Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 31st January 2007

U-10 hurling: It may surprise you to hear - it did me - that Éire Óg now offers hurling for 4-6 year olds and that it is much in demand. It is part of our "Friday night is u-10 hurling night" activities. Previously only two groups, 6-8 years and 8-10 years were being catered for. Your reaction to the idea that children so young should be involved in formal training may be one of shock. Be assured, however, that the programme is child-centred and is wholly appropriate to their age. It is a case of necessity being the mother of invention. In previous generations, children in this age group learned their hurling from older children in the almost car-free streets and squares of their towns. In present suburbia where tradition is wholly absent, and people know only of globalised games, what chance exists of being exposed to hurling? These classes then, merely change the environment of the learning process which, for the skill-rich sport that hurling is, cannot start too early.

The club is participating at u-10 and u-12 levels in the indoor hurling tournaments being held in Coláiste Craobh Abhann. Last Saturday the u-10s were in action while this Saturday it is the turn of the u-12s. Two teams represented us at u-10 and between them they were involved in 5 games of which they won 3. Management was more than satisfied, nay, even delighted, both with their efforts and their demeanour. There is indoor training for these teams on Wednesday evenings between 7.00 and 8.00pm.

It is great to be able to report at this early stage in the year that a management structure is in place for all the juvenile hurling teams. Another bit of good news is that up to twenty people, mostly parents, plan to attend the hurling foundation course being run in the club.

Our adult footballers had two useful workouts at the weekend; on Saturday they played a county minor selection and on Sunday their opponents were St. Johns, Ballinteer. With Patsy on hand to ensure that the injunction against the use of the new pitch was adhered to, both games went ahead on the old field. Its topological features have an intriguing effect on games and they force teams to adopt different strategies in each half. In its favour, on the other hand, it can be said that it has a wonderful sod and is playable even in the most inclement of weathers. We hope these advantages will not be lost in the proposed levelling.

The minor game was by way of a last chance saloon for those players hoping to make the county panel. Two Éire Óg minors, Roddy Carroll and Seán Horan have already been selected.

One has heard, but cannot vouch for its veracity, that some of the Intermediates found it difficult, so inhibited was their flexibility, to tie their shoelaces after training on Thursday night. One could well believe it on the evidence of Sunday's display. Their sluggishness off the mark and the ponderosity in their efforts at getting down for balls bore testament to bodies tinged with a constraining stiffness. What does one give for their chances against Dunlavin in the League (2006) at the weekend?