Lucan’s Feile fantasy

LUCAN Sarsfields completed an amazingly successful Dublin Feile season, claiming six titles across four codes over the past six weeks, much to the delight of Dublin senior hurler and the club’s Games Promotion Officer Johnny McCaffrey.
An extremely talented crop of both male and female youngsters have contributed to winning two football, two camogie, a hurling and ladies football title in just a matter of weeks.
In a history-making period for the club, as well as the other four Feile titles, it was the club’s first ever success at division 1 ladies football and hurling level.
McCaffrey, speaking to the Lucan Gazette, was quick to praise the hard work and dedication that the players, mentors and officials have put into their recent success and has expressed his opinion on what makes this current crop of Under-14s so special.
McCaffrey believes that the improvement in facilities at the club, and the addition of the astro pitch five or so years ago has been a key factor of their recent success.
“This current bunch were one of the first to experience the benefits of having the astro pitch.
“Before that we were always struggling for space and, of course, when the weather was too bad there would be no training at all.
“Now, all sides get regular training on good pitches so it has been a huge benefit for the kids.
“You can see that in the recent success they have had and also through the years where they have done well in their leagues.”
While good facilities and pitches have played a role, McCaffrey is also keen to point out the good work of the mentors at the club and in particular those who have been with the successful Under-14s all the way through.
“The likes of James Duffy, John Balfe, Tony Dowling and John O’Connell among others have been with this bunch from the beginning and they have done a great job.
“Without them and others who have similar roles, we wouldn’t have the same success.”
McCaffrey, Dublin’s Leinster Senior Hurling Championship winning captain in 2013, believes that the club have the right structures in place for continuous success and that the future is bright for all involved.
“We have some really good teams and players coming through and the club is on a solid footing. We regularly have good numbers up in training across all codes and we have good structures in place.
“As well as that, the mentors are all continuously going on coaching courses to improve what they do so all round we are doing well as a club.”