Dear Member,
Apologies for not being in touch via e-mail before now. We had some technical problems. Hopefully, you received 2 text messages in the past few weeks. If not we may have the wrong mobile no. so you can e-mail the correct one to us. Also I feel we may have some incorrect e-mail addresses. If any of your friends who signed up do not receive this e-mail you might ask them to e-mail me at ogradym@indigo.ie
Golf Classic.
We are in the final planning stages of our planning for our 2nd golf classic at Castlewarden Golf and Country Club on Thursday May 29th. It promises to be another great day. We still have room for about 10 teams who can play in the morning. We also need as many tee sponsors as possible. It costs €400 for a team of 4 and € 100 to sponsor a tee. Maybe you could get a team or a tee sponsor. Let me know by Friday May 23rd as that is the final day for going to the printers.
Our Committee.
We would dearly like if we could add a few more names to our committee. We meet once a month at Na Fianna for about one hour. Give me a call if you would be willing to join us. We will be having our AGM in November.
Dublin Colleges Team.
Congrats to our colleges team and their mentors for winning the first Leinster trophy this year.They were an excellent team and were unlucky to have lost the All-Ireland semi-final to Thurles CBS.
Big Games Ahead
Our senior hurling team will get the ball rolling with a quarter final against Westmeath in Portlaoise. We all can remember what happened two years ago when on a waterlogged pitch we came out second to Westmeath. We are a much improved team but so are Westmeath under Johnny Dooley and they have already won a trophy this year.
We need big support for this game to help our players get through to the semi-final. Wexford await the winners on June 14 and after last year’s narrow defeat this is a great opportunity to get revenge and advance to the Leinster final. This is a real possibility and it would be a fabulous occasion for Dublin hurling. Dublin drew with Wexford in Wexford Park in the league game in March and that loss of a point has sent Wexford to division 2 of the league for next year. We played most of the second half with 14 players and Wexford got a last minute goal to draw. However, Wexford in a Leinster semi-final are a different proposition but this Dublin team is improving all the time.
Our u-21’s start the defence of their crown against Laois at Portlaoise on Wed. May 28th. Laois will be no easy touch as they are working on a youth policy and a lot of their u-21’s are on their senior team. Tom Fitzpatrick and his team will be well aware of the danger of Laois. The winners will have Kilkenny at home on Wed. June 18th. Who can ever forget the last u-21 game in Parnell Park when Dublin beat Offaly in a classic to win the Leinster title. Another classic could be in store if we can get over Laois on Wed. week. Again big support is needed.
Our minors will not be in action now until after the Leaving Certificate Exam.
Best of luck to all our teams.
Members Draw.
Our first draw for a Parnell Park pass for the year was won by Patrick Martin from Blanchardstown. We will have another draw for the second Parnell Park at our golf classic on May 29th.
Don’t forget to wear your Friends of Dublin Hurling cap at all our games .
Good Suggestions.
Send us an e-mail if you have any suggestions how we can better help the promotion of hurling in Dublin. The best suggestion that is possible to implement will win a copy of the 3 volume History of Dublin GAA for the sender.
Go dtí an chéad uair eile, bain taitneamh as an iomáint.
Micheál O’Gráda
ogradym@indigo.ie
