Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 26th April 2006

Bank holiday Monday in the opulent embrace of the Druid’s Glen we partook of the riches of a sporting menu fit to stimulate even the most jaded of palates. Two local derbies, Éire Óg v Kilcoole in Intermediate football and v Bray Emmets in Minor hurling – strictly speaking the minors play under a North east banner but we like to taunt the Kilcoole members at their playing in the gorm and bán. Historically these are contests of no compromise, no quarter and the intense local rivalry calls forth acts of heroic endeavour from the players. Monday’s games were no exception and the fine attendance – it was great to see many of the footballers stay on to watch the hurling – at both games was surely not disappointed. Is there a better way of watching a game than from the sideline? The immediacy of the action induces a feeling of participation, even of an ability to influence proceedings and then there is the vicarious pleasure to be derived from the contiguous full-blooded, but legal, physical encounters.

Éire Óg had the advantage of the strong wind in the first half and had built up a complacency-inducing 2-4 to 0-2 lead at half-time with a goal each from Conor Monaghan and Anto Byrne, 3 points from Johnny Barry and a point from James Leonard. That was as good as it got for Éire Óg. After the break, quality ball to our forwards was reduced to a trickle and that which did reach them was mostly frittered away in over elaboration and defence-friendly movements. Two points – one from a free – was our paltry yield over the 30 minutes. All the while the tension was mounting as some fine long-distance point-taking by Kilcoole was eating into our lead. Ten minutes to go, Éire Óg one point in front, anxious watch glancing. Will we hold out? A second yellow card for mouthing – is binn béal ina thost (a closed mouth offends no referees) – down to 14 men! Equal scores. Ár bport seinnte – our number is up? Realisation dawns, an upping of the tempo of the Éire Óg game. A Johnny Barry point. Time up? Incredibly, no! A free to Kilcoole. A draw, 2-6 to 12 points.

We in Éire Óg were disappointed with the result but, then again, we could easily have lost. Take the instance of the Kilcoole forward at a crucial juncture, ball in hand 10 yards out looking into an open goal, sending the ball yards wide. Unsportingly our schadenfreude knew no bounds.

Eventhough drained physically and mentally by the excitement of the first game many of the Éire Óg supporters summoned the resolve to stay for the hurling match. Their dedication received its reward as the hurlers treated them to a wonderfully exciting and spectacular hour’s hurling.

One looked with trepidation at the physique of the Bray team as they gradually filtered through the gate. Our thoughts were pessimistic. We’ll be "et"! This was reckoning without the commitment and bravery of the ÉÓg/NE squad. The scoreboard did our lads a huge injustice; in no way did it reflect the happenings on the ground. The lighter and younger ÉÓg, by determination and guts and no little skill, put it up to this all-conquering Bray outfit. Indeed, not until well into the second half did Bray enter the comfort zone. Defeat was our lot but, at game’s end, joy and pride were our sentiments. Paul Sutton, with his skill and score-poaching ability, caused havoc in the Bray defence where their frustration on occasion overstepped the bounds of fair play. The powerfully striking Fintan Donnelly made them pay dearly from a penalty for a foul on Paul. Youngsters Michael Walshe in goals and Stephen O’Neill did well in circumstances that, for them, must have been quite intimidating.Conor Grennan and Leon Brown also played very well.

Hurling is a game which must be played in the proper frame of mind, with a resolve to always play the ball – in short in the ethos reflected in The Hurler’s Prayer:

Grant me, O Lord a hurler’s gift
With strength of arm and speed of limb
An unerring eye for the flying ball
And courage to match them whatever befall
May my aim be steady and my stroke be true
My actions manly, my misses few
And whichever way the game may go
May I part in friendship with every foe
And when at last the whistle is blown
And I’m called at last before God’s judgement throne
May the great referee when he calls my name
Say you hurled like a man, you played the game.