Na Fianna Nuacht

Senior Football League – Semi Final

This Sunday sees our Senior Footballers continue their bid for a second consecutive League title when we face St. Vincent’s in the semi-final in Mobhi Rd at 11.00am. As far as the players are concerned this fixture couldn’t come soon enough and are delighted to be getting another crack at a Vincent’s team who overpowered us in the Championship semi-final in October. There was very much a sense of not delivering a performance on the day and the opportunity to remedy that so quickly is relished.

Since that game, the squad have just ticked over, with some gym and pitch sessions but on the back of having the general mood bolstered by the news this week that nine players received Blue Star nominations, will be ready to do battle on Sunday morning. Blue Star nominees are Ryan O’Flaherty, Adam Caffrey, Jonny Cooper, JJ Martin, Aaron Byrne, Eoghan Murchan, Conor McHugh, Niall McGovern and Tomas Brady. This is recognition around the county that this Senior squad is getting noticed and more to come…..

Unfortunately, injury has robbed us of Paddy Quinn, who also missed the championship semi-final and Davy Quinn who sustained a badly fractured collar-bone in the semi-final against Vinnies, so the players getting the jerseys this weekend will have an additional motivation to deliver.

Weather is forecast to be mild this Sunday morning, so why not get down to Mobhi Road and support the team on their penultimate game of the season.

Pitches Update

No improvement to report in position since last weekend so the same decree regarding challenge games still applies. No challenge games will take place this weekend in Mobhi Rd, Collinstown, St Vincents School, Rosmini College, Albert College and Johnstown Park this weekend. The only games going ahead are official county board matches, and these are subject to pitch inspection. Thanking all again for continued co-operation.

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Na Fianna’s Night With Irish Heroes

A fantastic night was enjoyed by all at last night’s Irish Heroes Night. A good crowd made it to Scoil Chaitríona to witness a memorable night when reverence, sentimentality and dressing room secrets went out the window under the wonderful stewardship of MC for the night Na Fianna’s Senan Connnell. Nothing was sacred, as each of the stars, Richie Hogan, Bernard Dunne, Mags Darcy, Jim Gavin, Ian Madigan and Jonny Cooper gave honest and candid answers to questions posed by a combination of audience members, live tweets and Senan. Huge thanks to the team who made it possible, to our very special guests and to everybody who made the effort and supported the night.

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Weekend Fixtures

U-21 hurlers in championship semis this Saturday against St Brigids in Mobhi road at 1pm. Big game on Sunday sees our Senior footballers in top four league playoff against neighbours St Vincents in Mobhi Road at 11am. Both Minor Camogie teams play in Championship at 11am on Sunday, A’s play Whiehall in Collinstown and B’s play St Vincents in Mobhi Road. Full fixture list on website. Best of luck to all teams, all support welcome.

Club Lotto

This week’s Na Fianna Club Lotto winning numbers were; 4 18 19 24 No winner of this week’s jackpot of €9,000 but congrats to single Match 3 winner, S Dunne, winning €130. Congrats also to our five Lucky Pick winners who won €15 each, Caoimhin Ó Coighligh, Brendan Roddy, Jim Harratty c/o Vinny, John Foley c/o Vinny, Orla Moore c/o Vinny

See Club website www.clgnafianna.ie for application forms and direct debit mandates. Next week’s Club Lotto Jackpot will be €9,250, please support.

Club Shops Open Tomorrow

Both shops open tomorrow Saturday 21st November. Na Fianna Club Shop, located in the Clubhouse foyer, will open tomorrow from 9am to 1pm for all your Na Fianna gear requirements and the Club Hurley shop opens at its new location, next to the coffee/tea cabin between the two all-weather pitches, from 9am to12 noon.

Members’ Subscriptions Due

Members’ subscriptions for the coming year are due and payable since the AGM (1st October). Details of subscription rates and methods of payment are on the Club website http://www.clgnafianna.com/?page_id=1028 . Subscriptions can be paid on Saturdays in the Club or at the office during opening hours (9.30am to 1pm Mon –Fri).

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Karmann VW & Na Fianna

Na Fianna are delighted to announce that Karmann Volkswagen have come on board as one of the Club’s main sponsors. At a Q&A session tonight in Karmann’s premises at North Park, North Road (just before the Finglas M50 junction), Na Fianna’s Jonny Cooper, fresh from last night’s star performance in Scoil Chaitríona, was centre stage again as the subject of nutrition and healthy diet was discussed in front of a live audience. Ably assisted by model, author and former Miss World, Rosana Davison, Jonny gave a great insight into the essential role of diet in the demanding lifestyle of a successful inter-county Gaelic footballer while Rosana went through her portfolio of healthy offerings including an impressive array of smoothies.

Na Fianna are delighted to have Karmann Volkswagen come on board as a major sponsor. More details of the sponsorship arrangements will be announced in due course.

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U14 Boys Give A Hand

The U-14 boys went to Clongriffin on Wednesday night to help out with loading a 40 foot container with Team Hope Shoeboxes, which are being shipped to Africa. Team Hope would like to extend their thanks to the boys who gave up their evening to help in this venture to load the truck and get the boxes on the road. The boys not only helped with the loading of the truck but also with assembling the large crates for the next shipment which is destined for eastern Europe. Well done boys on your valuable contribution!

Charity Match

For the third consecutive year Ballymun Kickhams and Na Fianna will play a charity over 40’s football match. This charity event will take place on Saturday November 28th 3pm in Mobhi Road.

To date this event has raised nearly €20,000 which has been donated to families in both clubs with sick children, St Vincent de Paul Ballymun, and the St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown.

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This year’s event is hoping to raise circa €10,000. As always the money raised is divided equally between both clubs however this year the money is being spent by both clubs on Heart screening (Cardiac Echo’s) for juvenile boys and girls which will detect any heart abnormalities. This is a subject close to all our hearts after a member of Ballymun Kickhams U-12 team was found with such an issue earlier in the year. Thankfully he has been treated very successfully, is making a full recovery and will soon be gracing both clubs pitches with his talents once again.

In addition to raising funds for a good cause, a raffle will also be held this year, the proceeds from which will be donated to Temple Street. Tickets are only €10 each and a host of great prizes include;

 2 return trip tickets to New York generously donated by Aer Lingus  AON Ireland sponsored cash prize of €500 or equivalent voucher  A training session for any team with All Star, Dublin and Ballymun Kickham's Philly McMahon.  KN Group have donated a voucher to Brasserie Sixty Six to value of €250  Four Ball golf outing in the K -Club kindly donated by Cregan Kelly O Brien financial planning  An Andersons Food Emporium voucher  O'Neill's sports equipment and a Kilkenny and Dublin jersey signed by all team members  Bank of Ireland have donated Leinster and Munster signed jerseys as well as a Hurley signed by Henry Sheflin  Manus McAleer has kindly donated a gift set from his Pharmacy

Saturday Car Parking At Na Fianna

Tomorrow Saturday 28th Nov, will be a very busy day in the Club. From early morning to late evening the Club will be hopping as in addition to the regular Nursery we will also have the Christmas Fair, Santa, U-21 hurling Championship, the Charity Football Match and Scoil Mobhi’s Margadh na Nollag. All attending Na Fianna tomorrow are asked to park with consideration, to obey parking guidelines and if at all possible to leave the car at home. Thanks for your co-operation.

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Pioneering Girls Make Div 1 Shield Final

A significant percentage of this Minor Division 1 team were part of the first Na Fianna Girls Nursery set up 12 years ago in September 2003. They have stayed together over all those years and have been in finals every year since 2010, a fantastic feat. The Minor Div 1 Shield Final was to be their last game together as a unit as after it they would then join up with the adult football teams.

Following torrential rain in the days leading up, the Shield Final had to be moved to an all- weather in Bray. The final was a classic example of a game of two halves with Cuala completely dominating the first half, going in at half time with a comfortable fifteen point lead in a 1-2 to 3-11 scoreline. However, this team has developed a never say die attitude over the last number of years and with players like Aoibheann Murphy, Roisin O’Donoghue, Ellie Halloran, Hanna Carty, Saoirse McCormack and Sara Conway, the team completely took over the second half. With time running out, the deficit was down to three points, however, they couldn’t get the elusive goal to draw level despite hitting underside of crossbar, base of post and missing a penalty. It was not to be, but what a finish!

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Scór na nÓg 2015/16

Mí ádh to all competitors in this year’s Dublin finals of Scór na nÓg last Friday night in Craobh Ciaran CLG. We were unlucky on the night not to come away with any trophies but all participants performed excellently. Na Fianna were represented in three categories, Martin Purtell-Kalk (2002 Boys) in Amhránaíocht Aonair, Ruth King (2000 Girls) in Scéalaíocht and Hugh Murray, Faolán Murphy, Fionn McLoughlin, Séimí Ó Cathasaigh agus Éanna Foley (2002 Boys) ins an Grúpa Ceol Uirlise. Míle buíochas le Tom Ó Flaithearta, Mairéad Bhreathnach agus Colum King as ucht an obair a rinne said leo.

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……and finally

Two proud Na Fianna hurlers pictured after last Sunday’s AIG Fenway Hurling Classic in Boston were Joey Boland and Fiachra Potts (U-15’s).

Comhbhrón

Sympathies of all in Na Fianna are offered to the family of Paul Carroll who passed away yesterday. Thoughts and prayers are with Pauls’ partner Lisa and daughters Courtney (2002 Girls) and Leah (2003 Girls). Funeral arrangements as follows;

Reposing at Lanigan's funeral home Beaumont rd, Saturday from 1pm to 5pm. Reposing at his family home Sherlock Park Skerries Sunday from 3pm to 8pm. Removal on Monday morning from Lanigan's funeral home Beaumont Road, to the Holy Child Church Whitehall arriving 9.45 for 10am funeral mass, cremation afterwards in Mount Jerome crematorium Harold's cross.

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Sincere sympathies are extended also to the Cregan family on the death of Mr Patrick Cregan, father of Gary (2006 girls mentor), father in law of Maria and much loved Grandad of Cianna (2003 girls) and Holly Ann (2006 girls).

Condolences are also extended to the Crowley family on the passing of Damian Crowley, husband of Ariane and father of Louis (2003 Boys) and Lola (2000 Girls).

In addition, the Club’s sympathies are extended to the Bruen family on the passing of former Na Fianna Senior footballer Declan Bruen. Declan, a native of Westport and living in Swords, was one of nature’s gentlemen. He was part of a team that played an Australian selection in football in the early 1960’s.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anamnacha.

Fógra Tabachtach

The objective of Na Fianna Nuacht is to communicate as much club activity as possible however it is important to note that all items for inclusion in either Club Notes or Na Fianna Nuacht are reported to [email protected] or texted to 087 9250697 by Sunday evening. With a membership of 2700 and approx 100 teams now competing it is difficult to ensure all club activity is reported upon – Do not assume that your team’s activity is already known to Na Fianna Nuacht or that someone else has reported it. When errors or omissions occur it is the policy of Na Fianna Nuacht to correct these in subsequent issues when they are reported to [email protected]

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