Mixed Fortunes for Our Teams

Saturday 25th August 2007 delivered very mixed fortunes for the two squads with a stunning victory over Terenure College for the "A" Squad at Bushy Park. The Lads of "The Town" delivered a punishing defeat on a Terenure side that came out brimming with confidence unfortunately marked by one or two jibes at our Lads on the issue of "social housing". Dean Kelly, Joey O'Reilly (pictured right) and André FitzPatrick each found the back of the Terenure net with fine goals to hammer home the 3 : 1 win over Terenure College. The "B" Squad unfortunately suffered a gruelling 5 : 1 defeat at home against Whitechurch with the only goal for "The Town" coming from the boot of the very talented Tiziano Makanzu. Results: Away, Terenure College 1 : DLTFC 3 and home, DLTFC 1 : Whitechurch 5.

Dún Laoghaire Town 1 : Brighton Celtic 2

The opening match for the "B" Squad was very much a home derby against Cornelscourt based Brighton Celtic on Tuesday 21st August 2007 at Shanganagh. For many in the squad this was their first ever experience of a league game and they were naturally nervous at the start, but that didn't last long. Dún Laoghaire Town's Timson Aigbe (pictured above) laid claim to the "B" Squad's first goal in the Leinster Senior League to equalise with an early goal by the visitors. Manager Abrahim Abdul-Wahid made some tactically changes in the second half in an effort to take the game to the opposition. However, the sides were level for much of the game until a penalty gave Brighton Celtic the lead, though, many would say that the woodwork consistently denied "The Town" a late equaliser leaving the score as DLTFC 1 : Brighton Celtic 2. (Referee Derek Caulfied)

Blackrock College 1 : Dún Laoghaire Town 6

The first away game for the "A" Squad was certainly a memorable occasion, not only for the quality of the football, but mainly for the outstanding performance of the three young players from Shanganagh, Daniel Cruise, Gary Leonard and Dean Kelly. These new signings were responsible for three of the six goals scored during this match against Blackrock College AFC on Monday 20th August 2007. The other three goals were scored by Joey O'Reilly, with two great strikes from 25yds and one from Dean McAfee who was the caption on the day. Before the match Japo put the lads through their paces. He emphasised the need for discipline and tactics drawing on the lessons learned in the pre-Season friendly games and training sessions. (pictured Gary Leonard, left and Daniel Cruise - both from Shanganagh). (Referee Hubert Kane)

Leinster Senior League Commences

The opening matches of the Leinster Senior League 2007/8 season were severely disrupted by heavy rain and waterlogged pitches around the Dublin region on Saturday August 18th 2007. Shanganagh Cliffs was an exception due the extensive drainage works carried out on the pitch last year by the Parks Department of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council. The "B" Squad was do to make its LSL debut against Pioneers FC in Division 3A at St. Anne's Park in Raheny, but the match was called-off as the lads arrived at the park. So the "B" Squad will have its first match of the Season at home on Tuesday 21st August at 19.00hrs against Brighton Celtic. Despite the heavy rain and the serious traffic disruption on the M50 which delayed the Kick Off by 30 minutes, the "A" Squad's first match in Division 3 against Ballyoulster gave Dún Laoghaire Town its first points in the Leinster Senior League with a fine goal by local Shanganagh lad, Dean Kelly (pictured above right) while Dún Laoghaire's defence held solid throughout with, amongst others, defender Karl Waddington (pictured above left). Final score: DLTFC 1 : Ballyoulster 0 (Referee Willie Davenport)

First LSL Fixtures

The "A" Squad playing in Division 3 will kick off at 14.30hrs on Saturday 18th August 2007 against Ballyouster at home (Shanganagh Cliffs), while the "B" Squad playing in Division 3A will have its Leinster Senior League debut on the same day at 14.30hrs against Pioneers at St. Anne's, Raheny. The "A" Squad will play its first away game on Monday 20th August 2007 against Blackrock College at 18.30hrs at Newtownparklands. The "B" Squad's first home game will be on Tuesday 21st August 2007 at 19.00hrs against Brighton Celtic.

"Dunleary Town"

Many members and supporters noticed that the Club was entered on the website of the Leinster Senior League http://www.lsl.ie as "Dunleary Town" and contacted the Chairperson regarding this misspelling of the Club's name. The Chairperson contacted the Secretary of the LSL who undertook to have the correct spelling inserted. However, the LSL Fixtures published on Monday 13th August 2007 in the "Evening Herald" also used "Dunleary Town" and this generated several complaints to the Chairperson of the Club. To clarify the matter, the Club is registered with the Leinster Senior League as "Dún Laoghaire Town Football Club" and therefore, this should be the spelling utilised by the League. The Chairperson has written a letter of complaint to the League regarding the misspelling if the Club's name. To further clarify the matter, there has never been a town of "Dunleary" in Ireland and contrary to the erroneous assertions of some, "Dunleary" is not an alternative spelling of Dún Laoghaire. Dunleary was a small area in the Town of Kingstown, County Dublin, the Urban District Council of which, changed its name in 1919 to Dún Laoghaire and the town itself was given the name officially in 1921. The name of the harbour was changed to Dún Laoghaire by Section 10 of the State Harbours Act, 1924. The Board of the Club expects that the Leinster Senior League will rectify the matter very shortly.

Shankill Gardaí Come On-Board

At the Board Meeting held on Wednesday 8th August 2007, Garda David Jones and Garda Tom Brereton of Shankill Garda Station advised the Board of their successful endeavours in the Shanganagh area to establish an Under 16's Boys Team. The Shankill Gardaí were very impressed with the work undertaken by the Club both in the Dún Laoghaire area and recently in the Shankill area. It was agreed to fully incorporate the Shankill initiative into the Club's plans and hopefully, the Under 16 Boys Team will be competing in a Dublin wide league very soon. The involvement of An Gárda Síochána in local initiatives of this nature has proved very successful throughout the Greater Dublin Region and indeed, our own Community Garda John Paul Durkan of Dún Laoghaire Garda Station has been a longtime advocate of these "youth diversionary initiatives" in local communities. The support of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and the RAPID Programme is also welcomed and appreciated by the Club Board.

"B" Squad Prepares for Leinster Senior League

The players of the "B" Squad under Manager Abrahim Abdul-Wahid are preparing hard for their debut in the Leinster Senior League in Division 3A. The squad has been training at Herbert Park in Dublin City for the past few months and held their first friendly game against a League side in the park on Tuesday August 6th 2007. The game against Bath Markiewicz Celtic was a very spirited game marked by some great displays of sheer determination and skill by the young players of the "B" Squad. Watched by the Club Chairman, Michael Merrigan and the Club Development Officer, Ian M. Kane, the lads gave a good strong account of themselves against the more experienced opposition. The lads even succeeded in encouraging the Club Development Officer to play in the second half for about twenty minutes due to some light injuries amongst our players. This was especially remarkable as this was the first competitive game in which most of the Squad had played together as a team and it was certainly a great game to watch. Good work lads!! The final score was DLTFC 1 : Bath Markiewicz Celtic 4

"The Town" joins Leinster Senior League

Dún Laoghaire Town FC will have two teams competing in the Leinster Senior League this year in Divisions 3 and 3A. It was agreed that our "A" Squad under Japo Kelly would play in Division 3 with the "B" Squad under Abrahim Abdul-Wahid competing in Division 3A. This is certainly an exciting and challenging time for the Club as it was always the intention of the Club founders, Ian and Abrahim, to one day have our teams playing in the Leinster Senior League. It appears that most of the matches will be played in the Greater Dublin Region and, of course, on our home pitch at Shanganagh on Saturdays. The organisers of the League have assured the Club that there will be no clashes of match schedules for Dún Laoghaire Town's teams between the two Divisions of the League. The League Tables and the match fixtures will be posted on the website of Leinster Senior League at http://www.lsl.ie/ for further information contact Japo Kelly on 087 959 1216 or Abrahim Abdul-Wahid on 086 120 6666.