Brid Mackey RIP - sister of Hugh Curran

St Sylvesters would like to express our condolences to Hugh Curran on the death of his sister, Bríd Mackey, who was buried in Donegal over the weekend.

Kevin Wall RIP

The Family of Kevin Wall deeply appreciate and will always hold in grateful remembrance your kind expression of sympathy with them in their recent sad loss.  Mass has been offered for your intentions.
Noel & Carol Wall.

Trad night a great success

The Trad/Sing Along night is going very well after our third night on Friday 20th February 2009. *Tina McLoughlin* is a class act on whistle and box (see write up on web). *Luke Tobin* will be supporting her most weeks on Guitar. He is a member of Trad Irish Group *Meascán*. *Eddie & Gearóid Ó Mórdha have supported with songs and trad music. Last friday we also had Gerard Flanagan* who is a very talanted fiddle player.

We were also joined on Friday by a few of our own, *Michael Stuart* on guitar with a few songs. Shay Keogh Snr. on four string Banjo, Bodhrán, spoons, and bones, as well as the mouth organ. Shay is also a great men for a few songs. Believe it or not he is now learning the saxophone. *Ann Uí Mhórdha* played a few old waltses on the accordion. *Martín Meaney* sang a few rousing songs and *Brian Sullivan* Cathairleach Peil na mBan, sa Club gave his own version of Molly Dear I'm over here to great applause. A young man from Swords called McElroy (cant remember his first name) sang some excellent songs. He has promised he will be back each week.

So forget the recession and come along and have some fun *Friday 27th February 2009, 9.30pm *and every friday*. *You wont get a better night out.

Eddie Ó Mórdha

MJ Ryan - hurler and Syls manager RIP

We would like to express of sympathy on the passing of MJ Ryan,another great hurling man. From Clara in Kilkenny (where we hurled juvenile a number of times recently), MJ played first for the Cats and later for Dublin and Faughs. He managed Sylvesters Hurling on two separate occasions and the lads are saddened by his passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam usail.

Na h'ainmeacha as Gaeilge - U13's in experienced hands

Another great tradition of the GAA went by the wayside recently with the changing of the rule that required our teams to be named as Gaeilge on the team sheet. When mentioned to the U13A mentors yesterday they replied that the rule is that Gaeilge is not required but can still be used. This reminded me of the useful confusion that can be availed of if said list is ever questioned on the field or at the board. Seems Archie, Ray, Peter and Ultan have some experience!! Now, if only Bernard can get a copy of the list for the hurlers - this is an art!

Tina McLoughlin plays trad at Syls every Friday

"When you listen to Tina's playing, I think you'll agree with me that she sounds more like a Dooliner than a Bremener. Congratulations Tina."
John Sheahan, The Dubliners

Dare I call Tina A Class Act - has played with the great Phil Lynott amongst others - bring your fiddle and join in.

Nicky Brennan coming to Syls - Date for your Diary

Anthony Cooney tells me that Nicky Brennan, President of the GAA, is coming to Syls on the evening of Wednesday 25th - make a few presentations and engage in a bit of banter, I expect. Details will follow but keep the date free, the last time we had a celebrity Cat in the Club, Henry Sheflin, it was great crack.

Jimmy Boggin RIP - one of the great Dublin GAA men

St Sylvesters express our condolences to Crumlin GAA on the death of Jimmy Boggin, the great promoter of Hurling and Camogie in Dublin. Jimmy managed many Dublin teams over the years and will be missed in Parnel Park. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.

Kevin Wall RIP - father of Noel

We wish to express our condolences to Noel and Carol Wall on the passing of Noel's dad Kevin. Arriving Tuesday 5.30pm at Mother of Divine Grace Church, Ballygall Road East, Funeral Mass 11.00am Wednesday and burial at Dardestown Cemetary. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasail.

Results for March 29th

U16F Championship - Syls lost to Ballymun after extra time

All square at full time, we could have clsoed out this game in the last 10 minutes but some great blocking by the Kickams backs somehow kept us out. We tired a little in extra time and Ballymun got the few vital scores to win by two.

U14 Div1 Syls lost to Kilmacud Crokes

Great win at Senior Football

AFL1 St Sylvesters 2-6 Kilmacud Crokes 0-8

Nice to welcome the All Ireland Champions to Broomfield and especially nice to repeat our win of last Autumn over Crokes to take our first points of the campaign. The first half was tepid enough, Crokes got the first two points, we slowly woke ourselves to around the middle and were probably unlucky to be only one up at the break - Beanos' point probably the pick of our efforts.

If the first half was mostly played between the 40's, the second half was played inside them. A great goal by Aido Relihan, an equally good effort from Niall Coughlan, a great free also from Coughlan. At the other end, Cian was having a tough battle with Jonny Magee as was Airy on Mark Vaughan, and with the help of McGurk and the very solid Dominic McDonnell, Crokes never broke us down.

Some might point to a few missing Kilmacud county players but we were missing Clarke, Jockser, Roche and others ourselves and, with a lot of very young players - Shane O'Connor and Ross Hazely in the middle, the tough as teak Barry Ryan on the wing, Fanning and Russy in the half forward line - we are certainly delighted with our own progress. Dave Galvin gave a very assured display at centre back, Campers was always involved and Ronnie came into the forward line to help us finish a very credible win.

All coming together at U8

Syls Under 8 footballers continued their campaign with a hard earned but deserved win away to Whitehall Colmcille on Saturday. This was our 3^rd win in a row with only St. Vincents in the first game of the season getting the better of us. Great credit is due to all the players and with over 30 turning up weekly for indoor training it is noticeable how the basic skills have come on in each and every one of them. Not only that but some of the point scoring, high fielding and blocking would not have been out of place in a much older age group. Most encouraging of all was how hard the players were willing to fight for the ball and defend their line when under heavy pressure. Ultimately all 6 games were won and with 29 players turning up on the day and a number of absences for First Confession there is not only strength in depth in this panel but great potential for the future.

We now move to outdoor training at 6pm on Wednesday evening (hurling this weekend so don’t forget hurleys and helmets).

Ernie Brenner

Minors back on the winning trail

Mixed bag of results this week

U8 Group 1(3team)    Whitehall Colmcille    13    St Sylvesters    57
U9 Group 1(3team)    St Sylvesters    off    Castleknock    
U10 Blitz - Thanks to all clubs who hosted and took part in the blitz.             
U11 A Cup Group B (2team)    St Sylvesters     5-11    Cluain Tarbh 1    13-19
U12 B Cup Group A    Naomh Fionnbarra     3-04    St Sylvesters     5-0

VdeP Syls 0-16 Ballymun Kickhams 2-07

Pretty decent display by the Seniors against a good looking Ballymun outfit.

U15H Div2 Syls 4-7  Olafs 1-7 (?)

Under 15s had a comfortable win in the end vs. Olafs in Sandyford. We had 4 under 14s lining out on the day and all competed well – in particular our goalkeeper (name?) had a fine game. Scoring was spread well among our forwards with Sean Kane, continuing where he left off from the last day with a hat trick of goals. Elsewhere John Sexton impressed with a final tally of 1-4. Kevin O’Flynn was dominant in midfield while Conor Quinn and Brendáin were solid in defence.

U16H Div2 Syls 1-7, Erins Isle 3-7

A disappointing result in the end after early promise was not built on. The turning point in the match came mid way through the second half, as we missed a penalty following a foul on Andy Smith. Isles responded well with 2 well taken goals. This is a setback for the team, following a good opening win. The lads will no doubt respond with extra effort in training! Best for us was Gareth McGrath at centre back who read the game extremely well.

U14H Syls 1-7 St Vincents 3-10

The steep learning curve continues.We were quite competitive in the first half but we ran out of steam in the second. There was no shortage of effort. Jordan Lawless had a massive game at centre half and Philip Browne did well in goal. Our main problem was not winning enough possession especially from puck outs and looose ball. We need to improve our sharpness. Conor Dwyer to a heavy fall in the first half and thankfully he's not seriously injured. We have a growing injury list. Vincents obliged by reducing to 14 players and get full marks for sportmanship. It was heart warming to see Colm O'Connor out watching juvenille hurling on a cold and windswept industrial estate in south county Dublin.

U13H Syls 1-2 Commercials 3-4

Disappointing turnout was our undoing against Commercials after our great showing two weeks ago against Scoil. Paul Ryan got the goal and was unlucky with another and Colm Boran got the two points from frees. Eoin Kennedy in particular and Thomas Colclough put in the hard graft in the middle and Paddy and Hugh Murray spurned the sickbed to help out at corner forward and in goal.

Lots to round on this week

CCC1 hurling results

U8H    Erin Go Bragh    14    St Sylvesters    9
U9H    Erin Go Bragh    38    St Sylvesters    20
U10H    no team            
U11H    St Sylvesters    2-09    St Vincents    17-19
U12H    no team    

Syls Ladies busy on county duty

Eimer Treacy who has played with us since nursery played her first Leinster Championship U14 game in goal for Dublin V Meath. Dublin eventually won the hard fought game by 4 points - 4-16 to 6-6

Congratulations to the Jackies on maintaining their 100% record with their win over Clare. Match report on the website. Dublin will play Armagh on the 5th of April in Quarter Final of Bord Gáis Energy Ladies National Football League.

Seniors lose - other adult teams win

I didn't get to see the Division1 Senior opening game of the season - will post a report if I can get one.

AFL 1 St Judes 1-08 St. Sylvester's 1-05

Playing with a strong wind in the first half we hit 10 wides  and gave away a sloppy goal. Eoin Bennis had a great effort come back off the crossbar for Damien McMahon to tab in and leave us 3 up at the break. We had most of the play in the second half butcouldn't convert our chances - Beano hit the bar late and we missed two other 1 on 1's. A game we should have won but paid the price for poor finishing,

AFL 4 St. Sylvester's 1-15 Ballymun Kickhams 0-07.
AFL 7 Fingallians 1-11 St. Sylvesters 0-07
AFL 10N O'Dwyers 0-06 St. Sylvester's 1-11.
MHL 4 St. Sylvester's 5-16 Naomh Olaf 1-06.
   
What about the Dubs in Parnell on Saturday evening - I wanted my money back until I realized that I hadn't actually paid. Seriously, a worrying display - again the opposition looked bigger and seemed to know what they were about. Dublin played direct football in the first 15 minutes and lead by 1 or 2.  I was baffled when we pulled Bonner from full forward and then started the suicidal slow buildup football around the middle, failing to threaten Derry for the remainder of the game. I heard a few guys abusing the ref at the end - ridiculous.

I forgot to mention Fingal Hurlers last week - continueing their good run in Div4 with Conor McCafferty starring at full forward and a few other Syls on the bench.