Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 18th January 2006

Idleness does not sit well with the juvenile hurlers. They resumed activities this week after a short Christmas break.

The u-12s were first into extraclub action with their participation in last Saturday’s stage indoor hurling tournament in Coláiste Craobh Abhann in Kilcoole. And quite successful they were too, with victories against Barndarrig and Enniskerry and a draw with Arklow.

Éire Óg was represented by Kevin Byrne, Christopher Boylan, James Smullen, James Nolan, Jack McDonnell, Ryan Brandon, Conor Cornwall, Josh Campbell, the last shaping up well in goal.

Indoor hurling is a very challenging game and is also, if the reaction of the players is anything to go by, hugely enjoyable for all the participants. It also affords much pleasure for the spectators. The tournament continues each Saturday, 11-1pm, until mid-March. It’s worth a visit.

Training for u-10 hurlers – trainers Kate McDonnell and Christine McIntyre – and u-12 hurlers – Mossie Gaskin and Martin Nolan – has resumed and takes place on Friday nights at 6pm.

Our ladies’ team has for long been one of closeted socialites. Their deception is now at an end. They have been outed by H! magazine, the Costa del Sol equivalent of Hello. A photograph of the team appeared in its December edition. Janey O’Halloran is grateful to Séamus Whooley for furnishing her with the original photograph that she hopes will hang in a prominent place in the new club house.

We were all taken aback to hear that Philip Smullen had been overtaken by a sudden illness that necessitated his spending a few days in hospital. Buíochas le Dia he is now back at home. Our best wishes go to Philip and we hope it will not be long until he is restored to full health.

One is weighed down with the guilt of not having recorded the deeds of those hardy souls who braved the weather and the post-Christmas indigestion in our now traditional St. Stephen’s Day mixed football game. B’fhiú an tairbhe an trioblóid as it made for a very pleasant occasion.

The fare served up in the match had a bite and rivalry that belied the ad hoc nature of the teams and made for an entertaining encounter. There was the Doherty/Wynne clash. Who was the bully and who was being bullied? The ref did not want to know. Resplendent as he was in Christmas red and white – the more perspicacious detected an allegiance-betraying logo in the apparel – his interests were purely sartorial. He was deaf to the pleadings of Willie ‘Decibels’ O’Hagan – he had wisely stuffed his ears with cotton-wool in anticipation.

As to the football, the play was fast and open. This suited the younger players like Darren Hayden, Craig Smullen and Stephen Kelly but had players like Deccie Hogan, Eddie Davis , Simon Barry and Cormac Ó Súilleabháin gasping for breath. Aided by a porous defence and scorning the condescending rule that required female involvement in a scoring movement, Leslie-Ann Long sent three goals past Johnny Barry. Johnny compensated somewhat for his inept goal-keeping display with an acrobatic overhead kick à la René Aquita.

Michael McDowell would have been delighted by the manner in which Gerry Walsh frustrated the efforts of goal poachers and thieves.