In November 2009, two young men met in Russells in Ranelagh, nervous, excited...thoughts swirling through the maelstrom of their minds...what would come of this meeting, would there be another one, would they bond, would they be taken seriously...so many questions... so many possibilities. Two young men from vastly different backgrounds, the young doctoral student from the hurling heartland of Dicksboro, Kilkenny, the other from the hurling wasteland of Belturbet, Cavan...but they found that they both shared a passion. A passion for the game of hurling. That shared passion ensured that the union proved to be a fruitful one. Réalt Dearg Hurling Club was born...innocent, tender, needing to be cared for and nurtured to develop and thrive. But develop and thrive it did. A precocious infant, it took its first steps six month into its life in Rathcoole on a crisp spring morning. Initially wearing hand-me-downs from its older neighbours and its big sister, it developed a penchant for black and red colours that remains to this day. But the club still needed to be protected and cared for.. to be seen as an equal of older, more street-wise clubs. The young doctor losings his composure seeing his naive progency being bullied out in Portmarnock. But this youth was not for being ignored. Later that summer its first words, a mere footnote on the annals of Dublin GAA, but under the floodlights of Lawless Park, Swords, Fingallians heard the first shout of defiance from the burgeoning youth. Childlike enthusiam and excitement - a first championship victory in a year of firsts. Survived through the first year...growing up but needing to carve out its own place in the world. It takes a community to raise a child, but this youth developed its own community. A community of young men from all corners of Ireland, seeking a sporting and social outlet in the big city. The development of its personality in this vein, a refuge of sorts for those young men. The formative years have many stories, memories ingrained into the minds of all those involved in the raising of that fledgling youth. Like the story of Leon Flanagan, voted most improved player in the club in his fifties, like Jeff Matthews, who was looking for a social outlet in a new country and found much, much more, or Cian O'Brien, a Tipperary man who grew up in a family of Cork people and payed half a match with a broken leg. So many broken bodies - what of Ronan Moloney and John Tarpey working so hard through the pain and heartbreak of torn cruciates to get themselves back to full fitness and back out on the playing field. Or Cathal Mulkere and Stephen Casey who dealt with very serious illness...and also recovered to take their place on the field. The happy times, Richie Ryan's fifteen minutes of internet fame , Mick Conlan's questionable seating arrangements in Terenure Cross Roads, Kevin Deady taking to the national airwaves to find the lost trophy. Poorly executed handshakes, yeast infections, burger bans, dog-kicking postmen, this youth has fit an awful lot into its short life to date. Cared for, nurtured and protected by all those people mentioned above, and helped out by many more, now the club is preparing to take its first step into the big, bad world. County Championship final time. An entry into the record books. Many years from now a young boy looking though the records of Dublin Junior Hurling Championship finals may well ask their father "Who are Réalt Dearg?". Well Réalt Dearg are much, much more than just the 24 privileged people who will get to wear those black and red jersies on 13 September. It is a collection of stories and memories of all the people who played such a major part in getting the club to where it is today like those that have been mentioned, among hundreds that haven't. Treasured memories. Those two young men who met in Russells just over 5 years ago will watch on proudly as the club they set in motion on that fately November evening fends for itself among the big boys. Like the first day of school, there will excitement, laughs and maybe tears but Réalt Dearg are ready. More than ready. This is where we belong. Réalt Dearg abú! Réalt Dearg take on Skerries Harps in the Dublin Junior D final in Lorcan O'Toole Park, Kimmage at 1 pm on Sunday, 13 September 2015 #bethere
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