A great event in the halla recently as the Cuala Minor Boys received their championship tops. A huge thank you to Jake Malone, Kevin Kirwan and Jack Twomey for dropping down to present them to the boys.
This Championship is the first time ever that Cuala has three minor football and hurling squads, comprising over 80 players, in action.
As reported in June, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has submitted an application for the government’s Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Grant in respect of The Hyde Park Community Sports Centre project. Completion of this project will help to address the sports infrastructure deficit in the area and provide Cuala with modernised and extended sports facilities at Hyde Park.
With the application now under consideration, we encourage members to ask our local TDs to support this project.
An Coiste.
Last Sunday more than 160 boys from age groups U10 to U14 took part in the CMán Cuala Hurling Festival at Thomastown, which was the culmination of a summer hurling initiative for juvenile boys. The initiative was focused on integrating players and coaches from the different age groups and giving the players an opportunity to be coached by some inter-county and club stars before the season commences. The festival on Sunday saw inter-county stars Cian Kenny and David Blanchfield from Kilkenny, Offaly’s Adam Screeney, as well as our own Sean Brennan and Liam Murphy manage (and even play with!) the juvenile teams for what was a fun-filled day of hurling.
Thanks to all the coaches who supported the training throughout the initiative and in particular our Cuala senior hurlers. A special mention to Ryan Malone who coordinated all the coaching slots with Cuala senior hurlers. Thanks to Stephen Butler, Jamie Conroy, Conor Groarke, Jack Twomey, Cormac Spain, Conor Lowry, Michael Conroy, Eoghan O Callaghan, Donal Murphy and our Dublin senior hurlers Sean Brennan and Liam Murphy. A massive thanks to Finbarr Murphy, Luke Hand and Neil Casey who have have been instrumental driving forces behind the scenes.
Thanks to all the lead coaches (Glenn, Aonghus, Damien, Tim, Neil, Fintan, Denis, Tim) who helped with all the logistics and of course to all the other parents and club members who volunteered in so many ways to make Sunday’s event happen.
And finally, a sincere thanks to Shane O’Brien who led the organisation of this hugely successful initiative throughout the summer.
See more images over on the gallery page of the website: Gallery – Cuala GAC – Official Website (cualagaa.ie)
Dublin was abuzz last weekend as more than 27,000 American tourists descended on the city to watch Georgia Tech play Florida State University in the Aviva Stadium in the opening game of the college football season.
With our club sponsor Amgen sponsoring the event last weekend, Cuala representatives Sean Brennan and Sinéad Wylde accompanied our Chairperson Aisling Fay in presenting Amgen CEO Paul Greene with a Cuala jersey at half-time. A great day for Amgen, and for Cuala, at the Aviva!
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Question
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Approx % of Positive Responses
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“I believe that a minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would be beneficial for player and coach communication.”
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90.48%
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“I believe the minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would help players with their move and integration to adult team(s).”
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88.89%
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“I believe the minor to adult GAA Player Handbook/Form would help coaches (minor and adult) with the player’s move and integration to adult team(s).”
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94.44%
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“How important do you think it is for coaches to receive information on the player when they move to adult?”
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88.89%
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Referees play a vital role in our gaelic games. Sharing a love of the sport with us all, their enthusiasm and experience ensures that the rules of the games are upheld and that our matches can take place. We caught up with Cuala referee Eamonn Dromgoole, to get some insights into the highs and lows of refereeing, what it takes to be a good referee and what advice he has for those considering embarking on a refereeing career. (Eamonn pictured above Senior Championship match. Photo courtesy of Paul Lundy Photography)
Thank you Eamonn for taking the time to share your insights!
What inspired you to become a referee?
I more or less fell into it, there were a few of us from my age group coming up and we were really the first batch to get involved in it starting out in Go-Games on a Saturday morning. We were predominantly reffing in Thomastown so was easy to get too, if we weren’t there we would have been up in Oatlands doing games from Kilmacud – it really depended on the age group that you were reffing. I stayed in it as I was enjoying it and being honest it was a handy few bob when I was in college.
I’ve stuck with it though as I was enjoying it and in more recent times I’ve got some recognition with moving up through the ranks and now regularly reffing Senior Division 1 games in both football and hurling and hopefully the Senior Championship this year as well.
What do you enjoy most about being a referee?
Keeps me in the game, some players can play into there 40s, others will go into management route – I’ve gone the reffing route and in theory it’s a way for me to stay fit and stay involved in the game. I also enjoy the interaction with players on the pitch and when you get stuck in a middle of fast/active game it’s great having a seat (I wish) in the middle of it.
What is the most difficult part of being a referee?
What has been the highlight of your refereeing career to date?
There’s a few. I’ve been fortunate to referee some finals, I did the Feile final in Parnell Park a few years ago and had the Junior All County Football final in 2022. I’ve also reffed a number of Semi finals in the Intermediate and Senior 3 championships which carry the same weighting as a final as teams who get to the final get promoted.
What do you think are the most important personal qualities to have to be a good referee?
How do you balance upholding rules and maintaining the flow of the game?
What do you think is the most important thing to remember when refereeing a match?
2 things stand out;
It’s important to remember if you’re not there the game cannot go ahead – nipping it straight away and being persistent with it in every game, you’ll get a name for not being interested in abuse and you will have a much better experience.
Do you have to keep fit to be a referee?
Yes but it depends on the level you’re reffing and which code. Football is generally slower than hurling but I have had football games where I’ve had to run more than hurling, rare but it does happen.
Do you have a pre-match routine?
As I get older yes – I try to be at the pitch 15/20 mins before the match, get teamsheets and do some light running and stretching.
Have you a view on the use of technology in assisting GAA referees in future?
Yes – I hope it doesn’t come in. It’s an amateur sport and you can’t please everyone.
If you had to change one playing rule what would it be?
I was involved in some of the recent “Sandbox” games as part of the football review committee and some of the rules being trialed has the potential to make football more appealing again. One the rules being trialed here is changing the dissent rule of moving the ball up 13m – the new rule is to move that up 50m and I think this is great but I would go a step further in potentially making them a penalty – would cut out all dissent straight away.
Are there any sports referees on the world stage that you admire?
Not really if I’m honest. I try to ref matches with a smile on my face and interact with players if needed, I don’t like to be stand off with them in that they can’t approach me – it has a positive impact as well as players appreciate that as well and it does make life easier.
What key piece of advice would you give to young referees starting out in their career?
Nobody said it was going to be easy! Erin’s Isle on a Tuesday evening is a tough place to win in any circumstance. To travel there with a League Title at stake without seven regulars makes it a daunting task indeed.
But the Cuala crew stepped up with Asia, Daria, Laragh and Christine stepping up the divisions and Muireann, Sofie and Eabha joining from the Minors.
Tara Leahy made her debut as a goal-keeper and won the Oscar for best performance!
It didn’t start well though. Traffic snarled up on the M50 meant the late arrival of 3 car-loads.
A goal and two points in quick succession from the Isle’s girls had the travelling Cuala supporters worried.
Muireann, Maedbh and Jen in the full-back line were far to busy. Muireann was sweeping across the defence and clearing long balls into mid-field. Tara was immaculate in goals, but the pressure was now sustained.
Balls were raining in on the defence from the diamond outfield. The Cuala girls were second to the ball all over the pitch, and losing the breaks. It was lucky Rob wasn’t there to count the turnovers!
Ciara O’Connor decided that something needed to be done. She took on the mantle of leader and took the game by the scruff of the neck.
She was outstanding. Sarah, Claire and Orlaith followed her lead and began to assert themselves around the middle.
On the inside line, Maedbh and Laragh who had been starved of ball, began to see more action.
Eabha and Saoirse at wing-forward began to fight for everything.
Hannah, Asia and Sofie in the half-back line started to get on top, and the game was beginning to turn.
A long range goal and a few wonderful long-range frees from Ciara brought down the curtain on the first half on a scoreline of 1:2 to 1:4.
Cuala could breathe again, down by two. The “hairdryers” were out at half-time, players were in no doubt what was expected of them in the second half!
They roared out of the traps after the break.
Daria, Susie-lee and Christine were sprung from the bench.
Claire Harrison took the ball at the throw in and launched the ball into the full-forwards. Point.
Sarah Dunne decided it was time to win the game on her own and rampaged forward every chance she could get.
On 45 minutes she took her goal to turn the tide in Cuala’s favour.
Orlaith O’Sullivan, Daria ad Eabha would not allow any ball to be lost and began delivering into the hungry inside forward line.
Daria was like a terrier and would not concede anything to the Isles girls, winning ball after ball and passing off to the shooters.
But Erin’s Isle just wouldn’t lie down. They obviously hadn’t read the script.
Their no. 11 charged through the Cuala defence and danced through tackles before she was in open country 12 metres out. A green flag was beckoning when, out of nowhere, Tara Leahy came off her line to block her shot.
Palpitations on the sideline with 8 minutes to go – what a save!
Fintan had Cuala one point up with 5 minutes on the clock.
Every time a ball was hit goalward, defibrillators and heart-monitors were being distributed by Siobhan on the line!
But they say goals win matches. Up stepped Maedhb Ni Finneadh with a well worked effort followed almost immediately by an absolute cracker from, player-of-the-match, Ciara O’Connor.
Final score 4:6 to 1:7. Cuala move up to Junior 1 and take the league title.
A great campaign and well done throughout to Seonín, Sunni, Caitlin, Lucy, Maedbh, Sarah, Meabh, Caoimhe and Rob who were sidelined by the rearranged date for this game.
Onwards to Championship.
A huge congrats to our Minor Camogie team who won the Division 1 League Final v Naomh Olaf’s last Sunday in Meadowvale. This was a monumentous occasion for the Minor Women’s section, being the first time that they have clinched this title, beating last year’s winners and runners-up along the way. It was a hard-fought match against Naomh Olaf’s, with Cuala coming out on top by a single point.
The sunny evening drew a huge crowd of supporters from both sides, with refreshments set up by our senior players. The 2015 girls also put on a fantastic display of skills vs their Naomh Olaf counterparts at half time.
Well done to everyone involved, including the players, coaches Colmán O’Drisceoil and Tom Butler, and the wider management team. A huge thank you also to all the Cuala supporters who came along.
(With thanks to Cyril Mulcahy for the photographs)
The Feile campaign for both teams kicked off in February 1st, with a presentation of vibrant new club kit presented by senior players Peadar and Emmet, followed quickly by games which continued into late April. Poor weather impacted fixtures leading to some delays.
Cuala A played three tough games in the group stages with the highlight being an away win versus St Kevins-Killians which resulted in them topping their group and into the cup competition. In the cup-semi-final they played host to near neighbours Naomh Olaf. On the day they came up short and went down 1-9 to 2-9 in a game that was in the melting pot right up until the end. A disappointing end to a Cuala team who went down giving their best for the red jersey.
The highlight for the B team in the group stages was a resounding win over Round Towers Lusk. Their results had them enter the shield competition with a good deal of confidence as there was a incremental improvement in performance with each passing game. This culminated in them saving their best performance of the campaign for the knockout stages. A comprehensive win over Maurs in the semi-final saw them face Templeogue Synge Street in the final in Thomastown on the 28th April. A beautifully manicured Thomastown played host to a fantastic display from the lads with Cuala winning out 1-14 to 1-7. A great reward for a great bunch.
The 2009 boys enjoyed great support from coaches, parents and supporters throughout all the games. The effort involved in getting teams beyond the white line is real, so they would like to thank all who contributed their time and effort to their campaign. They would especially like to recognise the support from the sponsors who supported the team.
