Fingal county hurling team

The Fingal hurling team (Irish: Foireann Iománaíochta Fhine Ghaill) is an inter-county hurling team representing Fingal in the Kehoe Cup, the National Hurling League and the Nicky Rackard Cup. It is organised by the Dublin GAA and was established in 2008. [1] Fingal are currently managed by Mick Kennedy of the Fingallians club.[2]

Fingal
IrishFine Gall
Nickname(s)The Ravens
The Northsiders
ColoursPurple and white
Ground(s)Lawless Memorial Park, Swords
Dominant sportHurling
NHLDivision 3A
Hurling CHampionshipNicky Rackard Cup
Standard colours

The Fingal team is made up of players from Dublin clubs within the Fingal region. While players from Fingal are eligible to play for the Dublin county team, players from outside of Fingal are not eligible to play for the Fingal county team. The Fingal catchment area stretches from Blanchardstown to Balbriggan and contains a total of 16 clubs; these include Castleknock, Erin go Bragh, Fingallians, Naomh Barróg, Naomh Mearnóg, O'Dwyers, Setanta, Skerries Harps, St Brigids, St Finians (N), St Maurs, St Pats Donabate, St Peregrines, St Sylvesters, Trinity Gaels and Wild Geese.[3]

History
The Fingal hurling team which played in the 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup semi-final.

In 2007, the GAA announced that hurling teams from Fingal and "South Down" (i.e. excluding the Ards peninsula) would compete at inter-county level in parallel to the main Dublin and Down hurling teams, to encourage hurling in these areas where the game had not been strong.[4] In 2008, Fingal entered the Kehoe Cup which is a pre-season tournament for second and third-tier inter-county and third-level hurling teams. Fingal won their debut match against IT Tallaght by 3–12 to 1–11 to qualify for the quarter-final stages.[5] Their next match was drawn against Carlow whom they lost to by 1–13 to 1–10.[6] Later that year, both Fingal and South Down were entered into the Nicky Rackard Cup, which is a competition for the third-tier hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Fingal qualified for the semi-finals after finishing top of their group and beating Leitrim in the quarter-finals by 1–19 to 0–12.[7] However, Fingal lost the semi-final to Sligo by 1–16 to 0–11, who later went on to win the competition.[8]

Fingal claimed their first piece of silverware in 2012 when they won the Kehoe Cup Shield, beating Armagh in the final by 4–11 to 1–14.[9] They topped off the year by winning division 3A of the National Hurling League after Monaghan refused to play in the final.[10]

However in 2013 they won the Division 3a hurling league final and a season later reached the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup where they eventually lost to Tyrone. The Fingal hurling project was eventually disbanded in 2016

Sponsorship

In April 2012, the Dublin County Board announced a new partnership with Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) which would provide the Fingal team with a sponsor for the first time in its 5-year history. The DAA had previously supported local GAA clubs in the Fingal area including St Margarets, Naomh Mearnóg and St Sylvesters.[11]

Management team

Managerial history
YearsNameClubKehoe Cup titlesNational League titlesNicky Rackard titles
2008–2010Denis MurphySkerries Harps
2011–2011Ben DorneySt Vincents
2012–2012Willie BurkeSt Brigids2012 (Shield)2012 (Div. 3A)
2013–Mick KennedyFingallians2013 (Div. 3A)

Honours

Senior

Minor

References
  1. "Dublin County Board back Fingal's motion to rejoin hurling championship". The Irish Times. 8 January 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  2. "Kennedy assumes Fingal hotseat". Fingal Independent. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  3. "Fingal are up for the fight". Evening Herald. 22 July 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  4. Gavin Cummiskey (17 May 2007). "Down, Dublin teams to compete in Rackard". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
  5. "Review of Walsh & Kehoe Cup action". RTÉ Sport. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  6. "Review of Kehoe Cup action". RTÉ Sport. 12 March 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  7. "Nicky Rackard Cup round-up". RTÉ Sport. 6 August 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  8. "Nicky Rackard Cup round-up". RTÉ Sport. 13 January 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  9. "First ever silverware for Fingal hurling". Fingal Independent. 14 February 2012. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
  10. "Monaghan will not fulfil hurling final". RTÉ Sport. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  11. "Community Sponsorship". Dublin Airport Authority. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
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