Sweetnam to officially open Doheny's new GAA facilities

THE only Doheny hurler to ever play senior hurling for Cork will officially open the club’s new floodlit astroturf pitch and hurling wall at Sam Maguire Park this Sunday.

Munster rugby star Darren Sweetnam is returning to his roots and where it all started this Sunday afternoon, at 4pm, as Doheny GAA Club unveils its new facilities that will cater for the needs of all the club’s teams.

At a total cost of €190,000, this project has seen the construction of both a floodlit astroturf pitch and hurling wall at the club grounds.

Kevin Collins, part of the development committee, explains the benefits of this new facility to the club and its members. 

‘The huge benefit of this is that they can train on the astroturf, they can have seven-a-side games and other activities all year around and particularly during the winter,’ Collins said.

‘The hurling wall will help the youth, show them the skills that they need in hurling and make sure that they start off on the right footing.

‘We have to cater for the upsurge in use of the club’s facilities by the very successful underage club, Sam Maguires, which continues to go from strength to strength. The ladies football club, an important part of our club, is doing very well at the moment and these facilities are there for them as much as everyone else.

‘Sam Maguire Park is in the heart of the town, a very important part of the town and this upgrade in facilities is a boost to the club itself and to Dunmanway.’ 

Regards the cost of the project, Collins added: ‘This was in the pipeline for over a year, we needed to get planning permission and funding, and we got funding from the National Lottery’s Sports Capital Grant and from Cork County Council. As well as that we held a very successful race night where we fundraised for this project.’

As well as Kevin Collins, the other members of the development committee were Denis Collins, Barry Collins, Martin Gildea, Fachtna McCarthy and Michael Farr Jnr.

Darren Sweetnam lined out for Dohenys on the GAA field before he made his switch to Munster rugby in late 2012 but that season he featured for Cork’s senior hurlers in the league and championship, and he also played in that year’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat to Galway in Croke Park.

‘He’s one of our own and it’s great to have him officially open the facilities this Sunday,’ added Kevin Collins.