Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 27th April 2005

Our u-16 footballers, who had been flying self-delusionally high of late, were given a taste of reality by a resolute Newtown on Monday night. The Papa Davis outfit was well skilled and tested fully the mettle of our lads; in fact, numberwise their score was greater but that ours included some majors was to sway the balance ultimately in our favour.

There is an excellent rapport between the mentors of both clubs and this was reflected in the play which was keen –definitely no quarter asked for or given – exciting and clean, with a high skill-level. Just as Gaelic Football should be played.

Nick Leeson –yes, the man of Baring’s Bank and Galway United fame – was quoted at the weekend as saying that he "enjoys dog-nights in Galway and goes in the summer to championship games in Pearse Park". Hurling "blows his mind" though he allows that he does not fully understand it. Has he never heard of Éire Óg Greystones’ hurling aficionados who would only be too willing to enlighten him? What was on offer in our grounds on Sunday at the hurling Féile blitz in terms of skill, endeavour, sportsmanship and spectacle would attest to his comment on hurling’s mind-altering effects.

The running of such a project – in this case involving well in excess of one hundred lively fourteen year-olds – presents quite an organisational problem. It is a tribute to the players, their behaviour impeccable, and to their mentors that the whole event ran off without a hitch. A special word of thanks musty go to Margaret O’Brien, chef de buffet extraordinaire, and to Fergus, who looked after the club’s interests.

Our boys finished runners up to Glenealy and go to Cork for the National Féile, 17th to 19th June. Seven teams competed and Éire Óg Greystones were drawn in the ‘group of death’ that included Carnew and Michael Dwyers, heretofore kingpins of underage hurling in Wicklow.

The first game against Carnew was a humdinger: closely contested without rancour and replete with excellent hurling. Indeed a joy to watch. The sense of their achievement in overcoming such illustrious opposition could be read in the faces of the Greystones players as they trooped off the field in weary elation.

The margin of defeat to Glenealy, no disgrace in itself, owed something to the more demanding route followed by Éire Óg. That a half dozen of our players were Confirmation-tied did nothing to help their cause either. The team was managed by Brendan Cuddihy, ably assisted by Gerry Walsh. The success of the hurlers is a féile first in either hurling or boys’ football; however there is a possibility that their feat may be emulated by the footballers who are in the play-off stages on Bank Holiday Monday.

Unfortunately, success has attendant problems. Participation in the Féile is an expensive business and it is hoped to lighten considerably the financial burden by running a few money-raising events in the short time available. Bí ullamh: you may be targeted!

Some congratulations are in order to two of our generous sponsors for two very different reasons: to Ciarán Hayden on his election as President of the Greystones Chamber of Commerce and to Peter O’Neill of the Delgany Inn on the birth of a daughter.

Comhghairdeachas also to the Wicklow Ladies on winning Division 4 of the All-Ireland League. Three of our girls were on the panel: Caoilfhionn Deeney, Leah Horan and Míde Ní Shúilleabháin.