Erin Go Bragh GAA - Hurling

Hurling

The club was listed as having a hurling team in 1887 and again in 1921, however there is little or no information on hurling's history in Erin go Bragh. In early September 2005 Erin Go Bragh introduced Hurling and Camogie to the Littlepace/Castaheaney area. A junior hurling team was set up during the summer of 2007 with a view to competing in the 2008 hurling season. The hurling team played their home games at Saint Catherines due to the clubs current pitch in Castaheany/Littlepace close proximity to houses in the area. The team was setup and managed by Kevin Kenny and captained by Karl Johnson. The hurling teams first match was a friendly against St Peregrines on 30 September 2007. Their first competitive match was against Civil Service hurling club in Islandbridge (picture below). They finished in 11th position in AHL 8 in 2008 and reached the quarter finals of the Junior E hurling championship losing to eventual runners up St. Josephs OCB in their first season.

In 2009 season the side played Wild Geese in The first ever Gus Warren Challenge Cup. They were defeated in Oldtown 2-5 to 2-9. The team narrowly missed out on a place in the quarter finals of the Junior E Championship. The hurling team finished in 10th position in AHL 8 and 4th in the Eddie Barron Shield which was run on a league format with the top two playing off in a final in 2009.

The hurling team reached the Junior E hurling championship quarter finals again in 2010. The team finished in third position in their group behind Kilmacud Crokes and Skerries Harps. They defeated Clontarf, Raheny and Na Fianna, losing to Kilmacud Crokes and Skerries Harps. They played Setanta hurling club of Ballymun in the quarter finals losing by a point in injury time. Setanta went on to the final losing to Saint Patricks of Palmerstown.

On October 20 the club announced that Willie Doyle and Pat Keenan would be taking charge of the hurling team for the 2011 season. The club was relegated to Division 9 but remained at Junior E level for championship. They reached the quarter finals finishing fourth in their group behind Skerries Harps, Kilmacud Crokes and Castleknock beating Commercials and Na Fianna. They were beaten by Realt Dearg who were later defeated by Kilmacud Crokes in the semi final. The team took part in the Sean Walsh Hurling Tournament on October the 22nd in Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitrim. The tournament organised by Carrick Hurling Club is in memory of a former player who also played at County level who went missing in Australia. They reached the semi final playing Clonguish GAA of Longford, Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins of Leitrim in the group stages and St. Vincents of Dublin in the semi final. Both Clonguish and St. Vincents who beat Erin Go Bragh reached the final with Clonguish winning the tournament.

Garreth Dalton was appointed manager for the 2012 season. For the first time in the clubs hurling history, the club have progressed to final of the Junior E Hurling Championship. They bet Setanta, Good Counsel, Naomh Mearnog and St. Monicas and losing to Commercials in the group stages. In the quarter final they played Civil Service, their first competitive game rivals, winning 1-13 to 1-8 on August 16 in Hazelbury Park. The hurlers have often made the quarter finals of the championship but failed to progress beyond that stage, 2012 was the first time they have done so. They played fellow Dublin 15 club Castleknock in the semi final winning in Somerton 3-11 to 0-8. On October 14 in O'Toole Park they played St. Marks in their first ever hurling final, losing 3-13 to 4-4. 8 members of the first team who started out in 2007 were part of the squad.