Kenny Cunningham came ‘home’ last month to make a presentation to the players from Darndale FC – and he paid tribute to the work being done at the progressive club. Cunningham, a 70-time capped former Ireland skipper, hails from nearby Priorswood. He said: “I’m only two minutes down the road and my family is still down there – and I know that this club is all about community. Anything that pulls people together and that plays a positive role in a player’s development has got to be applauded – and that’s what the lads have done here.”

Darndale FC began life in 1988 with just one team but it has grown since then into a top NDSL side with ten teams from U-7s up to U-18s. Chairman Thomas Daly explained: “We looked at it and thought there were a lot of footballers from this area who were playing for teams outside the area. We wanted to keep it in the area so about five years ago we decided to get the word out; get managers in and it’s huge now. Dublin City Council have built us a fantastic clubhouse with six changing rooms. It was badly needed in the area and it’s just brilliant. There’s an FAI development officer down here called Jimmy Mowlds and he has been fantastic to us. Everything is looking up for Darndale FC.