Derby day as Raheny and Clontarf set for St Anne’s Park duel!

"Ask not what your community can do for you, ask what you can do for your community" is the clarion call of neighbours Raheny and Clontarf ahead of this Saturday's #GoTheDistance joint fundraiser in aid of St Francis Hospice.

Fittingly the Irish expression 'Ní neart go cur le chéile' (No strength without community) appears on many GAA club crests throughout the land and Saturday's initiative is a great example of putting UNITY into CommUNITY.

Three titans of the Dublin senior football team are leading by example with Raheny duo Brian Fenton and Brian Howard and Clontarf's Jack McCaffrey to the fore.

All three have contributed massively to Dublin footballers' historic run of success in recent years.

Fenton running the show from the engine room while who can forget Howard's amazing fetch of a Stephen Cluxton kickout to set in train a move of remarkable precision and pace that culminated in McCaffrey's wondergoal in last year's drawn All-Ireland SFC final against Kerry? This Saturday, once again, all three will be working with just one purpose in mind.

Other Dublin intercounty players such as hurler Paddy Smyth (Clontarf) and Dublin ladies footballers Siobhan Woods (Raheny) and Caoimhe O'Connor (Clontarf) are also 'putting their shoulder to the wheel' in support of Saturday's fundraiser.

Both clubs are asking their club members to #GoTheDistance in aid of St Francis Hospice in a challenge from 8am to 8pm to see which club can walk/run/cycle/rollerblade the greater distance on territory known well to both clubs, St Anne's Park.

"Since the Covid-19 lockdown began GAA clubs have been to the fore fundraising all around the country for worthy causes and charities," says Brian Howard.

"Both our club, Raheny, and our neighbours across St Anne's Park, Clontarf, have combined forces to fundraise for a local, very deserving charity, St Francis Hospice.

"In the current climate St Francis Hospice are determined to maintain the high standard of their services despite the financial pressures they now operate under. These have been amplified because of the restrictions on other fundraising initiatives they had scheduled for this summer," adds Brian.

"Therefore it's absolutely essential that both clubs combine to aid St Francis Hospice as best we can in order to support them with the incredible and very important work they undertake in our community."

Dublin GAA has for many years engaged in fundraisers for St Francis Hospice with collections from match-day programmes as well as an annual coffee morning aiding their great cause.

Donations to the fundraiser can be made online by clicking here