Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 10th August 2005

At the end of a scenic journey one found oneself in Newcastle 10 minutes after the Junior B championship game had begun – why do they start all these games in time? God be with the days when a half-hour could be added to the published throw-in! – full of best intentions, the notebook at the ready and the pencil sharpened for action. This was going to be a meticulous reporting of the facts. But, oh how the best laid schemes of mice and men gang aft a-gley!

Éire Óg were on top from the outset and even the efforts of Councillor David Grant to stem the flow of Éire Óg ball to the target took on a Canutian aspect. The game soon assumed a soundtracklike role for the spectators as comments on the play became intermingled with social and other commentary. Your reporter was distracted and individual heroics became a blur – sorry lads, but tiocfaidh bhur lá. It was heartening to see so many young people present; both teams were largely composed of players of twenty and under, and many of the spectators were in the same age group. The game was played in the best possible spirit and referee, Tony McLoughlin, had an easy time. All the best to Feargals in their efforts to develop Gaelic games in an area not noted for adherence to these codes.

The Intermediates are scheduled to play Kilcoole this Tuesday (last Tues from readers perspective) in their next championship game and as yet there is no certainty with respect to the venue. A most undesirable situation when it comes to maximising attendance, for it is only the really committed who will take the trouble to apprise themselves as to where it has eventually been decided to play. Unfortunately this is not a unique scenario. Indeed, both our Junior B championship matches were subjected to last minute changes in venue. The 1st round game v AGB was switched from Ashford to Newtown to make way for u-12s and last week’s game v Feargals in the 2nd round could not be played in Newtown as scheduled because of club training. Luckily, Newcastle stepped into the breech and the game went ahead. While this state of affairs is frustration-making for supporters, one has to have sympathy for the clubs expected to make grounds available for championship games. These games, besides interfering with the clubs activities place huge demands on facilities and on the clubs hard pressed personnel. The clubs which have been most co-operative in accomodating fixtures find themselves in overload – the willing horse gets loaded with the dung – and have had to cry "halt".

The club extends its best wishes to Mick Kendrick who is convalescing after a hip operation. Mick was, for many years, a stalwart of the Greystones Gaelic team (before its amalgamation with the Éire Óg juveniles) and he captained the side which won the Junior A championship in 1982. He also played a key role at centre-back of the Intermediate championship winning squad of 1985 – arguably the best team to have represented the club. He continues to be a loyal supporter. Nárbh fhada go raibh sé ar bharr a shláinte arís.

For the diary: Tuesday 16th, u-16 championship game v Kilcoole. At home