As Feile Officer for the club, I would like to congratulate everybody for putting the club on the map & as always leaving no stone unturned in what was a weekend to remember. The weekend started on Thursday evening when we hosted New York in a challenge game. On Friday, our three teams played Aodh Ruadh Dungannon, Hertfordshire & Claregalway with 2 out of 3 enjoying success – a great start for the weekend. After the Friday afternoon games, all players from each of the 6 teams were provided dinner before departing for the county grounds – the starting point of the parade.
The parade itself was full of colour & music where 160 teams marched in glorious sunshine from the county grounds down the town to Chill Mhuire church where they were met by their buses. On arrival back in the club, all visiting players were introduced to their host families where they retired for the night. There was also music in the club on Friday night & this proved to be a big hit to our visiting guests.
On Saturday morning our U14 boys team drew with Slaughtneil in their 2nd group game & won their 3rd game beating Kilcock however they lost out to Slaughtneil on points difference. Both our U13 boys & U14 girls team lost their remaining 2 group games over in Ballymore & Eadestown respectively.
Saturday afternoon saw Clane hosting the division 5 semi-finals with some great football being played before all players retired home for a bit of dinner & a shower before the big disco which was held in the hall for all the competing players based in Clane. The disco was a great hit with the kids & all seemed to enjoy it. Meanwhile Skidu provided music for all the visiting managers, mentors, club officials & supporters outside in the car-park in what was a night to remember & will last in everyone’s memories,
On Sunday morning it was time to say goodbye to our visiting teams and reflect on what had happened over the weekend.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to our chairman John Tutty & the executive committee for whom always helped with any request which we had. Secondly I would like to extend a huge thank Carol Tutty, Nancy Corrigan & Grainne Ryan. The 3 ladies helped out from the start when we started planning for this weekend & took on the task of coordinating a visiting team each over the whole weekend along with the 4 fundraising events which took place prior to the weekend.
A major round of applause must go to Teresa, Martina & the whole ladies committee who spent numerous hours over the weekend in the kitchen making sure that nobody left Clane hungry over the weekend – the work that each of these women did over the weekend was enormous but they took it in their stride as always. Fair play girls!!
A major thank you must go to Johnny Keating, Declan Corrigan, Bernie Gallagher & all whom helped out in preparing the pitches, decorating the club with bunting and had the club looking fabulous.
Also, we cannot forget the umpires & linesman who officiated at all the games & skills competition along with Ray Gleeson & Peter O’Neill whom facilitated a shop for supporters outside the pitch on Friday & Saturday.
Each of the Clane teams that participated over the weekend had all received new tracksuits & bags on Thursday night & this was all down to the efforts of Marie Woods in the club shop. I know that Marie had many long days & nights in the club over the last week or two so as to have everything spot on for the kids & mentors.
A huge thank-you must be extended to Pat McGrath & the minor football team that helped out in many ways over the weekend. The security which was clearly visible on Saturday night during the disco was a great sight & I’m sure that any parent present knew that their children were in safe hands for the evening.
The host families also deserve huge credit & thanks. Without them, the weekend would not have happened and they made sure that all the visiting players went home happy.
Finally, I would like to extend a massive thanks to Tom Cribbin & The Butchers Block for their generous sponsorship which went a long way to helping out the teams over the weekend.
If I forgot somebody I apologize & would like to thank them for all their help over the weekend – it was a huge community effort & everybody should take a bow.
Yours in sport.
David Cahill
Feile Officer
