublin 15 sides, St. Brigid’s and Castleknock.
Skerries Harps provided the opposition for Castleknock in the opening game and a good display from the Dublin 15 team got them off to a winning start.
After lunch it was down to some serious hurling with a hard fought draw for Castleknock with the hosts Thomas Davis left the eventual outcome in some doubt as the shadow of points difference began to emerge. Davis then went on to beat Naomh Fionbarra by six points when meant that Castleknock subsequently had to beat the Cabra side by more than that margin in order to win the trophy. This was achieved with some style as the Castleknock team took the match by eight points in a superb hard fought victory against a big physical Finbarr’s side.
This win sealed a prominent place in the club’s history for these young players.
The victory was just reward for all the hard work and training the team has put in throughout the year. Mentors say that this large squad of players has bought into the idea that it is a 25 man game and not just 15 aside, so the efforts of all are appreciated and acknowledged.
Castleknock under-13 hurling squad: Alex Hannigan, Cian Kelly, Daniel Carroll, Sean Cummins, Michael McKiernan, Conor Gormally, Kevin Stephenson, Colum Breslin, Shane Coffey, Jordan Toland, Sean Dunning, Luke Whelan, Kane Hogan, Cathal Sheerin, Richie McInerney, Eoin McDonald-Kelly, Daire Murphy, Daragh Conway, Adam Coffey, Aidan O'Gara, Ciaran Fay, Colum McGovern, Donal Heveran, Michael McCloskey, Jamie Holland.
