Club News

Hurling 

A dramatic weekend of action with two Championship finals brought the 2023 adult hurling season to a close. Unfortunately, we didn't collect silverware this weekend but we had two great performances from Lucan teams. First up on Saturday morning, our U21s drew with Kilmacud Crokes in the 'A' Championship final after extra-time. Unfortunately they lost the penalty shoot-out and Crokes claimed the Cup. Then on Sunday morning, our Minor C's lost out by just a single point, also after extra-time, to St Sylvesters in the Minor 'D' Championship final. These were two great games that provided the very best of winter hurling. Both match reports below.

The season overall was a relatively successful one for the Adult Hurling section. We fielded 10 teams in total (5 adult, 3 minor and 2 Under 21). We won one Championship (Minor A) and were runners-up in three (Junior B, U21A and Minor C) while all our teams were very competitive in their Championships, with the Seniors and Minor B's both reaching semi-finals. Our Minor As and Minor Bs both won their leagues and our Junior As secured runners-up and promotion in the league also. Thanks to all our players and mentors for their commitment to Lucan hurling this year and to everyone who helped out in any way through the year. Plans are already being made for 2024 and competitive action will resume again at the end of February. 

U21 A Hurling Championship Final: Kilmacud Crokes 0-27 Lucan Sarsfields 0-27 (AET). (Kilmacud Crokes won on penalties). O'Toole Park, 2/12/2023. 

A week after Lucan pipped Crokes in a brilliant Minor A final, the Clubs faced each other again in the Under 21 A decider. This was an equally compelling contest with the teams not separated after full time or extra-time. It ultimately took a penalty shoot-out to decide the contest in Crokes favour.

The teams were very evenly matched throughout this epic contest. Crokes had a slight edge early on and got the first two scores. The led 0-4 to 0-2 after 10 minutes and still held that narrow advantage, 0-7 to 0-5, by the 20th minute. Lucan finished the half strongly and just edged ahead before the whistle, 0-11 to 0-10. Lucan started the second half better and had a 3 point advantage, 0-15 to 0-12 by the 40th minute. They still led by 2, 0-18 to 0-16 with 10 minutes to go. However, Crokes finished strongly and got back to level, 0-20 each at full-time. Lucan might feel they had the opportunity to win in normal time and momentum now appeared to be with Crokes going into extra-time. However, both sides continued to give a great display of committed hurling in heavy under-foot conditions and they could not be separated. It was 0-23 each at half time in extra-time while a couple of late frees from Sean Harkness brought it level at 0-27 each at the final whistle. It was then down to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out to decide who brought home the Cup and it was Crokes who edged it on a score of 3 to 1. Nevertheless, this was a excellent performance from a very young Lucan under 21 team. Most of the team are eligible for the grade again next year and a number of our successful Minor team made their debut at the grade in this final. They were not beaten on the field of play and this experience will stand to them hugely into the future. Lucan had strong performances throughout the field. Michel Cunningham and Shane Coffey were outstanding in the full back line, Liam Garrigan was his busy best in mid-field while Matt Coogan gave an excellent display at half forward. Sean Harkness was always a threat in the corner and very reliable from placed balls throughout, while the young subs introduced all acquitted themselves very well at this level. 

Lucan Team/scorers: C Doody, S Coffey, M Cunningham, A Hickey, J Behan, C Walsh (0-1f), F Bruton, L Garrigan (0-4), M Gormley, H Cuffe (0-1), C Keher (0-2), M Coogan (0-4), S Harkness (0-11, 0-8f), J Dunne (0-1), E Dowling (0-1). Subs introduced: J Smith, R Clancy, C Kennedy, D Lyons, D Meehan, B Kavanagh, J Finn. Panellist’s: C Canavan, M Young, C Hyland, C Mulqueen, C Duffy, J Doyle, E Kilduff, D Mulqueen.

Minor D Championship Final: Lucan Sarsfields 2-11 St Sylvesters 2-12 - After Extra Time 12th Lock 3/12/2023 

After knockout victories over Kevins and Whitehall Colmcille, Lucan had home advantage in their Minor Championship final. This was a cool and very calm morning and was ideal for hurling. This was our last adult hurling fixture of 2023.

Sylvesters got the better start and had two early points scored before Shane Dolan and a close-in James Scott free levelled the game. This was a competitive contest and Lucan edged into the lead when Daragh Kenna fed the sliotar into Dolan who finished to the net at the midway point. Lucan hit three wides but the visitors hit five with just one score each being converted, Aidan Barry getting the Lucan score. Late in injury time, keeper Josh Murphy converted a 65 and Lucan breathed a sigh of relief when a subsequent Sylvesters placed ball found the net but was ruled out for a square-ball infringement. This left Lucan four ahead at the break. On the resumption, Dolan pointed immediately from the throw-in. Sylvesters took control for most of the next twenty minutes though and scored five in a row to level the game. Oran Fitton did have a shot at goal but their keeper dealt with it comfortably. The intensity continued to build with the referee doing his best to keep matters calm. Ross Murray got Lucan's next score from a placed ball and goalkeeper Murphy was again accurate from a long range free. Murphy then made two good saves as Sylvesters ramped up the pressure. They got a score back in injury time and then found the net - Murphy unable to keep the angled shot out from close range. Murray held his nerve however and converted two pressure-laden frees to tie the match and Lucan players and supporters were glad of the extra time. James Scott flashed over for Lucan and Murphy converted another free to extend the lead. Sylvesters got one back but Lucan held the slim advantage at the turn. On the restart, Lucan again fired immediately and this time Scott found the net. Sylvesters roared back though and got two scores themselves and then found the net to retake the lead. Lucan had been pressing hard but three shots dropped short did not help their cause. Slyvesters dropped one short themselves towards the end. As players on both sides were cramping up, Lucan pressed but were unable to create a scoring chance deep into injury time. They did win a free near the end but this was out on the sideline at a very tight angle and it drifted narrowly wide to the disappointment of the home crowd. Last year, this group had won the U17 championship away to Ballyboden after extra time but were denied this year. It was a terrific contest with much skill and bravery on display by both teams and unfortunately for us, there was only one winner. 

Team and Scorers: Joshua Murphy (0-3 (0-2f, 0-1 65); Cian O’Driscoll, Sean Corry, Cillian Lawlor; Sean McGowan, Ben O’Keeffe, Calum Conway; Aidan Barry (0-1), Daragh Kenna; Sean Teehan, Ryan Donnelly, Shane Dolan (1-2); Conor Dolan, James Scott (1-2 (0-1f)), Oran Fitton; Ross Murray (0-3f), Daniel Mahon, Niall Melvin, Conor Smullen, Reuben McCormack, Robert O’Connell.

Juvenile/Coiste na nÓG

Well done to our U16B Hurlers who won the Hurling D Sheild against St. Patricks (P) on Saturday. 

Social

The Christmas Draw is on Thursday 21st December at the clubhouse with finger food and live music provided by Madra. Dont forget to buy your tickets.

The Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club 25 Card Drive resumes on Friday 13^th October 2023 and will continue to 10^th May 2024 in the Clubhouse Bar.

Time: Friday 8.00pm Sharp

1st Prize: €50 (if 12 or more players, 2nd Prize if 3 or more tables

Entry: €5 per person

Everyone is welcome - from beginners to those who played years ago and would like to resume playing so please spread the word! Members are also welcome to bring friends. Call Bill Ryan at 086-8500376 or Mary Flannery at 087-7469143 for further information.

Healthy Club 

^{safeTALK (suicide alertness for everyone) is a half day training programme that prepares participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources using the steps of TALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe). These specific skills are called suicide alertness and are taught with the expectation that the person learning them will use them to help reduce suicide risk in their communities. Participants learn how to provide practical help to persons with thoughts of suicide in only a few hours.} 

^{Following a safeTALK workshop you will be more capable to support people with thoughts of suicide by signposting them to suicide first aid resources in their local area.} 

^{Lucan Sarsfields GAA are running a private safeTALK workshop on Saturday, January 20th from 9.30am to 1pm for mentors, club members and parents. To book your slot on the workshop click HERE or email lucanhealthyclub@gmail.com for more information.} 

Lotto

No Winner of last week’s Lotto Prize of €8,200.

The Numbers were 12, 20, 21, 26.

The lucky dip prizes go to, The lucky dip prizes go to, Meave Joyce, Brian Kearney, Laura Moran, Joe Rooney and Michael Quinn.

Next week’s Lotto will be for a jackpot of €8,600. The draw is sponsored by Henley Forklift Group and will be led by Gerry McAndrew.

Tá €8,800 sa phota óir don tseachtain seo chugainn agus is é urraitheoir na seachtaine:

Beidh sé beo ón Na Sárséalaigh Leamhcáin, an leathanach Facebook.

Déan cinnte go bhfuil d’iontráil curtha isteach agaibh roimh 6 i.n. oíche an chrannchuir, chun í a chur san áireamh sa chrannchur na seachtaine sin.

The draw will be held on Thursday 7^th December, at 9pm and is streamed from Lucan Sarsfields Clubhouse, on our Facebook page.

Make sure your entry is submitted before 6pm on the evening of the draw to be included in that week’s draw.

féidir libh ticéadaí a cheannacht ar líne leis an nasc seo:

Tickets can be purchased online at the following link:

http://bit.ly/LucanSarsfieldsClubLotto,

Go raibh míle maith agaibh as ucht tacú le Na Sárséalaigh Leamhcáin

Thank You for supporting Lucan Sarsfields GAA Club.