Our U10 and U12 Footballers had a great day’s fun in Dublin on Saturday with challenge matches against two of Dublin’s big clubs, Ballymun Kickhams and Kilmacud Crokes and a visit to the magnificent Croke Park.
With a bus full of football gear and packed lunches we departed from the Clubrooms at 9:30 and made our way south – spirits were high in anticipation of the day ahead.
We arrived at the Ballymun Kickham’s pitch in splendid weather and were warmly welcomed by our hosts. With the legs stretched and the warm ups completed it was on with the games against these two great Dublin clubs. The football was competitive and scoring was of a high quality. At the final whistle handshakes were made and it was into the Clubrooms for a much appreciated cup of tea and biscuit. It was agreed that the matches were a great success and the discussion was on when the return matches would be to Clonduff Park.
Having made new friends it was onwards to Croke Park and the Tour. The excitement levels grew as we turned onto Clonliffe Road and the great stadium came into view.
The tour began with a 20 minute video of the behind the scenes view of a Sunday in September at Croke Park and then it was onto the Players Lounge and into the Dressing rooms. Everyone was suitably impressed with thoughts turning to a revisit to these dressing rooms in the next decade on a St Patrick’s Day or possibly the third Sunday in September.
It was then onto the Warm Up areas and the heart was definitely pumping now as final preparations were made for the Big Match. As the knock on the door came to say ‘it was time’ the players burst out through the tunnel and the sounds of the big crowd to see …… The Pitch!
We made our way up the steps of the Hogan Stand, sticking to tradition of going up the right hand side to receive the cup with several impressive acceptance speeches made and going down the left hand side. It was then onto the museums and the ‘Activity Zone’ to test out our skills.
However, as with any good party the best was kept to the last with the appearance of the Sam Maguire Cup and a chance to get a photograph with the most prized piece of silverware in Irish sport.!
The museum shop was visited to purchase a memento or two of the day and back to the bus for the homeward journey and dreams of the future and going back to those dressing rooms to pull on the Yellow Gold of Clonduff or the Red and Black of Down.
