Gold medal day at the hurling and camogie finals in Parnell Park.

"It's a new initiative we introduced this year," explained PRO, Jerry Grogan. "Every player gets a gold medal. The achievement is in reaching the final."

Overcast in Donnycarney, but Cloud 9 down below. Five fabulous finals. Ken Keoghan refereed them all. He presided over history. For the first time, Ireland's Call was sung at the Dublin HQ. The choir belonged to Terenure College, who won their first-ever hurling prize as they overcame Lucan's Scoil Aine in the Corn Harry Conlon.

"It's a wonderful achievement by the squad. They have worked so hard for it, and I bet people never thought they'd see Terenure College playing hurling in Parnell Park," commented Terenure mentor, Fr Michael Troy.

"I'm from Westmeath and I said to the team going out that I hoped we'd do better than Westmeath did against Dublin last Sunday," quipped Michael, who recalled that Conal Keaney is a past pupil.

The Lucan lads had a huge support, and they had plenty to admire in the efforts of captain, Donal Flannery, and his team-mates. But Terenure had the scoring aces in Daire Kerr, Eoin Wigglesworth and Evan Flynn.

Another new innovation is the scoring system in the Junior grades that rewards a point from play with two points. The scoring tallies are measured in points only.

There was no shortage of quality scoring in the camogie clash, which saw Mary Help of Christians bring the Haughey Cup back up the Navan Road. Anna Walshe and Sophie Hales proved a diamond duo in a cultured attack that also included the skipper, Níamh Redmond, and the hard-working Ciara McDonnell.

The Mary's maestros were supremely well-drilled, but the Beaumont Belles offered quality in the stick work of the Witter twins, Ciara and Niamh, daughters of the distinguished former Dublin player, Adele Campbell. Fhiachra's centre half-back, Elaine O'Leary, was outstanding. She's the niece of the St Vincent's legend, Denise O'Leary.

YET another novel touch by the officials is the reading out of the names of the players by Cumann na mBunscol chairman Maoiliosa ó Dubhthaigh before the start of each game. Each name was greeted by a huge roar. Among the audience was the Dublin hurler, Kevin Flynn, who saw St Joseph's of Fairview collect the Frank Cahill trophy.

It was Joey's first Hurling final since 1990 and their first victory in over three decades. Peadar ó hIcí and Pat Fanning were the managers. Pat led Dublin North to the Leinster U-14 A Hurling title last Friday. The Ballymun boys gave it everything. So too did their fans. Joey's led by three at the interval, and they were captained by a man with O'Toole's blood, Cáelán ó Meára.

DO you want fries with that? That's what happened when Johnstown stopped in Blackrock for high tea on their way home to Cabinteely with the Marino silver.

In a local derby against Monkstown's Scoil Lorcáin, remarkably 28 of the 30 players that started are all club mates with Cuala.

Johnstown were captained by the gifted Sean Treacy, a brother of Dublin jewel David, while Jack Behan and Andrew Murphy also delivered top-class shows.

Eanna Allen was in scoring form, while Kyle Braine's two points were especially for his Dad, Willie, who is on a tour of duty with the Irish army.

Scoil Lorcáin had a Monkstown marvel in Dara ó Gallchobhair, and a brilliant goalie in Dara ó Tuama, a son of that prince of Dublin hurlers, John Twomey. A cluster of their personnel also played in the previous match -- the Fianna Fáil final, where they also gave a display that resembled Munster heart.

The Lorcáin lords lost that one as well, but getting to two finals in the one day is a story fit for the fountain pen. In the Fianna Fáil, they met a crack St Joseph's of Terenure side, who, after leading by just a point at the interval, produced a storming second half, which was inspired by their majestic captain, Tim Gleeson, and Rian Doyle, who had the feet of a dancer and the hands of a potter.

St Joseph's, Terenure is where Cumann na mBunscol's Tom Fitzpatrick used to teach, but, unfortunately, as Joseph's were climbing the steps to receive the chalice, the Dublin U-21 hurling chief was on his way to Portlaoise.

- Niall Scully