Super Sunday … And A Good Week-End

As the weather improves, so too does the mood and the on field performances which was a notable factor in this weekends match results. But we also have other activities in the club… Recently appointed Healthy Club officer Gabrielle Breatnach has created a lovely ambiance in the club house in Donore Avenue and with the help of actor Timmy Creed they have gathered some singers every Wednesday night. Of course there’s tae and chats involved also! All are welcome and they aim to learn a new song each week!. Meanwhile back on the pitch, kids and teenage rounders has re-commenced for the month of May. The boys and girls have been meeting in big number every Friday night and the plan is to play some games against opposition clubs in the coming weeks. Last Friday was a particularly beautiful night for rounders as ~25 boys and girls gathered to learn the art of batting, catching, throwing and team work.

Across in Dolphin Park the Under 16 girls hosted our neighbours Good Counsel / Liffey Gaels in a league Division 3 tie winning 4-1 to 1-0 in front of a good crowd of spectators. This kick started a marvellous week-end of games. On the camogie front, our u10 ninjas were showcasing their skills against Erin Go Bragh on Saturday after helping the boys team out earlier that morning. Our Under 12s had great games against Saint Oliver Plunkett’s / Eoghan Ruadh. Not to be out done, both the Under 13s & 14s won against Whitehall Colmcille & St Jude’s respectively. The 14s game was a repeat of last year’s Championship final. From a camogie perspective, our under 16s wrapped up a great week-end by winning their second game on Sunday against league leaders Erins Isle. It was a fierce battle with the girls outscoring the opposition 4-5 to 1-0 in the second half to win 5-6 to 2-4. This now puts the Kevins girls on top of their league group on points difference.

Our Kevin’s Heroes and Donore Credit Union ABC Nursery went ahead as usual on Saturday morning and our under 8 to 11 hurling teams were also in action, hosting Ballyboden SE (u9) in Loreto and Fingallians (u10) and Erins Isle (u11) in Dolphin Park. Our Under 8s travelled to play Ballyboden SE in Cherryfield and our Under 12s received a walkover against Setanta. This places our Under 12s second in their grading league and they await details of what division they will be placed in for the rest of the year. Saturday is a busy morning for the club and we are always on the lookout for volunteers. If coaching is not your thing, you can get involved with other activities such as registration, or car parking etc.

Kevin’s adult teams were on the road on Sunday. Rumour had it that our Tipp born captain was running workshops during the week to show the Dublin lads how to make and wrap sangiches for GAA matches. iPhones were being charged and google maps was the most commonly accessed app leading up to Sunday. Our Junior A hurlers travelled to Glenisk Park in Tullamore to take on Naomh Feichín (Louth) in their Leinster League Division 5 Final at 2.45 pm. Our Senior Mixed and Intermediate Ladies Rounders teams were also on the road to the Midlands. They were travelling to The Heath in Laois for their championship group games at an earlier time 12.30pm and 2pm where they were taking on The Heath (Laois) and Na Piarsaigh (Limerick).

Our Senior Mixed Rounders game was the first time since 1910 that the club was making it’s senior debut. Back then it was a hurling game versus the Rathmines Hurling Club. Their first game was fast from the opening with some good play was witnessed from both sides. Rathmines led 4-0 to 1-0 at half time. Kevin’s reduced the margin but eventually lost 6-0 to 3-1. The first Kevin’s men to play senior hurling included J. O’Neill, F. Jordan, J. Cahill, J. Carroll, T. Carroll, J. Doyle, P. O’Neill J. Connolly, W. Robinson, T. Nolan, J. Dunne, P. Kearney, J. Mooney, J. Maguire, M. Creedon, J. Murphy and H. Byrne. while their first game was a loss, by May 1911 Kevin’s had reached their first Senior hurling league division two final. The team included founding members and some who would fight and loose their lives in the 1916 Rebellion. 113 years on and the club has diversified a little, with far more female participation and a Senior GAA Rounders team that includes players from mainland Europe and North America lining out. Thankfully we live in more peaceful times!

The Senior Mixed Rounders game started with strong fielding from both sides but with the more experienced Heath squad nudging ahead in the 2nd innings. It wasn’t until the 3rd innings that the Kevins batters found their mojo and put 7 runs on the board to make it level scores going into the 4th. The 4th innings was a stalemate with neither teams getting runs on the board. Kevins held The Heath to 3 runs in the last innings. With only only batter we managed to get 4 runs with Erica Meslin having the honour of getting home for our first ever senior win! Final score was 12-11 with scores by innings as follows 1-1, 4-0, 3-7, 0-0, 3-4. The Ladies game was a little more one sided as Kevin’s took an early lead against Na Piarsaigh and eventually winning 32-1 with our girls batting only twice.

As the Rounders squads were tucking into some tae and sangos in Laois, the adult hurlers were warming up in Offaly. It was 5 years since we reached a Leinster League final down in Wexford Park, so the excitement was building. Kevin’s were the more impressive side in the first half and their striking of scores from long range was difficult for the Louth side to manage. However, St Fechin’s kept within reach with a number of scores from play and placed balls. At half time Kevins led 2-12 to 0-9.  The 2nd half was a more spirited affair with the Louth side introducing some pacey subs, but the Kevins boys kept themselves ahead with a couple of goals, finishing the game off on a final score of 4-18 to 1-16. Chairperson Vincent Hennessy noted that the boys have added a Leinster title to match the girls won a few weeks ago and we are only in early May, making it a unique double for Kevins in 2023. This is testament to the huge dedication of so many people, players, coaches, mentors and volunteers.  Manager Pat Power also thanked the players and supporters and noted that while there was a lot done, there was more to do. We were unsure at this stage if he was referring to the rest of the season or the celebrations, as the group headed back to Lyster’s in Harold’s Cross to watch video footage of the final and to top off a Super Sunday and a pretty good week-end overall. If you missed the match and the after party, you can watch the game here. Thanks to St Fechin’s and our own Timmy Creed for the match day photos.

What’s coming up? Tonight’s Lotto jackpot will be €1,900. You can play online using the secure Clubforce link by clicking here. All funds raised go towards the running our multiple activities. Many thanks as always for your continued support.

We are also looking for volunteers to help out at the annual Harold’s Cross Festival between 2-3 pm this coming Saturday the 13th May. This is a marvellous local event that Kevins attend and promote the club activities at. Please email pro.kevins.dublin@gaa.ie if you can spare an hour to help promote the club in the community.

The big upcoming sporting event is our Féile Hurling Final next Sunday the 14th May at 11am when our Under 15 boys host 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!

We are running a child safeguarding course on 17th May in St Catherine’s School, Donore Ave. All club volunteers involved with coaching must be Garda vetted and have attended a Child Safeguarding course. To register please contact ChildrensOfficer.kevins.dublin@gaa.ie

In the coming weeks, our Adult Rounders teams will play their first home games of the season on the 21st May against Michael Glaveys of Roscommon. Despite our progress in the last year, we have never beaten our friends from the West. however, these games are always closely contested!. So it will be an interesting match up for spectators.

We are also planning a Fun Day for the Club on the 28th May. Details to be announced soon, but as always we will be looking for volunteers for 2 hours.

Are you interested in social games? We are back partnering with St James Gaels on the social hurling for parents interested in learning the skills or retired hurlers looking for a bit of exercise. We have social rounders for both men and women and there are also plans to establish social camogie in the coming weeks. Contact pro.kevins.dublin@gaa.ie for more information.

Finally if you have club news or would like to have your team photos, match results, or reports etc mentioned please contact pro.kevins.dublin@gaa.ie. If you haven’t already, please ensure your team has a representative in the PR & Comms Group so we have the correct updates for matches, changes to matches and other updates etc.