Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 5th September 2007

Tony Forristal Tournament

Tony Forristal, a name unlikely to evoke even the merest glint of recognition among the chattering classes or to receive even a passing reference in the national dailies. Why then did it crop up so readily in the conversation of the hurling enthusiasts in the club during the week? Well, the explanation is easy. It is the name given to the unofficial All-Ireland u-14 championship and is run every year under the auspices of Coiste Phortláirge and centred on the County Grounds in Walsh Park which is within easy walking distance of Waterford city centre. The name is for Tony Forristal, a mentor with the Waterford u-21 team who was killed in an accident en route to a game. The Éire Óg interest derives from the fact that Wicklow won Division 3 and the panel contained six from Éire Óg - Ryan Horan, James Smullen, James Nolan, Shane Nolan, Andrew Walsh and Dan O'Neill (incidentally all pupils of St. Laurences). While not all Éire Óg players appeared in every game of the series each had his turn in the limelight. They all acquitted themselves well and parents could justifiably take great pride in their efforts on the field and in their behaviour on and off the field.

Wicklow were grouped with Cavan, Armagh and Tyrone. On Saturday they made extremely heavy work of overcoming a Tyrone team which was subsequently more the comprehensively beaten by Armagh, their opponents in Sunday's final. This scenario engendered a degree of trepidation going into the game on Sunday. However they rose to the challenge and played some great hurling on their way to victory.

It had to have been an extremely enjoyable week-end if the accounts of the travelling Greystones contingent are anything to go by. To a man, woman, or boy they enthused about the experience; the organisation, the excitement, the skills of lads so young, the unfettered yet sporting fervour of a surprisingly large concourse of spectators at even the less important games.

More About Hurling

The u-14s took a step closer to achieving their championship ambition when they defeated Glenealy 2-12 to 1-10 in a closely fought encounter. In a game which had many heroes, - Patrick Geaney at full-back, Ryan Horan at centre-field and the half-back line of James Smullen, Andrew Walsh and Josh Camobell who held their opponents scoreless - Shane Nolan, by virtue of a 1-8 contribution to the Éire Óg tally (eat your heart out, Eddie Brennan) has to be accorded the accolade of Man of the Match. Dan O'Neill brought off some excellent saves and Eoin Keddy's opportunistic goal came at a very crucial time. The game finished in a welter of excitement with Glenealy putting our backs under sustained pressure. However the Éire Óg defence never buckled.

An inquisitive passer-by drawn by the large concourse of cars overflowing the Éire Óg car park on Saturday would, on further penetrating into the grounds, have been surprised to find that this large gathering was occasioned by an u-10 hurling blitz. He/she would have seen teams from Glenealy, Kilcoole, Éire Óg and Bray participating at u-10, and from Bray, Kilcoole and Éire Óg at u-8. With four games taking place simultaneously the confusion of movement gave all the impression of the busy-ness os an anthill. Blessed as it was by the weather, the event was a great success and gave huge enjoyment to players, parents and mentors and the most frequently expressed sentiment at affairs-end was of why so few of such events take place during the year. All involved in its organisation are to be heartily thanked and congratulated.

It also proved beneficial in improving communications between club mentors at this level and they could be heard arranging fixtures as they left the field.

Football

Congratulations to the u-16 footballers on reaching the semi-final of the 'A' championship and to the minors on reaching the play-off stages of theirs.

The Intermediates' opponents in their semi-final are Stratford.

Social and Personal

Comhgáirdeachas to Cormac Ó Súilleabháin, member emeritus of the Intermediate team, on his recent marriage which took place in Cork. It was attended by some of his former colleagues who showed a deftness of foot on the dance floor which unfortunately they seldom replicate on the field!!