Click the picture to download a poster with details of the Railway Cup Hurling Final coming up on March 14th! (Alternatively, click here for PDF file (3.3 mb).

As you can see the price of tickets for this event will retail at AED 75 (advanced purchases) and AED 100 on the day. Kids under the age of 12 gain admission for free.

Those of you with families there will be lots of fun filled activities organized for the kids on the day so feel free to come along. Food and drinks will also be provided at the grounds.

We hope to have a box office ourselves in The Crowne Plaza pretty soon (details to follow early next week) in order to sell tickets but for the moment if you need more information on ticket sales (or any other information for that matter) please log on to www.etihadhurling.com or call 050 6576925 for further details.

Also, as I mentioned in a previous e-mail, there is an Inter Gulf game scheduled for 3 pm that day as a curtain raiser to the final itself. It will be Abu Dhabi v Dubai in a mixed gender match. At the moment I have only had 2 responses from people who have committed to playing. We need around 20 players so please if you are interested drop me an e-mail at declan.madden@hct.ac.ae letting me know of your availability.

This is a big day for the club and could give us some much needed (and deserved) exposure for the work we do here so I really need to get a team together.

Please get back to me asap with your response.

That’s it for now. If you have any further questions just drop me an e-mail and I’ll see if I can’t answer your queries.
Cheers,
Declan.
Chairman.
Abu Dhabi Na Fianna.

As you may, or may not, have heard the Railway Cup hurling final is due to take place in Abu Dhabi next month. The match will comprise the best hurlers from Munster and Leinster battling it out for the honour of inter provincial champions 2009.

If you have never seen a game of hurling live before this is the ideal opportunity to see “one of the fastest games on the planet” being played at the very highest level.

Etihad’s marketing group are just putting the final touches to their advertising campaign so once they have sent me on the necessary details, flyers, posters, etc I’ll forward them on to you. What I do know of the event so far is as follows: -

• Date: Saturday, March 14th: Throw-in: 4 pm
• Location: Polo Grounds, Ghantoot, Abu Dhabi. Click for location
• Tickets will be going on sale fairly shortly in outlets around Abu Dhabi (TBA) and it is fairly likely that we will have a box office night ourselves in the Crowne Plaza to sell tickets to the event (TBC).
• Inter Gulf game at 3 pm.
• The game is being screened live back in Ireland on TG4.
• On the day there will be amenities at the grounds to cater for families with young children.
• There is a night planned afterwards in The Irish Village, Dubai to coincide with the Six Nations Rugby matches taking place at 6 pm and 8 pm respectively.

That’s it for now. As I said once I receive posters, etc. from Etihad’s marketing group I’ll forward them on to you.

As regards one of the points above – an Inter Gulf game – it is going to be ourselves against Dubai.
Anyone who is interested in taking part in this game please let me know by sending me an e-mail at declan.madden@hct.ac.ae.

As this will be quite a serious game we are hoping to be able to organize a couple of hurling training sessions before the game itself. We have decided to play a mixed game so any camogie players out there please don’t be afraid to get involved – everyone is welcome.

Regards,
Declan

Hi there,

Our next golf outing is scheduled for Friday, February 27^th in Al Ain Golf Club.

The cost of the golf will be AED 280 for 18 holes. That includes your round of golf, golf cart and range balls beforehand. We will play our usual scramble format so all levels are welcome.

A bus will be organized to take us to and from Al Ain on the day and I’m sure there will be time for a few drinks before, during and after the golf.

If you are interested in playing please let me know by either sending me an e-mail at declan.madden@hct.ac.ae or by sending me a text on 050 3236804.

Cheers, Declan

A big thank you and congratulations to all our players who travelled to Dubai for the recent GGG ‘09. From what I was told all players who travelled represented the club with great pride and distinction.

A special word of thanks must go out to the following: -

Anne Marie O’Brien for taking over the managing of the girls team in Brid’s absence.

The girls did fantastically well, winning one of their matches, so the remainder of the year is filled with optimism for future successes.

Jonathan O’Neill for taking over the general organizing of the event from our side in my absence.

The guys also acquitted themselves quite well, winning one of their pool games against Clonmel Commercials which saw them go into the semi-finals on the Saturday. Unfortunately, the lads lost out by the slenderest of margins (1 point) to eventual winners Carrigtwohill. Despite the loss, again, this bodes well for future successes in our upcoming games with Dubai and for the remainder of the year.

Pat English and Trish Collier for taking care of our kids teams who travelled up in order to participate in the Games.

Our U-10’s got all the way to the final only to lose out in a very competitive and skillful game so well done to them. Our U-14’s also represented themselves with great distinction on the day. 

Also, Pat deserves a special mention for togging out in the “over the hill” (sorry, I mean Veteran’s) game: a big thank you to Pat for keeping the Abu Dhabi flag flying at this level.

 Finally, training starts back up again for everyone on Wednesday, February 4th  at The American International School from 8 onwards.

Just a reminder that the girls train from 8-9 so guys there is no need for ye to turn up at 8 – 8:45 will suffice.