Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 2nd July 2008

One is sitting here in philosopher pose: elbow on table, fingers stroking the chin, furrowed of brow and solemn of feature. It is held by many who ought to know, that such ordering of one’s aspect is a very effective means of bringing on inspiration. But why does a column like this need inspiration, you may ask? After all isn’t its brief merely to report on fact? Aye, indeed there’s the rub for, suffering as one does from a severe deficiency in the ability to bi-locate, one is largely dependant on others (i.e. you) for information, a quantity often in short supply. This week it is particularly so. Frustratingly there has been much activity during the week but of these happenings one remains in unblissful ignorance. So a brief phone call or a short e-mail from witnesses to these events would render one’s life so much easier.

Ladies Football

Congratulations to the ladies County Football team in reaching the final of the Leinster Junior Championship. They had a narrow victory over Offaly in last Saturday’s semi-final. Éire Óg has four players on the panel, Caoilfhionn Deeney, Laurie Ahern, Lorna Fusciardi and Emily Hanney – unfortunately Emily is injured at the moment. We wish her a speedy return to the action. Our representatives did very well and played for the duration. Lorna was extremely prominent at half-back and Caoilfhionn grew into her unaccustomed role of midfielder and contributed one of her trademark left-footed goals. Laurie delighted with her skills and played an important part in many of the scores. We wish the team the best of luck in the final on Sunday week in Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow where their opponents will be Louth.

Go-Games Blitzes

There were many worse places to be on Saturday morning than in Kilcoole at the Go-Games u-10 and u-8 football blitzes. These were run over a 2 ½ hour period from 10.30am to 1.00pm and involved our teams at each age level playing 4 games a piece. A demand of marathon proportions on both players and spectators – indeed players were wilting visibly and spectators were adopting sitting and prone positions towards the end. After threatening on many occasions, that spoilsport of spoilsports, the rain, spared us its disruptions and proceedings went without a hitch.

Go games in their purity are structured to avoid the early stereotyping of players (a full-back at nine, a full-back for life) and to ensure maximum participation by each player – possession limited, movement between zones defined, injured party takes the free etc. The aim is to de-emphasise the importance of winning and to maximise the enjoyment of participation - the referee does not keep the score - (and hopefully to eliminate the phenomenon of the ranting parent!). For many used to the 15-a-side competitive concept it is not at all easy to take on board the Go-Game idea, but, if Saturday is anything to go by, it is gradually taking root and all games at the u-8 and u-10 level should, as intended by GAA headquarters, have this format in a few years. Experience in other sports e.g. Rugby League point to a 5-year bedding in period.

The Go-Games are also intended to have a pedagogical element – to teach the players the rules – and this calls for proactive refereeing viz. a quick reaction to technical transgressions and an explanation to the players as to the reason for the free. The evidence from Saturday was that Go-Games in the county still have a few teething problems, particularly in the area of refereeing which, at times, one felt was a little too “laid back”. All in all, however, it was a most enjoyable social and sporting occasion hugely enjoyed by the Éire Óg players both girls and boys.

Best Wishes

to hurler Shane Mulford who recently broke his arm. His forceful presence is being missed.