Sunday 4th March 9pm, 16 mothers turned up on the astro for their training. Our Chairman was taking the session, no time for introductions straight into 3 laps of the pitch, stretching, knees up, running on the spot, after 10 minutes we were wrecked, drills mostly soloing, we are improving. No time for chats or resting. Then we lined up on the centre line club hse, wall, stn, road, each time he called we jumped and faced that way. Then whistle blew and the game started, no kicking (each other) proper handpassing and no travelling. Tough going and fast moving, yellows went into the lead, having Orla C on our side wow can she hit the ball, scoring with a handpass from the mid line. Lee and J were fab as always, amanda very fast and Ide the turns... we are all definetly improving. Mary Fitz got stuck in as well. Another great session, we will however welcome Sarah back next week cos Coach Dempsey doesnt not let us away with anything, whistle blow, travelling, whistle blow, a throw instead of a hand pass, whistle blow stop talking... whistle blow... just like home.

Sunday was very cold but we braved it again and there was a great turnout, 21 Mothers all lined up for training with three new ladies which is great, cos sometimes you do get bored seeing the same old faces ;-)
Mary Fitz was teachers pet this evening leading the running..... we ll sort her out.. We were very surprised to see 'Obi-Wan Camogie' turn up for training, never thought i d see Mary Stack on a pitch without a stick and she can play, when she stopped talking to our 'Little Miss Clean'...Drills of punt kicking diagonally while avoiding other players kept us on our toes. Handpassing while running backwards with the fear of bashing into the wall made chatting very difficult and then on to soloing and trying to score, trying being the operative but we are improving all the time. And finally on to the game, which is fast becoming the favorite part. As usual our basketball players shone but with stiff competition from Orla C and 'Little Miss Clean' she does use her height well!!! I was in defence cos i love it and am mastering near hand tackles, I mighten get the ball but I stopped the opposition getting closer to our goal and I got a sea of verbal abuse from one lady, she did apologise and made me promise not to tell her kids what she said....I did promise but I had my fingers crossed....
The non bibs won 7-2, great craic again, looking forward to next week.

Again a big thank you to Sarah for coaching us. We presented her with a Raheny Rainjacket as a thank you, we noticed on the few wet nights that she didnt have one, We maybe playing sport but the Mammy bit never leaves us!!!!

Gaelic for mothers is going from strength to strength,thanks to our coach Sarah Caulfield for giving up her Sunday evenings to train us lot.

How ever last night we had our very own Chairman to coach us, Paul Dempsey....what can i say oh my god....we mothers now realise that men can multi task well they can when there is a ball involved....running soloing remembering only 4 steps bouncing.... its tough. We know will think twice before we comment on our kids traveling or not giving the perfect pass. We know now its not easy.

Last night Mr Dempsey put us through our paces, we didnt stop moving for the whole hour and it was tough, he looked a little shocked when some comments were made, that could have too meanings which was very surprising cos most of them came from me!!

As usual the last twenty minutes was the game....we had been told to spread out and create space for ourselves on the pitch, anytime we gathered in a group our coach started Baaing to remind us not to be like sheep...mind you when he asked us earlier what sheep did we had some choice answers!!!!

We have a few basketball players on our squad and can they twist and turn, trying to block them is tough. Mary Lawlor who we have discovered is our smallest mum 5"1.5' is like a bullet as she tears up the pitch, she uses her height everytime.......

Thankfully the whistle blew up the game, lights on the astro went off and we began our warm down. Paul reminded us plenty of the water, as we walked wrecked off the pitch, another great session, we learnt more football, got a wee bit fitter, burnt a few of the weekend calories and most importantly had great craic. Gaelic for Mothers is open to all female over 18, whether your a mother or not. Role on next week....

History of Gaelic 4 Mothers:

• Women in Sport initiative introduced to clubs in 2008 
• Aimed at women and mothers who may not have played for a long time or who may never have played LGFA (Being a Mother is not a necessity but must be 18+) 
• Clubs may run the programme individually or in conjunction with other clubs in the area 

A Chara,
 
The Dublin LGFA would like to congratulate Raheny, Siobhan Woods and Siobhan Killeen on their Dub Stars Awards.
 
The Dub Stars v Dublin will take place on Tuesday the 27th of December commencing at 11am with the Camogie fixture while the football event has a 12:30pm throw in time, this year’s venue is St Brigids GAA Club.
 
The County Board would be delighted if the clubs who have representatives on the Dub Stars team and indeed the Dublin senior panel would encourage their players and members to come along and support the girls.
 
Admission is free and a great days entertainment is guaranteed.
 
Is Míse,
Patricia
 
 
 
Dub Stars 2011
 
Patricia Monahan,
County Administrator,
Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

Dub Stars Panel 2011:

Cliodhna O’ Connor (Naomh Mearnóg)

Sinead Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely)

Anne Clarke (Naomh Mearnóg)

Philippa Green (Kilmacud Crokes)

Andrea Bowe (Round Towers, Clondalkin)

Ruth Collins (Round Towers, Clondalkin)

Olivia Smart (St Brigids)

Denise Masterson (Naomh Mearnóg), Captain

Niamh McEvoy (Parnells)

Aisling King (St Brigids)

Noelle Healy (St Brigids)

Lyndsay Pete (Parnells)

Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s)

Bernie Finlay (Na Fianna)

Lyndsey Davey (Skerries Harps)

Hanna Tyrrell (Round Towers, Clondalkin)

Siobhan Woods (Raheny)

Siobhan Killeen (Raheny)

Maria McGrath (Ballyboden St Endas)

Stephanie Adams (Clontarf)

 

Management:

Pat Stritch (St Margaret’s)

Fintan O’Curry (Ballinteer St Johns)

Fearghal Brennan (Ballyboden St Endas)

Kathleen Colreavy (Naomh Mearnóg)

Its was a bit chilly tonight but 20 of us still braved the elements and turn out for training. Gemma and Sarah as always had the astro set up, drills organised. No time for chit chat and we were off, running around the cones, sprinting (well our sprinting, we are all mums after a hard day) knees up, silly skipping with a chorus of 'Bring me sunshine' (Morecombe and Wise, 'you tube'it) and gently jogging, all followed by a good stretch, (after four kids this mum is well stretched). Drills are getting more difficult but all do able and enjoyable, balls are being kept under control. We have a couple of basketball players who are very sneaky with their defending but at least they are on own team. After 40 minutes came my favourite bit, the match, 10 aside darks vs lights. We will have bids for next week, and Eileen they will be very clean, i promise. Some people as so fussy!. I stayed near the goal and defended, i loved that, i actually got stuck in this week. Some players really shone, Leonora, Eileen (Ger will be proud) Ide and Collette to name a few. No injuries just good clean (apart from the odd comment from yours truly) fun. Only two more sessions left, not going to miss either.... Role on next week, see you Tuesday.