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Weekly Notes - 5th October 2005

The primary purpose of a GAA club is the promotion of its games and without the people willing to devote time and energy to managing teams any infrastructural development is vain.

The above train of thought had its origin in an article, last Saturday, in which sports’ journalist Keith Duggan tries to account for the emergence of Northern teams as the predominant forces in Gaelic Football. In the course of his analysis he wrote:

“In the last fifteen years the Republic has become rich, selfish, fat, bloated and complacent. It has forced teachers to conclude that the smarter thing to do is to teach and go home. It has demoralised al men of the cloth.

The people who made the GAA what it is in this country are disappearing and their replacements are far and few between. Soon, very soon, the GAA will be in trouble in the Republic unless there is a pause for thought.”

Surely words to ponder on.

Meanwhile we in Éire Óg count ourselves lucky in that, for the moment at least, there are teachers, parents and team mentors who have not succumbed to the mé-féineachas of the Celtic Tiger alluded to by Keith. We celebrated this good fortune, as has been our wont for a number of years now, on the eve of the All-Ireland Football Final with a high-steppin’, high-faultin’ social nigh/morning of parents and club pro-activists. It was preceded in the afternoon by a medal presentation and two disco sessions for different age groups. These were extremely well supervised and were enjoyed to the full by all.

The usual over-40 match did not take place as most of the “likely lads” had chosen to support the minors in their semi-final in Aughrim.

We won the u-12 championship in Arklow on Saturday. We defeated St Kevin’s (Hollywood) in the final, 1-11 to 2-9. One repeats the “we” with relish as it carries with it an authentic sense of community unlike the cringe-inducing “we” often heard in sports’ programmes when the reference is to the plcs or the Russian egotrips of the English premier league.

The final score is a true reflection of the nip and tuck nature of the game. Football-wise we were the better team – no hint here of viewing the world through appropriately tinted spectacles – but superior football does not of itself win games. Heart is the key and our lads did find enough of that to carry themselves over the line against a tactically aware opposition who were not lacking in this department.

The game did have its hairy moments; none more so than those two occasions in the first half when Adam O’Reilly, the last man standing, was called upon to prevent two goal-written –all-over-them balls from entering the net. Spectacular and defining moments. It was obvious that the opposition had done their homework. They focussed on our dangerous forwards and gave them considerably less than the proverbial inch. Luckily there were others to take on the responsibility. Gary Elliot and Andrew Walsh stepped up their game impressively. Alan Joyce at half-back had the game of his life, often turning defense into attack. Comhghairdeachas to all the players and to managers Barry O’Reilly and Kevin Keyes. They celebrated their victory with a blue-bedecked cavalcade through the town.

The scene in Arklow in Sunday for the u-16 county hurling semi-final was in stark contrast. There were few – single digit only – Éire Óg supporters on hand to see Éire Óg power themselves to victory over Carnew, 5-7 to 2-7, in a skilful and exciting game in which Martin Joyce gave an outstanding performance.

The u-12 hurlers take on Glenealy in their semi-final and Saturday in Ashford.