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Weekly Notes - 21st June 2006Thursday night, Junior B night. Last week we had a home game against Ashford. On one’s way into the game one was accosted once again, benignly it has to be admitted, about the priorities of this column. "Do we play football in this club anymore?" There is some substance to the implied criticism in this question as it is true that, of late, a number of Intermediate and Junior B matches have gone unheralded and unreported in these notes. In mitigation let it be said that the column often suffers from an information deficit in relation to these games and, then there are the financial travails of the club arising primarily from our exclusion from the latest Lotto divvy and which needed to be aired in public. Anyway, Thursday night’s game was one to banish, for a time, any financial anxieties. From the off, both teams set about their tasks with a committed and sporting intent and a highly entertaining, open and uplifting game of football ensued. During the first half we struggled to keep our noses in front. After the break our superiority began to manifest itself but yet our position was not secure. Then, 10 minutes from the end, ‘a noise like thunder spake’. From a loudly crashing, flailing mass of bodies sub Alan Monaghan managed to guide the ball to the Ashford net. That was the turning point in the game. From then on the sailing was more or less plain for Éire Óg. The brightest stars on a night of many stars were Roddy Carroll and Seán Horan, the youngest players on the team. Roddy, with his intelligent off the ball running, was often on hand to finish some beautiful sweeping movements with truly spectacular points and Seán showed himself to be a player of the future with an outstanding exhibition of freeless and fearless defensive play. Derek Lynch, at centre-back, had his best game of the season and Alan Keating conceded little at corner-back. Keith Lewis and Jamie Ward were pivotal at centre-field while Johnnie Groome and Jamie McDonnell were prominent among the forwards.Last Wednesday the u-14 footballers travelled to Blessington to play the locals in the first round of the County championship. Exchanges were very even for the first quarter and one got the feeling that Blessington was going to be a hard nut to crack. However, at this juncture, a couple of Éire Óg goals demoralised the opposition and reduced their resistance to a level that could nearly be described as token. The strength of this Éire Óg team lies in its awareness and the almost robotic precision with which they can find each other. Their football on Wednesday was indeed a joy to watch. Paul Dunne scored some fantastic points off his left foot and Seán Ryder, on his way to emulating his sister Kelley, scored 3 goals. Rory Doyle and Gary Elliot held the upper hand at centre-field. Karl Manahan, John Deeney, Adam Manning, Sam Thompson and Simon Sweeney were also prominent in this comprehensive victory. On this form the team should do well in the upcoming Féile. To-night they travels to Hollywood to play St. Kevins in the next round. The club, and in particular the management of the u-14s, extend their deepest sympathies to Rory Doyle and his family on the death of his father. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. Our good wishes and beannachtaí go with Eoin English on his journey to Australia. Go n-eirí go geal leat ann. Don’t let your football ossify there – we’ll have a place for you when you get back. |
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