Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 11th June 2008

Golf Classic

Next Friday 13th – it is to be hoped that there is no substance to the forebodings of the superstition – is an important date in the club’s calendar, it is the day of our Annual Golf Classic which takes place in the Greystones Golf Club. The importance of this event to the financial health of the club goes without saying. However, it also plays an important part in developing the club’s social side so we are delighted to invite you to partake of the post-golf bonhomie at the soirée (this trip to France was not totally wasted!) in the Golf club from 9 pm. It is still not too late to enter a team or to sponsor a hole. Contact Oliver Leonard at 087 2548648.

Junior Hurling

Our junior hurling game against Aughrim at home on Wednesday night last was not played. “Why?” you ask. It was postponed at Éire Óg’s request as, unbelievably, nine of the panel are sitting the Ard Teist. - an accurate indicator of the youth of the team; most of the other players on the panel are within a few short years of their passage through this academic test.

That players so young can participate with safety in this adult hurling competition must surely give the lie to the widely held view (how often have we been subjected to the loud guffaws of some raconteur as he recounts of refs in boots etc. and of incidents hyperbolically exaggerated for effect) that Gaelic games in Wicklow are the preserve of wild, uncouth and untamed mountainy men.

The fixtures committee’s willingness to accommodate us does not extend to this Wednesday and has allowed us no option but to play a formidable St. Fergals in St. Fergals as scheduled. Recently it was reported in Fergal’s club notes that grass-cutting equipment was unable to gain access to their playing field as a result of the gate being rammed by a car – the club is to be commended for its resolve in the difficult conditions under which it functions.

Good Wishes

Beagáinín déanach as it may be we, nevertheless, wish all our players who have been doing exams – state or college – all the best in their endeavours. Beannacht Dé orthu agus go n-eirí go geal leo. Let me assure all of them that the efficacy of these wishes, if they have any, is not lost by their being slightly post-factum in their stating as they have been nursed by us from long before the exams began.

On life-defining occasions like the Leaving Cert it is worth recalling the anxiety mollifying sean-fhocal “an rud is measa le duine ná bás b’fhéidir gur lár a leasa é” (what appears in the short-term to be a disaster may, in fact, be greatly to our long-term advantage.)

U12 Hurling

The ultimate goal of competing is victory but since that can be achieved by only one participant the rest must find their satisfaction elsewhere. Our u-12 hurlers, even though unlikely to be in the final shake-up of their competitions, must be deriving a great sense of fulfilment – their mentors certainly are – from the improvement in their performances since their disastrous first outing against Glenealy. This has them at present in a position of offering serious competition to some of the better teams in the county. A transformation which has been described as bordering on the miraculous by one of the team’s connections.

In their recent league game they lost narrowly (2 pts) to Avondale in a very enjoyable and competitive match. Mickey Ryan was truly outstanding at centre-back, and James Delahunty, as well as being energetically involved in outfield play, contributed 1-2 to the team’s tally.

The team was short 2 key players for its outing against St. Pats, a circumstance not likely to have helped their morale. Was this a factor in their below par 1st half performance? The 2nd half was a totally different story. Éire Óg came out steeled for battle and from the start played with renewed determination and pride. The Delahunty brothers raised Éire Óg spirits with 2 quick goals immediately after the break. Seán Murray gave a dazzling display at mid-field and Jordan O’Riordan, with some brilliant goalkeeping, was a thorn of frustration in the side of the St. Pats attack.

VHI Cul Camps

A few places still available on football camp which starts on 30th June.

Contact Colm Gaskin 087-2711124