Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 21st May 2008

Ladies Football

The ladies team had a good win over Clara On Sunday to add to their impressive run of results to date – their only hiccup was a fortuitous draw against Baltinglass. Is 2008 the year in which they will achieve that long awaited promotion? Their league results cannot but give them grounds for cautious optimism: experience has taught them that, if nothing else, the hazards of counting chickens before they have picked their way of the eggs. They are fully aware of the plotters of their downfall awaiting in the long grass and are not allowing their gaze to wander beyond the game in hand. Incidentally one of their number has recently transferred to the newly formed county Bruxelles. She boasts that she has now taken part in the inaugural training sessions of three ladies clubs viz, Éire Óg, Amiens and Brussels. Brussels participated for the first time in the European Championship (played on a 9-a-side blitz format in various cities) in very warm energy sapping conditions in Madrid. Teams from Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Paris & Munich also took part. All teams included a mix of nationalities with virtually all the players on the Barcelona team being Catalan\Spanish. (Pampalona in the parallel men’s competition was composed of Basque players). In contrast to her role with Éire Óg Míde plays full forward with Brussels. To the surprise of everyone Bruxelles won, beating Madrid 2-6 to 2-3 in the final.

Engram

I bet you don’t know what an engram is. Well one has just learned (I.T. Wed Sport) that it is the word used to describe the pieces of information stored in the brain from each training session which are called upon to shape a particular skill in use e.g. the cycling engram ensures we keep our balance on a bike. We are told by the experts that the earlier children learn the basic skills of running, striking, kicking, throwing balancing, called the Fundamental Movements, the better. For U-10s these are best developed, we are told, in a combination of exercises, which include stretching, reaching, jumping, throwing and sprinting and small games involving falling, running, swerving and changing direction. For 9-12 year olds kicking, throwing, striking a ball are key skills. Where can your child be exposed to all these activities? In the routines of the VHI\Cúl Camps in hurling and football (and in Éire Óg’s football (wed) and hurling (fri) academies). It was mentioned in the article that Padraig Harrington’s involvement in hurling, gaelic and basketball contributed to his becoming one of the world’s top golfers. The Greystones’ football camp takes place during the week starting the 30th June. For further information contact Colm Gaskin @ 087-2711124.

Best Wishes

Our very best wishes go to a very enthusiastic hurler, James Nolan, who is at present receiving treatment in Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital. Recovery will require rest and careful nurturing so his return to his beloved hurling pitch will not be immediate – a severe test for his patience no doubt – his stalwart presence is sorely missed in the U-14 team. All in Éire Óg, but especially his colleagues on the team, wish him a speedy return to the fray. His pleasant sunny disposition should be of great help to him in coping with this temporary set-back.

Intermediate Football

The demeanour of the Valleymount players as they left the field after their Division II game against Éire Óg told of a great disappointment. Had they been deceived by our league record? We are the only team to date to have been beaten by Kilbride. This egregious result remains an enigma to ourselves and opposition using it as a measure of the teams ability is destined to make a gross miscalculation. The game itself was of the type to raise the spirits, full of wholehearted endeavour, “Nothing was got easy out there today” replete with the skills of the game “both teams played some great football”. Scores a-plenty, delightful in their variety, tension generating in their accumulation and beautiful in their delivery. And as for athleticism? Some wonderful fielding from both sides, Daniel English and the forceful Paul Doherty on ours, the exciting running on and off the ball of Seán Horan, Darren Hayden and Kenny Naughton. Seán Horan’s move to half-back was inspired. Released from the confining conditions of the corner-back position his potential blossomed and he gave an exhibition of attacking half-back play. He was on hand to deliver a crucial goal from a pass, the end of a 60m solo from centre-back Alan Costello, and scored a wonderful point in the second-half.