Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 31st December 2007

Bliain nua faoi shéan is faoi mhaise daoibh go léir – Happy New Year to one and all. That comforting feeling of time suspended associated with Christmas has a short life-span. Reality soon obtrudes and ere yet the turkey has cooled, thoughts of the club’s new year affairs and struggles remind us of time’s relentless onward march. So here we are again at our “desk” preparing the first notes of 2008. “Life gets tedious don’t it.”

AGM Final Installment

Unprecedented in the club’s history; the agenda included six motions. The meeting, after due consideration, adopted the following: (1) That the committee ensure that third parties are at all times fully aware that the club’s full title is Éire Óg Greystones (Na Clocha Liatha). Even the County Board has been negligent in this and often refers to us in its correspondence as just Éire Óg. (2) A mentoring system be put in place to ease the transition of underage players to Senior ranks. Minor mentor Fergus O’Brien who proposed the motion said that while for many players the passage between levels presented no problems there were those who required a confidence boost to do so and without encouragement would be lost to the game (3) That the club field a Junior hurling team in 2008. It was the feeling of the meeting that the time was ripe for such a bold move as sufficient of our players have now graduated from Minor ranks to ensure the viability of such a project.

Hurling

The U-12 hurlers travelled to Arklow on Saturday 15th December to play in the 2nd round of the St. Pat’s indoor hurling tournament. As a result of their experience in the initial round (their first exposure to “competitive” hurling) expectations were not very high. Their opponents in the opening game were the formidable Liam Mellows of Wexford. But our lads were not at all intimidated by their opponents’ reputation and with Adam Price (goal), Cathal Brooke (defence) and Jordan O’Riordan (attack) playing particularly well were unlucky to lose. Against Enniskerry it seemed early on that we were going to be overwhelmed but the sheer brilliance of Seán Lawless in goals kept us within striking distance. Three quarters of the way through, a goal down, defeat seemed inevitable. Then Mark Delahunty from the halfway line, John Fenton-like drove the ball to the Enniskerry net. Thereafter the game was nip and tuck with close shaves on both sides. Dima Clarke had to be at his best to save a powerful goal-bound shot while Ryan Clancy was extremely unlucky at the other end. Time almost up. James Delahunty dispossesses an opponent and without delay dispatches the winner to the Enniskerry net. Chants of “Éire Óg, Éire Óg!” rang around the hall.

Having scarcely had time to draw breath the Éire Óg lads were lining out against Barndarrig who had comprehensively (euphemism) defeated them in the first series. We feared the worst when Barndarrig raced into a two-goal lead. But this team showed itself to be made of stern stuff and battled back hard to lose in the end by only three goals., In what was a truly heartening team display, Ciara Patrick was to the fore until she had to retire through injury. Her replacement Mikey Ryan proved to be no less a doughty warrior. A great display by all which had its reward in that well deserved victory over Enniskerry. Eoin Clancy and Brian Lawless also travelled but unfortunately could not play because they were below the age limit. Next round on 19th January