Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 15th August 2007

Between training - both hurling and football - and matches there was an embarrassment of demand on the club's facilities on Wednesday night. Even with the best of scheduling such situations will occasionally arise. But oh, how much more heartening to have such problems than, as was not so long ago the case, to be gazing across idle fields for as the sean-fhocal says "is fearr an t-imreas ná an t-uaigneas" (disputation is superior to loneliness). In the games the minors were in action against Blessington in the county championship and the Junior Bs were playing St. Johns, Ballinteer in a practice game. The junior game, which belied its status in its competitiveness, proved a useful workout for both teams in their preparation for their respective championships. St. Johns won by 2 points but the story could have been otherwise had it not been for a last-minute untypical miss by Jamie McDonnell.

Mossie Gaskin, recently promoted to the panel of referees, handled the game with authority and fairness.

The minor match had Éire Óg opposing Blessington in the 4th of their six games in their group in the Minor A championship. To date they had registered 2 wins, one against Luke O'Tooles in Tinahely 2-11 to 1-9 and the other against Bray Emmets at home 1-9 to 1-6, and a loss away to Baltinglass 2-14 to 2-10. Their remaining games are against St. Nicholas (Dunlavin/Donard) at home on the 22nd and away to St. Pats (Wicklow) on the 29th. To-night the 15th, being Leaving Cert results day, it is not surprising that there is no game - eleven of the Éíre Óg team are awaiting the outcome of the exam. We wish them all the very best and advise them that there is, indeed, life after the Leaving.

Blessington came to Greystones bathed in a pundit-ascribed aura of invincibility - an assessment not without foundation as they had easily disposed of all previous opposition. But then "they that are mighty have many blasts to shake them and when they fall……", the Éire Óg "blast" had them tottering on the edge but in the end just failed to push them over - Blessington won 1-12 to 1-8. As one might expect from teams peppered with so many county minors - Éire Óg alone contained four, Roddy Carroll, Seán Horan, Oran Bambrick and Adam Merriman - this was a contest of quality, entertaining in the level of its skills and exciting in the manner of its contention. Then there was the wonderful running off and on the ball of Roddy Carroll, the maturity of the full-back play of Ronan Hannaway (capt.), the work rate of Andrew Kealy and the outstanding saves of Lorcan Treanor - one from a penalty. And speaking of goalies, one must pay tribute to Gavin McGee's efforts in goal for the minors and the Junior Bs the previous week. While his contributions in the 3 junior games were highly significant, his saves against Bray Emmets were crucial to the victory. He, too, saved a penalty.

Were our lads unsettled by Blessington's reputation? It would seem so because Éire Óg, thanks in part to some wayward shooting, allowed them to build up an 8 point lead in the 1st half. Éire Óg upped their performance a number of notches after the break and outplayed the opposition to such an extent that they had reduced the deficit to a point 5 minutes from the end. However, their exertions had rendered them vulnerable and they fell victim to a spectacular solo effort from county minor, Brendan McGarr. A wonderful effort from a talented squad but much to do on the training field to realise their full potential.

Scorers: Matthew Norman (1-0), Daniel Webb (0-3), Jonathan O'Brien (0-2), David Dunne (0-1), Andrew Merriman (0-1).

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