Parnell’s GAA Club’s rolled out the
‘blue carpet’ on Monday night (September 23) when Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton brought the Sam Maguire Cup back to his local club.
Following the civic reception, held in the city centre in Dublin’s honour, Cluxton and his teammates headed north up the Malahide Road to Parnell’s newly developed clubhouse with the GAA’s most famous piece of silverware.
On arrival, everyone at Parnell’s, unsurprisingly, gave the team a heroes’ welcome following their victory over Mayo on Sunday.
Frank Gleeson, a spokesman for Parnell’s GAA Club, said it was a great honour for the club to have Stephen as captain.
“The team has done fantastically well to win a second All-Ireland in three years,
? said Mr Gleeson.
“Stephen is a great leader and role model, not just for Dublin but for everyone here in Parnell’s. It was a great honour for the club to be the first stop on the victory parade.
“Two All-Irelands in three years doesn’t happen very often and you have to mark it.
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Cluxton, who has been gracing Croke Park with outstanding saves and expert free-taking for many seasons, is 16 years at Parnell’s. There is no doubt his success will act as an impetus for many of the club’s prodigies as they make their way in the game.
Currently, the club is thriving at Juvenile level (see separate report within this feature), with the Under 13s in particular, deserving of a special mention.
Six members of the team are currently in the Dublin Development squad which bodes well for a very bright future.