2 TUESDAY 31 MAY 2011 EVENING HERALD

AAllll--IIrreellaanndd sseemmii--ffiinnaall:: Congratulations to theDublin U14 panel and their managementteam on their great win over Galway in theAll-Ireland semi-final. Dublin saw off thechallenge from the Connacht championsGalway by 6-6 to 2-9 Dublin will now take onCork in the All-Ireland final on the weekendof June 11/12.

RReeggiissttrraattiioonnss 22001111:: Registrations for the 2011playing season are NOW due. 2010registrations expire today and all playersmust be registered in order to be eligible toplay football and to be covered under theInjury fund. As per the official guide clubmentors must also be registered with theassociation.The registration form can be downloaded

from our website just click onto theregistration page located on the LHS of thehome page www.dublinladiesgaelic.ie.Registration rates are also listed on this page,email the registration forms todublinladiesreg@gmail.com and forward theappropriate fee to the Dublin LGFA office, LeChéile, Donnycarney, Dublin 5. Registrationswill ONLY be processed on receipt ofpayment.Please allow five working days forregistration to be processed.

SSuummmmeerr SSaannccttiioonn FFoorrmmss:: A number ofplayers are heading abroad for the summermonths so please note rule 308 of the officialguide: Players who intend to play in any ofour affiliated Overseas Units excludingBritain, must complete an Official SanctionForm in duplicate and have it signed by theClub, County and National Secretaries Thesanction shall permit the players to play from31 March to 30 September, and shall not begranted later than 20 July in any year. Theseplayers may play with their Home Club orCounty in their respective championships.USA and Canadian Summer Sanction Formshave been emailed to all clubs.

DDeevveellooppmmeenntt IInnffoo:: Just a reminder that threeFUNdamentals coaching courses will takeplace across three venues on Saturday June18, Lucan Sarsfields, Clontarf and KilmacudCrokes. The fee is €30 with the course runningfrom 10am-4pm for more info or to bookyour place please contact Camillus Kilpatrickdublindevelopmentofficer@gmail.comFor all the latest information on Dublin LGFAplease log onto www.dublinladiesgaelic.ieyou can also follow us on Twitter andFacebook.

BOARDNOTES

Thriving academy leads Olaf’s renaissance as club rediscovers class of ’90sIN the mid-90s, St Olaf ’s had one of the bestteams in Dublin. They came close to winningthe big one.Unluckily for them, Portobello were around

at the same time. The Ports would completethe five-in-a-row in 1999.The Sandyford side had some class foot-

ballers. And now the aim is to reach thoseheights again.The renaissance began a few years ago.

They began to build from the best place – thebottom.Now they have a thriving Ladies Academy

with teams at U9, U10, U11, U12 and U14. Thisterm they competed in Division 1 of theDublin Féile.

“We are fortunate in the mentors we have,”explains Harry O’Crowley. “They are passion-ate about ladies football. And camogie too.“We were one of few clubs that took part in

Division 1 Feile in ladies football and camogie.That underlines the work that has been putin.”Harry insists that these days, more than

ever, the female involvement and influence inclubs is crucial.“Without a strong ladies section, clubs will

struggle. The ladies side at Olaf ’s has grown somuch. Clubs have to embrace the ladies.”Nowhere is that more evident than in the

Olaf ’s Gaelic4Mothers department. It has seena women’s revolution.

And it owes its success to the best advertis-ing of all – word of mouth. And nowWednes-day night is most definitely Mother’s Night atPáirc Uí Bhriain.“The numbers have been incredible,”

reports Harry. “We have 65 women involvedand we are getting an average of 40 everyweek. They are just loving it. For so long theyhave watched their own children and hus-bands playing. Now, at last, here’s somethingfor them.“It’s just been phenomenal. It’s gone from

strength to strength. There’s even talk of buy-ing kit and organising weekends away. It’s alovely outlet.“There are people playing who never played

football before. Women who had no interest infootball and some who never even playedsport in school.“Girls with no interest in the GAA. They just

heard about the Gaelic4Mothers from theirneighbours or friends and they decided tocome down. It’s such a fantastic concept. I doffmy hat to whoever came up with the idea.“It was the missing link in the chain. It

helps with fitness and it is such fun.”Gaelic4Mothers has relegated ‘Coronation

Street’ to the back-burner, and Olaf’s recentlyhad a celebrity bainisteoir taking their ses-sion. It was none other than Dublin hurler, theBalally Boy himself, Declan O’Dwyer. Whoneeds Keith Duffy when DOD is in town?

FantasticFoxanelite forceTHE Fox-Cabs are in the Tescosenior semi-final for the first time.Buckets of sweat took them there.They were back training the week

after Christmas. Enduring twomonths of pre-season indoors and inthe gym.But it is the fresh air that most

agrees with them. Two crackingwins in the championship, away toMearnóg and home to Clanna GaelFontenoy.“We are thrilled,” remarked Pat

Ring. “We are in there with the biggirls now. It is going to be tough. Butwe are delighted.“We have been chipping away.

Our aim has been to break into thatelite group. The girls have workedvery hard for it. They are verycommitted.”

RISEIn 2007, Foxrock Cabinteely wereAll-Ireland junior champs. It was aspectacular rise. It confirmed theirabundance of riches. They over-flowed with youth and ability.They then took the Dublin

Intermediate Championship crown.They beat Garda in the final inParnell Park. They sprinted awayinto a substantial lead.The Garda response unit

eventually began to make an impact.Garda had vast experience. Theircomeback made the latter part ofthe game interesting, but the Fox-Cabs had done enough in the earlychapters.“We struggled for a couple of

years when we got to senior,”acknowledges Pat. “We were missingseveral players in the last couple ofyears.“But this season we have the

players back and we are makingprogress. We were very pleased with

the overall performance againstClanns. Every girl, from one to 19,did her job.“It was brilliant to see Emma

Lennon get three goals in her firstsenior match. She is only 16. She isdoing really well.”The team had three Jackies on

duty, Sinead Goldrick, Amy Ring andAmy Connolly. And there’s a river oftalent emerging from the juveniledepartment.The home of the Fox-Cabs is

Kilbogget Park. It’s a marvellousvenue. Wonderful improvementshave taken place there.There’s a lovely lake with ducks, a

playground and new all-weatherpitches. The Cabinteely soccer cluband Seapoint rugby club are alsoresidents.

TERRAINThe terrain stretches for miles. Ifyou are lucky, you might even see thegreat Tony Ward out for a run.This is the arena where Marla

Candon is so often the midfieldmaster. She’s long been a VIPmember of the culture club.“Marla gives us the benefit of her

vast experience. All the girls look upto her. She minds them all. Shebrings such wisdom to it,” notes Pat.

“And it’s not only on the pitch. Shedoes a huge amount of work in theschool as well.“Marla is a teacher at St Patrick’s,

Hollypark and they won a Division 1final in Croke Park last December.She is just first class.”Pat also salutes his management

colleagues – Gerry McCarry, NiallCallan, Gordon McMillan andGrainne McGuinness.Across the road from Kilbogget is

the Tesco 24-hour supermarket.Over the years, the Fox-Cabs havecollected a trolley-full of silver.Now they are going shopping for

more.

IT’S THERE!: Dublin’s Jennifer O’Dell scores herside’s second goal during their U14 All-Irelandsemi-final victory over Galway at St Loman’s,Mullingar. Dublin defeated Galway 6-6 to 2-9 toprogress to the final against Cork.

Pic: GAApics.com