Over 100 years old, Portrane Hockey Club has been at the heart of many generations in the village. With over 350 adult and junior members, the club has joined together the community, encouraging new members to try a new sport in a fun, relaxed environment. The club now has 7 senior teams, 3 men’s and 4 ladies with a range of junior Leinster league teams from age 5 through to U16’s. Portrane HC caters for all hockey levels from the serious player to the social player. With the club on the Donabate pitch six days a week, there is something for everyone! Last season was a very successful season for the senior teams with league wins for many and cup finals being won after a hard-fought season. Both the men’s and ladies first teams play at division one and Challenge A respectively. This success transferred into our junior teams with many boys and girls walking away with well-earned Leinster titles at the end of the season. Portrane Hockey Club is a club for all with competitive teams and a great social atmosphere both on and off the pitch. The supporters come together in their purple colours for home matches at the Donabate pitch with great camaraderie from push back to final whistle. The club wouldn’t be where it is today without it’s hard-working committee and coaching staff. Last season saw the new additions of coaches Ross Hetem and Anthony Glutz, both from South Africa. They can also be seen playing for the men’s first team each week in their bid to win division one. If you would like to give hockey a go and join Portrane Hockey Club, please contact Anita Patterson secretaryportranehc@gmail.com or message Portrane Hockey Club on Facebook or Instagram

Marathon fever was in the air in LSA in October as the mileage and training intensified. The theme of the 2022 Dublin City marathon was the Power of Support and this was well and truly evident amongst members of LSA. Over thirty of our adult members ran the Dublin City Marathon last month, supported in their journey to that point by many more. See our Social Media pages for the latest information.Our club provided a supported pathway to the marathon: training sessions, company and hydration for long runs, and Zoom talks with advice on everything needed to get from the start line through the 26 miles.The Dublin race series builds up to the Marathon. Back in August, the Frank Duffy 10 mile race was also the Dublin Athletics 10 mile Championships. Huge congratulations to our coaches Eimear Caulfield and Shane O’Farrell who placed 2nd and Steven Rice who placed 3rd in their age categories in the Dublin Championships.Then in September the Dublin City Half Marathon took place in the Phoenix Park. The notoriously tough and hilly course tested our group. Huge congratulations to Willie Cahill who had a fantastic run and placed second in his age category. As Marathon Day approached LSA was well represented in Lusk at the East of Ireland and Longwood 3/4 Marathons. Meanwhile, we are excited to see our Little Athletics and Juvenile section growing and some of our younger members have had their first taste of competition in Cross Country. Congratulations to Mark Kelly on a Dublin Medal with an excellent 4th place finish in the recent Dublin Championships. Well done all, and thank you to our volunteer coaches for their support. For memberships queries or to get involved please contact lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com - Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA via our social media pages! Facebook facebook.com/lambaysportsacademy or indeed
instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane twitter.com/LSARunning For additional information on the above please visit our website lambaysportsathletics.ie/

Balbriggan RFC hosted 11 school teams in the Leinster Rugby Junior 3A qualifiers blitz today. A great morning of rugby including our local Ardgillan Community College Junior team.

Well done to Ardgillan Community College and Malahide Community School who have qualified for the Cup.

Balbriggan woman Nina McGowan set a new world record in the Masters category of the No Fins discipline at a prestigious international free diving competition. She went on to secure a gold medal for Ireland in the FIM (Free Immersion) category during the CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques) Outdoor Free diving World Championships in Kas, Turkey. McGowan, 50, from the Harbour area of the town, also set two national records over the course of the Championships. She beat the existing world record by three metres to log the deepest ‘no fins’ dive in CMAS history for a woman aged 50-54. She dived to 43m, with a dive duration of two minutes, ten seconds at the competition’s warm-up event. McGowan is one of the world’s leading exponents of free diving, which involves competitors diving deep under water without breathing equipment. “When my coach suggested a world record was within my reach, I thought it was a crazy,” she said. But because water is both my sanctuary and playground, anything is possible. The limitations of the land do not apply.To become a world champion and a world record holder in one week is simply fantastic. I had many doubts and failings along the way, but I have achieved what I set out to do and I am very proud Ireland is now represented at this level in freed diving. I hope the sport will grow in Ireland and that next year we will have an Irish team going to the World Championships. I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in this adventure. Diving Ireland, Sport Ireland and Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership for their support and belief in me. Also, my Go-Funders, friends, family and the wonderful community of freedivers who have encouraged me from the beginning and continue to cheer me on.”

Fingallians GAA’s Culture Officer, Liam Ó Culbáird, told the Fingal Independent: “The Irish language is a central part of our heritage, as are our national field games. We are working to create an environment where it is not unusual to hear Irish spoken both willingly and enthusiastically. An environment where Irish is not just associated with the classroom. Fingallians GAA are receiving great recognition for this on a national stage. We had visitors this week from each of the main National Irish language promotion organisations; Conradh na Gaeilge, Fóras na Gaeilge and Glór na nGael. All commended Fingallians for the ongoing work. Fins are now regarded as an exemplar club in the promotion of the Irish language outside of An Ghaeltacht.”Games Promotion Officer Naoise de Bhaldraithe said “I am delighted that the Campa Samhraidh was so successful. We had 102 children playing sport through the Irish language medium. There are not many such camps taking place in Dublin but we are proud to lead the way.” Fingallians GAA Camp Co-ordinator Donagh Mac Liam commented: “2022 was our second year running the Irish language camp and again it has proved a great success. We have a template established and we look forward to expanding into the future. The Camps are tough work but seeing the enjoyment of the kids makes it a privilege to be involved.” Ní ábhar í an Ghaeilge, is teanga í. Is ár dteanga í. - Irish is not a subject, it is a language. It is our language.

Despite a 2-1 loss against Beechwood FC recently, Swords Celtic U15.4 celebrated last seasons league win after finally receiving their medals and trophy. Both managers are very happy that the team has remained fully together for another season. A very happy captain Max Savage lifted the trophy to start the celebration with his teammates. Well done to all involved

Training returns to normal schedule after the summer in Applewood Community Centre as the club prepares for the new karate season. Classes are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Congratulations to Ashish Johnston and Sandra Ilasz who won Students of the Month for September. They were presented with the Student of the Month Trophies by their instructor Dermot O Keeffe Sensei, 6th Dan JKS recently. Ashish and Sandra attend classes regularly and puts huge effort into their training in kihon, kata and kumite. Well done, Ashish and Sandra! 20 members of JKS Ireland gathered in Applewood Community Centre recently for Brown and Bclak Belt training. The 2-hour class consisted of a variety of kihon and kumite techniques and drills. The class then studied katas Tekki Shodan, Kakyoko Shodan and Gojushiho Sho. Well done to all who took part in this training session.We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-98073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

Lusk Athletic Club athletes have taken part in lots of races recently such as the 21st World Mountain Running championships held in Ireland for the first time, The Portmarnock Beach 5K, The Ratoath AC and Dublin Half Marathons and the Dublin 5K road race championships.Two outstanding achievements by Lusk AC athletes were Stephen Brennan completing the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc and Ann Robinson winning a silver medal at the 21st World Masters Mountain running championships.Lusk Athletic Club also hosted the 1st round of the Dublin Juvenile cross-country league on Sunday 18th September. Thanks to all who organised this event and to the many club and community volunteers who helped us to put on what was a very successful series of races. Great running by all our juvenile athletes in their 1st race of the season.We also welcomed Irish Olympian, Mick Clohisey to the club where he put on a coaching session for our Dublin Marathon training group and passed on key marathon training insights. Lusk AC have approximately 50 athletes in training for the eagerly awaited return of the Dublin Marathon set to take place on Sunday 30th October. New members are always welcome at Lusk AC and our Al certified coaches will help you improve whether you are a runner or you prefer field events such as Discus, Hammer, High Jump, Shot Putt, Javelin. Training every Tuesday & Thursday from 6.55pm at the Hub on Rathmore Road.

There were great scenes – and lots of great football – at Balscadden FC Girls U14s tournament which took place on Sunday 28th August in Ringcommons Sports Centre Balscadden, Stamullen, Raheny United, Skerries Town, East Meath, Lusk United ,Kilmore Celtic and Kilkenny FC took part in the competition which ran from early morning until the afternoon.It was the first time the tournament was held and a highly successful day was enjoyed by all..Kilkenny FC won the tournament, beating hosts Balscadden in a cracking final. Former Republic of Ireland international Olivia O’Toole presented all the players with their medals. “It was a fantastic day and we’re delighted with how everything went,” said Balscadden manager Michael Holohan. “We’re always looking for girls and boys to come out to the club to play with us so hopefully this will help us attract more young players.“It was great to see the players show their quality, and we’d like to thank Ringcommons Sports Centre for all their help too.”