Inside Track: Davy Fitzgerald gives Moninne grounds the thumbs-up

When it comes to laying the pitch on the new county grounds, the planners could do worse than take a trip out to the Naomh Moninne hurling club headquarters in the Fatima area of Dundalk.

There’ll they’ll see a grounds that has a perfect sod, and measuring a few yards longer in both breath and width than Croke Park, no-one that plays there can complain of having their style cramped for space.

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There are two pitches on the site, which the host club have on a 99-year lease from Dundalk Municipal Council.

The official opening of the grounds is still to come, but it was around this time last year when Moninne celebrated with a first competitive match, playing Knockbridge.

The project is the culmination of many years of hard work, much of it done on a voluntary basis by dedicated club members and their friends.

The work didn’t end at that. No club development can be done with fundraising, and with the cost reaching over €260,000, and no financial assistance coming from Croke Park, the Leinster Council or Louth County Board, there had to be a fair amount of door-knocking to off-set the final cost. A grant of €180,000 was received from the Sports Council. There is now no debt.

An All-Ireland winner as a player and coach, Davy Fitzgerald, has given the venue his seal of approval. (Nearby stands the Bainseach, the pitch in the heart of the Fatima estate which served Naomh Moninne’s needs for years.)

Now in charge of the Antrim team, the former Clare goalkeeper brought his team to the venue a few weeks ago for a challenge with Westmeath. He was there again the Saturday before last, Antrim this time playing Carlow.

This was no glorified puck about. It was full-blooded stuff from the start, with, as they say, no quarter given or asked for. Furthermore, there was an Antrim camera to record proceedings from behind the goals, and Carlow’s taking a side view.

There was an exchange of pictures afterwards. That’s how seriously even the most minor of matches is taken.

The Antrim team was comprised of fringe players, but also present were the championship side. They took in a training session on the second pitch, and after overseeing the first half of the Carlow match, Fitzgerald took off to put the others through their paces.

Moninne members were out in strength. John Kennedy watched from his lawnmower after tidying up the pitch, John Murphy took an overview, veteran, Jim McGuinness, not now as mobile as he was when playing with Moninne and Louth, looked on, and the ladies made sure no-one would go thirsty or hungry.

Maurice Murphy, never slow to make hurling’s case at a County Board meeting, would have been there but for work commitments.

He and the others would welcome Board officers to the place, just to see what is on offer. The facility will be improved even further when dressingrooms are added.