Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 9th May 2007

Why put yourself thro' all that hassle with traffic and that endless waiting around in the cardiac departments to establish the health of your heart when you can subject it to that stress test watching the Éire Óg Intermediates at play? The team displays an unhealthy penchant for living on the edge, they seem always to be contemplating football hari-kari. One can never be relaxed no matter how far ahead they are on the scoreboard. How often have we seen what appears to be an unassailable lead being whittled away and slipping inexorably to the deficit side? Tuesday night in Ashford was no different. Entering into the last 10 minutes we were 2-2 in front, seemingly in control and very little signs of an Ashford resurgence. Then it happened. A fluffed Éire Óg kick-out - the goalie injured himself in the process - collected by the Ashford full-forward who coolly lobbed the retreating goalkeeper. A huge psychological blow. Our 5 point lead was forgotten and panic manifested itself in our play. Life was lived dangerously thereafter with some heart stopping moments around the Éire Óg goal. We "scrope" through. Bhí áthas mór orainn nuair a shéid an réiteoir an fheadóg dheireannach.

From the Éire Óg point of view the game could scarcely have had a less auspicious start. For ere yet the sound of the throw-in whistle had faded we had lost influential mid-fielder James Leonard in a single person incident. Exchanges were quite close in the first period with Éire Óg just managing - thanks to two brilliant saves from Keith Monaghan - to hang on to a slender lead which they had established early on. Keith's second save had all the elements of high drama - the Ashford forward bearing down on the goal at speed, Keith the last man standing, a bullet-like shot, a reaction extension of the leg, the anticipated denouement averted. Sighs of relief. Things turned Éire Óg's way when the off-load at the end of a rapidly executed seventy metre passing movement found a strategically placed and unmarked Simon Barry. No mistake. Simon repeated the performance a short time later. The game had much to recommend it from the entertainment point of view; plenty of good football and splendid individual performances. The aesthete in one had to be stirred by the spectacular weaving runs from deep in defence of Eoin O'Neill (0-1), the splendid balance of full-back "Chester" Kelly as he jinked his way out of tight situations - a skill they tell me he honed on the shakeboard, a sport at which he gained national prominence. It might not however be a sport that his brother James would be advised o pursue. On his way home from the minor hurling match on Friday James dropped into the skateboard park and there received a fracture of his arm which had him hospitalised for a few days. We wish him a speedy recovery return to fields lee fraught with risk. Paul Doherty, who showed commendable maturity, and Daniel English competed effectively at centre-field while a bustling Decky Hogan made a positive contribution at centre forward. Brian Gubbins showed some of his old form at corner-back. Best of luck to Roddy Carroll and Seán Horan in the Leinster Minor Football Championship in Arklow on Saturday.

Now is the time to register for the Cúl/VHI Summer Camps. Co-ordinator Colm Gaskin (087-2711124) tells me that the football camp runs from 2nd - 6th July and hurling from 13th - 17th of August (both 5 days) in our grounds. At 55 Euro these camps are of unsurpassed value.

The club extends it sincerest sympathies to Jackie and to the Manning family on the death of her mother Siobhán. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.