Féile Finalists

Our under 15 girls did us proud last week-end as they reached the final of the Division 3 Feile nA nGael. With 7 divisions in total and no regular team playing at Under 15 level the girls were placed in  a high division, which shows how highly regarded the Kevins girls are.

Kevins disposed of the hosts Westmanstown Gaels in their opening round robin game on a score-line of 4-1 to 1-1, before beating St Peregrines 0-4 to 1-0. In their third game they beat Raheny 3-1 to 1-0. Kevin’s were going strong, but their last opponent of the day were Crumlin who needed to beat us to stay in the tournament and if they did, it would send us into a 3 way tie. Crumlin started strong and led at half time, but the girls dug deep and came from 5 points behind to snatch the win by a point. Final score Kevins 2-0 Crumlin 2-0. This set the girls up for a semi-final game against St Maur’s who were placed 2nd in their group. Similar to their game against Crumlin , St Maurs also took the lead at half time, but the girls once again came from behind to win 2-0 to 1-1. It was a long day for the players who played in various conditions, mostly wet! Despite the soaking the players, mentors and parents returned home to prepare for their final on Sunday against Fingallians in the Trinity College Sports Ground.

Despite getting off to a good start and going ahead by a goal, the Fingallians girls got on top late in the first half with their strong physical presence and good free taking. Kevins did spark a comeback late in the 2nd half, but left it too late. Final score was 3-7 to 1-3. We would like to thanks all the players, mentors, parents and sponsors for making this weekend happen. Also many thanks to the large number of supporters who travelled to support the girls in the final! Many thanks to Bricolage, Media IQ, Evergreen and Camden Bites & Brews for their sponsorship.

Kevins have won a few hurling Féile titles, but never a camogie title. Our first camogie final was in 2017 when Kevin’s were beaten by Ballyboden Saint Endas in a Division 5 final in O’Toole Park. However, this is the first time in the clubs history that both the girls and boys have reached a final in the same year. Our first hurling Féile title was in 1983 when our boys won the Dublin Division C against local rivals St Michaels & St James. Two years later we won our second Division 5 Feile title, which was mainly comprised of Under 13 hurlers. The final was played in a mucky Fairview Park against our neighbours Liffey Gaels again and it went down to to the wire. Despite playing in a lower league, a number of these boys from 83 and 85 went on to represent the county at minor and senior level. Kevin’s re-established it’s hurling nursery in St Clares in the early 1990s which produced a good crop of hurlers and camogs including the legendary Jenny Kearns who has led the girls to a number of camogie finals. This nursery group culminated in a Féile Division 2 win in 2005, when Kevins beat St Oliver Plunkett’s / Eoghan Ruadh in the final. A number of these boys still hurl at adult level and are the elder statesmen on our Junior A squad today. Our last title was in 2013 when we beat St Oliver Plunkett’s / Eoghan Ruadh in Division 4. We’ve had some some success since. In 2014 our combined team Rialto Gaels made the Division 4 final, only to be pipped by St Maurs in the final game. Many of the players from these teams have progressed to our adult hurling squads and some even made county! Last year our Féile team made the Shield final, only to be beaten by Naomh Barrog.

On the 14th May we will attempt to add to our hurling titles as our Under 15 boys take on Kilmacud Crokes in the Division 6 final. Kevins and Crokes under 15s have met a few times recently, drawing with them in last years league and subsequently loosing the league final to them. Kevins have also met Kilmacud Crokes in the Féile round robin this year, where they also drew. However, Kilmacud Crokes went through to the semi-finals as 1st placed due to score difference. This meant Kevin’s had to play Ballinteer Saint Johns in and away semi final. Despite playing a strong BSJ team, Kevin’s came away with a narrow 1 point win on a final score of 1-12 to 3-5. In a rare twist of fate Kevins have been drawn at home for the final so we’d love to get good support out on the line. Many thanks to Element Post for their kind support of these boys!

So get the date in your diaries! 14th May @11am V Kilmacud Crokes!