Éire Óg Greystones
GAA Club

Intermediates Fixtures/Results

Junior B Fixtures/Results

Mens Pictures

A view from the sideline.

In a year that was to see every adult football final in the County end in a draw, the Junior “A” final was no different. What a great occasion as the Greystones faithful turned out in numbers. The stand was a blaze of blue and bullhorns. Was this the moment, as Patsy and Nelly were resplendent and proved themselves to be the dedicated followers of fashion. Who needs Croke Park? Do any of you remember that fabulous picture in the Wicklow People by Gary O’Neill of the Lionhearted Cormac O’Suilleabhain making that textbook block? What about the bone shattering tackling of half-back Eóin O’Neill? The spectators would rather be in a car crash. Body and soul were on the line to bring back the cup. But, boys oh boy, opponents Avondale were a number to be reckoned with. They had been our biggest challengers all year.

The above title may seem like a cliché, but it was certainly the case for Éire Óg Greystones G.A.A. club this year. What were the defining moments of the year? Is it the image of Championship winning Captain Barry O’Reilly emerging from the dressing rooms of the County Grounds in Aughrim with the cup raised in his left hand wearing a grin that says: “I never doubted for a minute”. Is it the air of mission accomplished that surrounds club legends Tómas Vickers and Paul Hayden? This mentally tough combination show no signs of big match nerves. At least that’s the way it appears to the spectators who enjoyed so much entertainment on the back of their toil.

Talking about the poor spectator, did ye have to put us through so much torture? The agony and the ecstasy that permeated Ashford G.A.A. grounds was palpable, as the ice cool Johnny Barry set himself to take a difficult free on the left hand side into the road goals. Backs were turned, heads were between legs and breaths were held as a silent groan roared. This moment will live in the memories of those who were there. Time was up. Kilbride led by one point in the semi-final of the Junior “A” Championship. This was to keep the dream alive. A thriller of a game ended in a draw as the pigs skin sailed over the black mark. Wild abandon, relief, the roar could be heard back in Greystones as those who didn’t go were stirred from their slumber. The replay was won by three points in another cliffhanger.

So, onwards to Aughrim and glory on the 21st of September 2003, or so we thought. Many people commented on the bravery of the Greystones native, now resident in Ballinaclash, an Avondale stronghold. His blue and white flag flew proudly and prominently along the route of our odyssey. Leading by three points midway through the second half we dared to hope, oh no we didn’t, we were celebrating, foolishly. Play to the final whistle. Avondale rallied manfully to level and put us back in our box. The final whistle, a draw. Whilst we left disappointed we remained confident. Sure, isn’t that the lot of the supporter. Have ye no concern at all for our tender cardiac condition?

The replay on the 11th of October 2003 was to become enshrined in Greystones G.A.A. history. The wait for a Championship was all the sweeter because it had been so long in coming. Reduced to fourteen men and trailing by four points at half time, now was the time to believe. Believe boys, believe. What did Paul and Fatchie say to them at half time? What would you say? Would they listen, did they believe the words of encouragement? No thoughts of defeat could be contemplated. We have come too far to leave it all behind. You have to take the rough with the smooth. Whatever you said boys, it worked. Then the miracle happened. They say that to become a saint you have to perform miracles. Well we can now say we saw one. At times it appeared that we were the ones with the extra man. Were the ghosts of Greystones past out there on the field with the boys breaking balls in our hero’s direction?

The game balanced on a knife-edge as the Greystones men clawed their way back into the game. If their nails were sore, ours were bleeding as our fingers were now chewed up to the second knuckle. Then, up pops the unsung David Hayden, an unexpected hero, to latch onto a loose ball, round the goalkeeper and slot into an open net. Man! We went ballistic, sheer, wild, beautiful, beautiful ballistic. We went mad. A goal in a game as tight as this wins matches. We’re ahead. Avondale levelled, oh no, not again! The boys stepped up manfully to the task on hand. With three minutes gone over the time Johnny slotted a nerve wracking free to put us one up. From the kick out David collected and smashed it back over the bar where it belonged. It was all over 1 –9 to 0 – 10. We were triumphant. The game could not have been won without Philip Smullen, the elder statesman, performing heroics in the goal, when the onslaught was unrelenting. Cormac had given a man of the match performance in the middle.

Victory had been so long in coming we didn’t know how to react. Was it relief? There was a strange feeling almost of anti-climax. We were emotionally drained, but before the night was out we would rally to Keith Monaghans ructious rally in the Delgany Inn. Our captain then collected the cup from Mick Hagan. How disappointed we were that the gates were locked and we couldn’t join our heroes on the field to be part of their success. The lockout was painful in the extreme. We were the men, women and children behind the wire. We were the blue army who had screamed ourselves hoarse. The boys were wondering where we all were. Photographs taken from a distance! No mike. What was Barry saying in his victory speech?

The glory didn’t end there. A bitter cold day beckoned in Ashford for the team in the Swan Cup Final. This cup is contested between the Champions at “A” and “B” level. A nostalgic cup for the Greystones devotees. It holds special significance for the stalwart Barry family. Tom Swan, a Greystones man, true and true would have said: “don’t come home without it lads”. We haven’t had the chance to win it in a long time. They made us wait as they trailed by four points to Coolboy at half time, before triumphing 2 - 9 to 0-11. What a great moment as Captain Barry O’Reilly stood aside to allow Johnny Barry collect the cup. Mick Hagan, the newly installed County Chairman, realised the significance of the occasion as he asked Ray Barry to present the cup to his son.

Dr. Brendan Cuddihy famously quipped that the field in Greystones was not there to grow grass but to raise footballers and hurlers. What a great moment then when the team won our first ever match in the Leinster Junior Club Championship with victory over Stradbally in Greystones. The brilliant odyssey ended with defeat to Confey, the Kildare Champions.

“In a summer of sunshine, you shone the brightest. You gave us the memories, cherish your own. The days of our lives, lest we forget”.

A tribute from your supporters.