Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 20th February 2008

Ladies Football

Pride of place this week goes to our lady footballers. If I may say so, a brave move on one’s part as it will inevitably draw down on oneself the wrath of some of the club’s more chauvinistic members. They are forever chiding the notes for an imagined bias towards this aspect of the club’s activities. After a protracted hibernation the ladies have begun to bestir themselves – má’s maith is mithid (not before its time) – for their 1st league game scheduled for 9th March against Kilcoole. Last week trainer Séamus Ahern took them through their paces for the 1st time in 2008. They would be delighted to welcome new players on to the panel. Incidentally Séamus appears in the Dublin GAA annual for 2007 wearing a very different hat, or is it vest; that of a county handballer.

At the recent Dinner Dance, Janey O’Halloran presented Lorna Fusciardi with the accolade of Player of the Year and Laurie Ahern with that of the Players’ Player. .In her presentation to Lorna, Janey cited Lorna’s seemingly boundless energy and the huge contribution she makes in each game in her link role at centre field. In Laurie’s case she alluded to great natural talent epitomised in her silken ball skills, her elusive running and her ability to take scores even in the most unpromising of situations. The achievement of four of our ladies viz. Lorna, Laurie, Caoilfhionn Deeney and Emily Hannay in being selected for the Wicklow county panel was also recognised on the night. A propos, at the week-end the four of them started in the game against London, last year’s All-Ireland junior finalists and a very good team. Wicklow lost by 4 points but might have won.

Intermediate Football

The Intermediates played Peter O’Neill’s Arklow on Sunday in a practice game which, like the curate’s egg, was quite good in parts. The entertainment it provided was a bonus as it had already done its work in attracting us out into convivial sideline company on such a beautiful spring morning. For much of the enjoyment in spectating at local matches derives from sideline banter which ranges far beyond mere comments on the game. The topics discussed on Sunday ranged through subjects as diverse as world affairs, the upcoming point-to-point season, Anne Marie Vickers’ struggle with nicotine (so far, so good) and the Hatton clan – a girl for Caitríona and Vinny. Comhgáirdeachas libh beirt agus beannacht Dé ar an leanbh. The 15th grandchild – a team – for Danny and Marie.

The game was divided into 3 periods of 20 minutes. Not being privy to the logic of this, one can only assume that the half hour periods had been considered too demanding so early in the season!! At the end of an eminently forgettable first period Arklow were 4 points in front. After the break Éire Óg upped their game considerably and were soon on level terms thanks to a well-taken goal by David Hayden. Kenny Naughton, Anto Byrne and Daniel English began to show to good effect and the highlight of this third was a point from Daniel. It saw him bring the ball from his own “45” to that of the opponents and, without breaking stride, send it unerringly over the bar. The good wine was definitely kept for the last 20 minutes. The word ‘contest’ could now be applied to the proceedings. The tempo upped and exchanges, while remaining free of rancour, became much more vigorous and the quality of the football improved immeasurably. This period had some great individual cameos: two wonderful long-distance points from James Leonard, an exciting out-of-defence run by full-back Paul Pegman involving a multiphase exchange which had him shooting, unfortunately in full-back mode, from the oppositions ‘20’ and then, just on the stroke of time a solo foray out of his half-back position by Craig Smullen dodging and weaving past opponents, a pass, on hand to receive the return on the 13m line, over the bar.

The spectators went home with that same feeling of well-being which comes with leaving a party at its height.