Naomh Fionnbarra GAA Club Cabra, Dublin

There were just 4 games on for the Club over the weekend, with lots at stake in each match. First up was our Senior Hurlers in the promotion semi final in division 2 of the league. The opponent’s were Setanta in the Bogies. Our lads started the game brightly some some long range scores, and kept the momentum up right throughout the 60 mins to run out convincing winner 4-19 to 1-12. We now await the winners of the other semi final between Ballinteer and Raheny to see who we face for a spot in division 1 next season.

This game was followed in the Bogies by our Junior Hurlers in their promotion playoff final against Ballyboden. This was for a place in division 4 next year. Despite being 8 points down at halftime our lads came back strongly, but in the end were unable to get on level terms, loosing out in the end by just a single point. They have made huge progress this season and will hopefully push on again next year.

Also in the Bogies was the Minor Camogie Shield final against Cuala. On the day we were no match for Cuala who ran out deserving winners, however the girls can be really proud having reached in shield final in their first year together as a team. Well done to the mentors; Thomas Gleeson and Catherine Kirby.

At 12pm in O’Toole Park, Crumlin our Minor Footballers played Trinity Gaels in the final of the B Championship. In our 68 years we had never won a minor football championship, and the lads went on to make history after a great display of attacking football. In reality the game was over in the first half, with our lads on top in every sector of the field. For more details on the game check out our match report section.

The Club AGM will take place in the Clubhouse on Thursday 12th December at 8pm. All nominations papers must be returned to Club Secretary by 28th November

The juvenile season came to an end on Saturday with the final round of football games in the Go Game leagues. Our U8s, U9s and U10s were all in action in the Bogies against Trinity Gaels, Beann Eadair and Clontarf respectively. Despite the tough under foot conditions all the players put in a good display to finish the season off in style. Our Under 11s travelled to Castleknock to play in a blitz competition and came home with winners medals.

Our U14 camogie girls played Lucan in their league game on Saturday. In a tough game the girls ran out 4-9 to 1-2 winners and now face Ballinteer in their final game next Saturday. This weekend also saw our new Minor Camogie team in championship action against Plunketts in the Bogies. This is only the girls second match together as a team but they put in a great display running out 3-3 to 0-3 winners to progress to the next round.

On Saturday our U16 footballers travelled out to St Annes Park to play Craobh Chiaran in the final of the Football League. We have had some great battles with Chiarans during the year, in both hurling and football at this level, and Saturday’s game was no different. We started the game poorly and allowed them to build up a bit of a lead. Although we did manage to claw it back in the second half it was ultimately what cost us the game. A late penalty for Chiaran’s saw them run out 3-12 to 2-11 winners. It was a disappointing way for our lads season to finish after promising so much during the year, but these lads will be back next year, raring to go.

Also in St Annes Park on Saturday our U21 footballers played Clontarf in the first round of the Championship. U21s these days is a mixture of minor, senior and junior players and its hard to know what to expect in the championship. Our lads put in a great performance but in the end were unable to stop the Clontarf forward line, and they progressed to the next round with 7 points to spare. Our lads can now look forward to the hurling championship later this month.

On Sunday morning it was the turn of the Intermediate footballers to play in the quarter final of the B championship against the Garda in Westmanstown. This was our first game in a good few weeks and the rustiness showed early on in the game. Although we did play some good football, especially in the second half it was Garda who advanced to the semi final winning 1-11 to 1-4 in the end.

Saturday 9th November

U8 football V. Trinity Gaels 10am Bogies

U9 football V. Beann Eadair 11am Bogies

U10 football V. Clontarf 12pm Bogies

U11 football V. Castleknock 11am Porterstown

U14 Camogie V. Lucan S. 12pm Lucan

U16 football League Final V. Craobh Ciaran 3pm Clonsaugh

U21 football V. Clontarf 2.30pm St Annes

Sunday 10th November

Intermediate football V. Garda 11am Westmanstown

Minor Camogie V. Plunketts 11am Bogies

Junior 6 football V. Civil Service 11am Islandbridge

If last weekend was one of our worst as far as results went this season, well this weekend was one of our best. The weekend started with the final round of go games fixtures of the year. Our U8 travelled out to Sword to play St Finans in what turned out to be a great game both teams winning 2 of the games. Our U9s and U10 were in the Bogies against Sylvesters and Peregrines and both had good close contests. Our U11 hurlers finished their season off away to Cuala. All these teams will have one more round of football games before the season finishes up.

Our U13 footballers travelled out to Ballinteer to play their last league game of the year in Marley Park. We still had a chance of promotion but the game didn’t go our way and we lost out by 8 points. Although silverware has escaped this team, this year they should still be very proud as they have made huge progress this season and big credit must be given to the mentors (Eoin Sweetman, Paul Ward, Colm Ryan and Chris Maher) for keeping the lads going.

Also on Saturday our U16 footballers travelled up the Navan Road to play Brigids in the Division 3 league semi final. The game was played on their all weather pitch, just as well as the wind and rain lashed down on the players from start to finish. Playing with the wind in the 1st half we went in with a 5 point lead but knew the home side would come at us strongly in the 2nd half. They did just that but our lads put in a great display to hold out to win by 1-10 to 1-7. We now face Chiarans in next weeks final.

On Sunday there was 3 big games down for decision in the Bogies. First up was our senior hurlers in their last league game against Whitehall. Knowing that a win would secure a promotion playoff spot, our lads put in a very solid performance to win by 1-17 to 0-10 with Carl Turner getting the only goal of the game in the first half. Whitehall never really looked like causing an upset but our lads still did what they had to and set up a playoff with Setanta later this month to try to get back up to division 1 hurling.

The second game of the day was the junior 5 hurlers up against Clontarf. Like the seniors, our lads knew a win would secure a playoff spot. In what turned out to be a very tough physical encounter our lads held their nerve to win out by 0-13 to 0-10.  We could still face Clontarf again in the playoff but our lads will be happy to have secured a home draw for the game.

Last, but certainly not least, was the minor B football championship semi final between ourselves and Skerries. Having won by 10 points against the same opposition in the league, we went into the game with high hopes but knew we had to keep our feet on the ground. We were much the better team again yesterday but it took us a long time to really kill the game off. A first half penalty from Lee Cooney left us with a 4/5 point cushion for most of the game but it was not until Sean Murphy netted in the second half that we pulled away from them. In the end it finished 2-11 to 0-5.

Saturday 2nd November

U8 Hurling V. St Finians 10am Rivervalley

U9 Hurling V. Sylvesters 10am Bogies

U10 Hurling V. Peregrines 11am Bogies

U11 Hurling V. Cuala 11am Shanganagh Pk

U13 Football V. Ballinteer 3pm Marlay Park

U16 Football V. Brigids 3pm Russell Pk (league semi final)

Sunday 3rd November

Senior Hurling League V. Whitehall 10am Bogies

Junior Hurling League V. Clontarf 11am Bogies

Minor Football Championship semi final V. Skerries 12pm Bogies

Last weekend turned out to be a very disappointing week as far as results are concerned with the Club, as we lost some very important games. The first game of the weekend was the under 16 B championship final in O’Toole Park between ourselves and Craobh Chiaran. The game was influenced by a very strong wind which favoured Chiaran’s in the 1st half. They went in at halftime with an eight point lead. Our lads came out strong in the second half and reduced the lead bit by bit. With 5 minutes left we got the all important goal which levelled up the game and sent it into extra time. Chiaran’s again built up a lead (4 points) in the first have but unfortunately we were unable to claw this back in the second period, and Chiaran’s ran out 4-12 to 1-18 winners. This was very disappointing way for the hurling season to end for the lads, having put in such an effort all year. They do still have the football league semi final to look forward to this week.

On Sunday our supporters faced a dilemma as we had 3 big games all down for decision at the same time. First up our senior hurlers played Cuala in the Senior A Championship in O’Toole Park. Again the breeze was blowing straight down the field here, and favoured Cuala in the 1st half. We were still well in the game 20 minutes in but 3 sloppy goals before halftime left us with an uphill struggle. We never made much impression on the score board in the second half and were well beaten, 4-12 to 1-6. This leaves us in a ‘winner take all’ clash with Na Fianna to see who stays up in the A championship for next season.

The Minor hurlers played neighbours Plunketts in the Phoenix Park on Sunday in the quarter final of the championship. In a game that both sets of players put in a good display in poor conditions, its was Plunketts who edged the contest winning by 4 points. Our minor camogie team played their first game also in the championship but also lost out to Lucan Sarsfields.

Following the heavy rain last week, there was a lot of pitch inspections on last Friday evening to see if games would go ahead, and thankfully most of them did go ahead as planned. The U8s made the long journey out to Man O War for their game, while the U9s made the shorter trip to St Kevins College to play Ballymun. Both teams put in good performances in difficult conditions. In the Bogies the U10s hosted a blitz competition between ourselves, Na Fianna and Peregrines. There were some great games and all the kids went home with well deserved medals from the day. Our U11 footballers also recorded a good win away to Round Towers in Clondalkin.

Our U13s also played in the Bogies against Vincents in the football league. Our lads put in a great display in awful weather conditions and ran out winners 8-11 to 2-8. This leaves us just one point of 2nd place with one game left in the league. This game is away to Ballinteer in two weeks time, so hopefully the lads will push on and secure promotion. The U16 hurling game on Saturday afternoon was called off by Faughs. This was to be our lads last game of the season in the league. They have finished in 3rd place in division 2 and can now look forward to the championship final next Saturday in Parnell Park.

The big game of the day on Saturday was the U14 Camogie championship final against Vincents in Russell Park. The girls were slow to get going in the 1st half but put in a great display in the 2nd and were very unlucky to lose out by just 2 points. This was a disappointing end to what was a great year for this team who also lost out in the Feile final in O’Toole Park in April. They are however still in the hunt for league promotion.

On Sunday we had two big football championship games. The U15s were away to Naomh Olaf in their semi final. It was a game in which we never really got going and we were well beaten by a very strong home team. We wish them all the best in the final. The minors were in quarter final action in the Bogies against Na Fianna. In contrast to the U15s our lads hit the ground running and never let up, in the end winning out by 1-14 to 1-8 to qualify for the semi final in a fortnight’s time.