And, sure enough, down came the hailstones.
‘Welcome to Raheny,’ read the neat black sign.
Con Clarke has done noble work with its Tidy Town’s folk, helping to make the area glisten. Con played hurling for the Dubs.
He won Dublin Senior Hurling Championships with O’Toole’s. He became Chairman of the Dublin County Board.
St Anne’s Park has long been a jewel of Dublin. It staged some big concerts during the summer. Including Tom Jones.
The locals feel blessed to call St Anne’s their green, green grass of home.
Beside Pitch Number 9, a squirrel was enjoying his tea. During the week, Chris Morris was talking about the former Dublin minor hurler, Niall Quinn.
They were room-mates with the Irish soccer squad. One morning, Chris woke up and saw a squirrel sitting on Niall’s big toe!
The very toe, no doubt, that poked the ball into the back of the Dutch net.
The Mighty Quinn and Chris managed to guide the little fella out the window of the hotel.
But the St Anne’s Park squirrel was in no hurry to leave ringside.
It was Group A of the Go-Ahead Dublin Junior A Ladies’ Football Championship.
Raheny against Man O War. The prize was a big one – a place in the semi-final.
A man and a woman brought along fold-up chairs. Settling in for an Electric Picnic.
Across the way, there was a young hurling team training. Their bikes and gear-bags scattered along the sideline.
A rainbow stretched across the sky. The rain returned. Umbrellas went up.
Spectators sheltered under the majestic trees. Then the sun came out.
As Greg Allen said up at the Irish Open in Down: “We have had the four seasons in one day.”
Paul Meaney was the referee. One of his umpires, Finbarr O’Driscoll, has refereed All-Ireland Senior Ladies’ Football Championship finals.
The goalposts looked like they had come direct from the factory floor. Raheny were in a hurry to test the calibre of the new netting.
There was a real sharpness to their play. Every pass was stamped ‘Swift Post.’
Jimmy Woods is the Raheny manager. His colleagues are Emer Kiely, John McCarthy and Alan Fitzsimons.
“The girls are working hard. They have been putting in the effort at training,” said Emer.
“It was a good display. We took our scores well. But we know we still have things to work on.
“This result saw us finish runners-up in the group. We are away now to the winners of the other Group, Kilmacud Crokes, in the semi-final. That will be a big test. But we’ll give it our best.”
The other semi-final sees St Olaf’s against Templeogue Synge Street. Both games take place on Wednesday, September 18.
Raheny have come close to Junior A Championship glory in the last two years. Losing the final to Scoil Uí Chonaill last season and to O’Dwyer’s the year before.
Raheny’s industry was their most impressive feature in this victory. Right half-back Sophie Kinane was constantly up and down the pitch.
Siobhán Woods was at the hub of it all. Showing so much game intelligence.
Reading the play. Always there to accept the pass, and putting the exact amount of weight on her deliveries.
One time, despite being in a congested area around midfield, she jinked away from the cover to earn a yard before striking a precise pass into Anna Murphy’s runway.
The Raheny full-forward, Cliodhna McHugh, helped herself to a first half hat-trick. She scored 3-4 from play. Katie Molloy flicked in their other goal in the 8th minute.
Raheny’s forwards never lacked possession. Jane Murphy and Carla Fitzsimons were among those that profited.
The home side would have had more in the bank only for goalkeeper, Adrienne Moore.
She made a couple of fabulous saves, and, one time, she advanced off her line to make a brilliant interception, acting as an extra defender.
In front of her was full-back, Rachel Doran. Every club would like to have her as captain.
She played with such resolve. “Well done Rachel. Well done Rachel Doran,” came the shouts from the terraces.
In the second half, she was moved up front. And responded with two points. As Man O War showed their best hand.
Their centre half-back, Joanne Moore, sparked many an attack. Ciara Hartford and Niamh White brought energy to the engine room.
Megan McAuley is a terrific footballer. Excellent vision and a right boot that would make the daisies duck.
Sarah Murphy and Laura Brown ran miles. Keelin O’Callaghan got the Man O War goal before half-time.
McAuley was involved in the build-up. That was no surprise.
Against a very fine Raheny side, Man O War gave it their all.
On the final whistle, the couple folded up their chairs. As the nights close in, for this stately venue, it was the Last Night of the Proms.
It had been another enchanting evening in the park.
And as the man from the valleys might say: “It’s not unusual.”
