Lucan Sarsfields GAA

Lucan Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Lucan, Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by the "Condron 12th Lock Mafia Clan" in 1886, making it one of the oldest GAA clubs in Dublin. Sarsfields were one of 16 teams which contested the Dublin Senior Championship in 1887. They were also involved in the Senior Championship of 1892 and the club has fielded Gaelic football, hurling and camogie teams ever since.

Early success

Lucan won the Intermediate Football League in the 1904-05 season. It is reported that they did this with the help of five players from Balbriggan. The story goes that in 1902 a team call Balbriggan Wanderers won the Intermediate League and then for some reason or other went out of existence in 1904. One of the players on that team was a man named Paddy Richardson, who was a fish merchant and regularly attended the Dublin market. At the market he met up with Mickey Ashe who was secretary of Lucan and who also worked in the fish market. With the assistance of Tom Clarke, another fish market worker, the Balbriggan men were persuaded to throw in their lot with Lucan and the result was the winning of the league that year. The Lucan players who played on that team were M. O’Connor, P. Murray (Captain), J. Kelly, M. Downes (Treasurer), R. Kane (Vice Captain), M. Ashe (Secretary), J. Fagan, J. Murray, C. Brien, G. Thornberry, T. Kelly, J. Fitzpatrick (President), C.J. Keogh, R. Maher, T. Byrne, M. Merriman and J. Brien. The same season also saw the hurlers win their league and being presented with the Michael Smith Cup. Lucan had to wait another 70 years to see this cup again when they won the Junior A League in 1974. A link between these two wins was Michael Downes who played on the 1905 team and his grandsons, Larry Downes and Dessie O’Brien who played on the 1974 team. Another link between both teams was Club President Tom Slattery who attended both games. In 1904-05 Lucan Sarsfields also won the Camogie Championship. Some of those who played on that team were Bridget Nugent, Annie Hughes, Kitty Brady, Dill Thornberry, Chrissie Murray, Margaret Feeney, Kate Nugent and Margaret Gannon. The club's footballers were prominent in the 1920s and 30s. The highpoint of this era was undoubtedly a famous victory over a star-studded Garda team in 1929 who were the Dublin Senior Football Championship winners at the time.

The hurlers captured the limelight in the 60s winning the Junior 'B' Hurling League. They won the Corn Céitinn in 1966 and so became the first Junior Hurling team ever to capture this title.

Moving through the ranks

The club's footballers were back to the forefront in the 70s with the help of the club's active juvenile section. The winning of the Dublin Junior Football Championship in 1977 and entry into Intermediate ranks quickly followed success at Under 21 level.

In 1988 a huge ambition was realised when Senior status was achieved. They beat St. Anne's in the Intermediate League Final. Some lean times followed and it reverted to Intermediate status.

The glorious 1990s

After a magnificent campaign the footballers again achieved Senior status in 1995 with a thrilling Dublin Intermediate Football Championship victory over St Vincents after a replay in Lawless Park in Swords. Further success followed and the footballers now compete in Division 1 of the Senior Football League. 1998 was a tremendous year for our hurlers. The intermediate hurlers won three cup competitions, Corn Céitinn, Corn Fogarty and Corn . They followed up with a season to relish in 1999 winning the Intermediate League and Dublin Intermediate Hurling Championship and were competing in Division 2 of the Senior Hurling League.

Club grounds

For many years the Club had no permanent pitches. In the early years, games were played at the 12 Lock, Bleach Green in the Demesne (close to Weir View), in a field behind Vesey Park and later on land belonging to Mr. Hickey in Doddsboro, Mr. Royce in Tandy’s Lane and Mr. Kavanagh in Ballydowd, On the morning of a game some of the club members would go to one of these fields and erect posts which would have to be taken down that evening. In 1952, the Dublin County Board leased grounds in Ballydowd, behind the Foxhunter Pub and gave the Club official use of these grounds. This was home for the Club for the next 18 years. Dressing rooms consisted of old wooden railway carriages - a far cry from some of the facilities that exist today but a lot more than some other clubs had at the time. In 1970 however, the County Board lost control of the ground and the club was again homeless until granted the use of County Council pitches in Doddsboro where Airlie Heights is now situated. 1976 saw the Club move again, this time to County Council grounds near Arthur Griffith Park. It was around this time that the Club realised the need for a home of its own and in 1978 the grounds at the 12th Lock were purchased from Shackletons for the sum of £51,500. Initial finance was provided by members by way of an interest free loan of £50 per head. The area of Lucan itself has expanded beyond all recognition during the period since the foundation of the club. In 1901 the population of the village of Lucan was recorded at 872, by 1981 it had increased to 13,508. Today the Lucan area is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Dublin with the present population estimated at 50,000 people living in the Lucan area. Lucan Sarsfields is continuing to grow with the community that it serves, because of the explosion in membership numbers a new clubhouse was built in 2001. The modern design includes a bar and function room, viewing balcony, 5 dressing rooms with showers, gym and club shop. The pitches in the 12th lock are known around the county for their excellent condition when it comes to championship. Sarsfields are currently planning to construct a state of the art all weather playing surface. This project was delayed by the on going saga between thomas davis gaa and shamrock rovers in south county dublin. With the conclusion of this it is expected the new pitch should be ready by 2010.

All weather pitch

The club has grown hugely over the past 10 years with numbers of players and teams more than doubling in that period. Gaelic games is now a year-round activity and it is vital to have proper facilities to cope with our increased membership. In response to this need, and to provide facilities for the future growth and development, the Club decided to undertake a Project to develop an All-Weather Playing Facility at our grounds at 12th Lock.
It was decided that the training pitch would be developed into a 100M X 60M high quality synthetic surface. Work commenced during the summer of 2009 and was completed by December 2009. The fully flood lit pitch suitable for all codes is enclosed in high quality fencing and netting and was officially opened by An Taoiseach Brian Cowen in February 2010. He congratulated the Club and the community in Lucan on bringing this project to fruition, especially in these times and stressed the importance of sport to young peoples lives and to Irish culture. Club Chairman, Paul Stapleton, thanked all who made the development possible, he acknowledged the support of local public representatives across all parties who did everything within their power to secure funding, and guide the club through the planning process. He went on to thank the club members who pulled out all the stops to raise funding locally through the €100 ticket draw and the people of Lucan who supported the draw.

Paul Tansey

Paul Tansey, ("Tanso" as he is known by his peers on and off the field), is known for his antics on the pitch as well as off it. His claim to fame was the infamous phone call he made to Sean McCaffrey (senior hurling manager), in which he cried his poor little eyes out about not being selected on the panel. Tabloids reported a deal was struck when he offered to be the teams helper by setting up cones and water bottles before training. Similar to the film "the waterboy" paul was soon recognised for his hurling ability and given a place on the squad. A bread boy by trade working in tesco for the past 6 years, Paul developed his love for hurling after he converted to catholism from the church of ireland. Enjoys a pint on rare occaions and is known for being a playboy. He was recently seen stumbling out of a taxi into a field in celbridge shortly after leaving the o zone with a well known younger woman. Sources close to paul say they are expecting their first child together and she is ecstatic about the news. Paul on the other hand was meant to be distraught as he found out he will have to spend money for the first time in his life in child support.
He also suffers from a rare medical condition which makes him sick at the sight of any other clubs jersey, and in extreme cases causes his blood to boil. Another effect of his condition, (donned Tansoitis by The Medical Research Dept. of The University of South Carolina), is extreme pride. This was witnessed in every pre-game speech of the 2008 minor hurling season where Paul could be seen crying. Irish rugby player John Hayes suffers mildly from Tansoitis also. Paul has managed to cure his condition through numerous experimental therapies. Consuming Vodka has been identified as the single biggest catalyst of Tansoitis. While holidaying on the island of Aiya Napa during the summer of 2008 Paul was caught on camera crying in one of his pride episodes. The video, which was circulated through local media, showed Paul crying when exposed to traditional Irish music with total depression reached at Amhrán na bhFiann. He cited the" bravery of the irish heros dying for us" as the biggest hurdle in coping with his pride issues. After taking some time out to concentrate on his education, Paul bounced back, arriving on the U-21 hurling corner back scene with a bang. Strong gutsy performances throughout the campaign were the norm from Paul, earning him a mention in the Evening Herald. Paul built on these performances with a season as Peter Callaghan's understudy at senior level.
On November 7th 2009, Paul was unveiled as the U-21 hurling captain by Sean Mac Caffrey. Big things lie ahead for Paul in 2010.

Honours

2001
Minor 'B' Hurling Championship
Junior Ladies Football All-Ireland Champions

2003
U-15 'B' Hurling Championship

2005
Minor 'A' Hurling Championship
Minor 'B' Football championship

2006
Minor Hurling Div 1 champions
U-21 'A' Football Championship
Div 3 Football Feile Champions

2007
U-11 Div 1 Camogie Champions
U-11 'A' Camogie Championship
U-14 Div 2 Camogie Champion

Management

Senior Football - Mick Bohan
Senior Hurling - Sean McCaffrey
Intermediate Football - Barry Whelan
Senior Camoige Team - Seaghan O Lanagain
Intermediate Ladies Football Team - Colm Hickey

Notable Players

• Jack Sheedy - former Dublin inter-county footballer.
• Tommy Carr - former Dublin inter-county footballer and manager
• Paul Casey - current Dublin inter-county footballer.
• Stephen O’Shaughnessy - current Dublin inter-county footballer.
• Kevin O'Reilly - current Dublin heavy weight inter-county hurler.
• John McCaffrey - current Dublin inter-county hurler
• Pádraig O'Driscoll - Former Dublin inter-county Hurler
• Peter Kelly - Current Dublin inter-county hurler.
  

Paul Tansey, current U-21 Hurling Captain, is known for his antics on the pitch as well as off it. His claim to fame was the infamous phone call he made to Sean McCaffrey (senior hurling manager), in which he cried his poor little eyes out about not being selected on the panel. Tabloids reported a deal was struck when he offered to be the teams helper by setting up cones and water bottles before training. Similar to the film "the waterboy" paul was soon recognised for his hurling ability and given a place on the squad. A bread boy by trade working in tesco for the past 6 years, Paul developed his love for hurling after he converted to catholism from the church of ireland. Enjoys a pint on rare occaions and is known for being a playboy. He was recently seen stumbling out of a taxi into a field in celbridge shortly after leaving the o zone with a well known younger woman. Sources close to paul say they are expecting their first child together and she is ecstatic about the news. Paul on the other hand was meant to be distraught as he found out he will have to spend money for the first time in his life in child support.
He also suffers from a rare medical condition which makes him sick at the sight of any other clubs jersey, and in extreme cases causes his blood to boil. Another effect of his condition, (donned Tansoitis by The Medical Research Dept. of The University of South Carolina), is extreme pride. This was witnessed in every pre-game speech of the 2008 minor hurling season where Paul could be seen crying. Irish rugby player John Hayes suffers mildly from Tansoitis also. Paul has managed to cure his condition through numerous experimental therapies. Consuming Vodka has been identified as the single biggest catalyst of Tansoitis. While holidaying on the island of Aiya Napa during the summer of 2008 Paul was caught on camera crying in one of his pride episodes. The video, which was circulated through local media, showed Paul crying when exposed to traditional Irish music with total depression reached at Amhrán na bhFiann. He cited the" bravery of the irish heros dying for us" as the biggest hurdle in coping with his pride issues. After taking some time out to concentrate on his education, Paul bounced back, arriving on the U-21 hurling corner back scene with a bang. Strong gutsy performances throughout the campaign were the norm from Paul, earning him a mention in the Evening Herald. Paul built on these performances with a season as Peter Callaghan's understudy at senior level.
On November 7th 2009, Paul was unveiled as the U-21 hurling captain by Sean Mac Caffrey. Big things lie ahead for Paul in 2010.