Good Friday
The 5th annual hurling festival kicked off on Good Friday morning at 10 am. Unlike last year the early morning volunteers were welcomed to Dolphin Park by rays of sunshine. The hurling competitions kicked off with the Pat O'Shea (u/10) cup which was a local affair. Crumlin took the honours by beating Liffey Gaels and Kevin's. The Geraldine Reade (u/12) cup final was contested by Kevin's and St Judes with the home side taking the honours. The Sean Murray (u/14) cup was a hard fought tournament, but Kevin's managed to take their second title beating another club - Setanta - dedicated to the promotion of hurling only. Yet again the Dermot Byrne (minor) cup was hotly contested. The home side competed well with two clubs in a higher league. Kevin's disposed of Round Towers first and then St Peregines who came runners up. The semi final was a tight contest, but Lucan Sarsfields pipped the home side by a goal. Similiarly, the final was also close with Ballyboden SE and Lucan taking it to extra time. Eventually the tie was decided and the Dermot Byrne cup was taken back to Pairc Ui Murchu, named after Ned Murphy. No doubt Dermot would be happy to see a cup in his name been taken back to a ground named after a former team mate. The last time Dublin won a national hurling league title both Ned and Dermot played together on a "Great Team" that regained senior hurling status for the club. Also on that team was Vesty Muldowney (who represented Dublin in national league and All-Ireland finals during the thirties), Peader Carton (grandfather of the Carton brother currently playing for the Dubs) and two membrs of the Dublin team (Finbar Fagan and Jimmy Bradley) that lost to Cork in the All-Ireland minor final.
Easter Saturday
The Brian Scott cup was hosted hosted in Dolphin Pk and Islandbridge. The Dolphin Pk group was hotly contested with a three way tie for semi final qualification. Before their last match Clonakenny (Tipperary) were in third place, but by the time the final whistle had sounded they were group winners on score difference. In second place - also on score difference - was Raheny (Dublin), wwith Leixlip (Kildare) taking third spot. In Islandbridge St Judes (Dublin) won all three games, with Kevin's coming runners-up.
The Family Fun Day was hosted in Dolphin Pk and kicked off at 12 midday and parents and children enjoyed some competitive fun with sack, three legded and running races. This was topped off by some old fashioned entertainment for those who wanted a break from the hurling.
As the senior hurlers hammered it out in the group stages the ABC Nursery exhibition got under way under the guidance of Juvenile Committee. Some notable stars of the future were in action and were in no way encouraged by the goodies supplied on the day. The 3rd annual Camogie challenge cup took place before the Brian Scott cup semi finals and our newly promoted intermediate camogie team beat Na Fianna.
The semi final pairings guaranteed that a Dublin club would make the final for a third year. Raheny were beaten St Judes who met Clonakenny in the final. At 6 o'clock the Brian Scott cup boarded a bus for it's first trip to Tipp!
Thanks to Vincent Hoban for capturing the occasion on camera. Log onto the Gallery pages to see a selection of pics.
A big thank you goes out to the catering team, sponsors and other volunteers who made sure all mentors, players and supporters were provided with a well deserved cup of hot tae, coffee, soup and a welcome to Dublin's south inner city.
Easter Saturday is on April 7th and 8th next year and no team or county has won the Brian Scott Cup two years in a row …
Final Scores
The following were the final scores for the weekend:
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Pat O'Shea Cup Crumlin 1-6 V Keins 0-1
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Geraldine Reade Cup St Judes 1-2 V Kevins 2-7
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Sean Murray Cup Kevins 3-3 V Setanta 2-3
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Dermot Byrne Cup Ballyboden 2-17 V Lucan 0-19 (AET)
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Brian Scott Cup: St Judes 0-8 V Clonakenny 3-9
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Camogie U/13 Kevins 0-2 V Good Counsel 7-3
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Camogie U/9 Kevins 2-0 V Judes 2-1
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Intermediate Camogie Challenge: Na Fianna 2-4 V Kevins 4-6
2011 Easter Festival in the News
Click on link for the Dublin City FM Pod Cast from 20th April 2011.