Éire Óg Greystones
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Weekly Notes - 30th April 2008

Open Day

The club grounds were resplendent on Saturday in the sparkling white of the new carpark linings and in the riotous colour of its balloons and bunting as it welcomed visitors to the club’s Open Day. It must have been heartening for the organising committee to see so many people turn up to learn about Éire Óg and its activities – the carpark was full for the duration. The hall was reminiscent of Freshers’ Day with stands representative of each of the club’s facets vying for attention. There was a good mix of young and old among the attendance – grandparents with visions of their grandson/granddaughter in the county colours, players considering switching loyalties, a doctor from Tourlestrane telling tall tales of heroic deeds on the field of play in Sligo and of a 26 year old “minor” etc. Hopefully they all went away with very positive impressions of Éire Óg. It was great to see so many club members on hand to welcome the visitors and to regale them with stories of our past and to tell of future plans

Go raibh míle maith agaibh to all who helped in providing refreshments.

Féile Football

Our u-14 footballers are deserving of special mention this week for their achievement in reaching the semi-finals of the County Féile Peil na n-Óg. The competition was run over two Saturdays and on the way to the semi-final Éire Óg overcame stiff challenges from Aughrim, Annacurra, Shillelagh, Arklow and Baltinglass. There was definitely no shame in their defeat by a talented and well-drilled St. Pats who went on to defeat Bray Emmets by a point in the final. The team was captained by our only representative on the county u-14 panel, James Smullen who led by example.

The management team of Carmel Deeney, Russell; Gascoigne and Philip Smullen have worked hard with this squad and are to be complimented for having brought them to this position in the county pecking order.

We extend our heartiest congratulations to St. Pats and wish them the best of luck in Offaly at the end of June when they will carry the banner for Wicklow in the Féile Peil na n-Óg finals.

Schools Hurling

Buíochas le Dia they are not all gone. They may now be few and far between but those retails outlets – they used to be called shops – where conversation enriches the act of purchasing, still exist. It was in one such, Bridie Mooney’s, that one learned from a proud Grandma Monaghan that St. Laurences, captained by her grandson, Anto Byrne, had, without losing a game, won the County Bunscoil Hurling Sevens blitz. The panel (Anto Byrne, Danny and Ben Nolan, Seán O’Leary, Conor Randles, Matthew Delaney, Robert Byrne, Seán Lawless and James Cranley) was managed by Bernie Jones and Colm Gaskin. Comhgháirdeachas to all involved.

Junior Hurling

The junior hurlers had a very useful workout against Wexford’s Monageer on Saturday evening. This was a challenge game in name only for, from the start, it was played at championship pace with every sliothar being contested with fervour. Éire Óg’s experience in the Leinster league stood them in good stead and they led their illustrious opponents by 1-9 to 0-6 at the break (the goal was scored by Ciaran Goff). Five minutes after the re-start the game was level. At this point the shifting of Billy Cuddihy (fresh from a successful run in Punchestown) to full-forward, Scott Smullen to full-back and Stephen Kelly to centre-back were crucial to the outcome and brought immediate dividends with Billy hitting the back of the net. Scores were coming thick and fast from both sides but we managed to stay ahead through two great goals from Alan Mulford and Stephen O’Neill. Michael Walsh, the youngest player on the field, was busy and brave in the goals. Martin Joyce’s striking was first class while Paulie Sutton bamboozled with beautiful stickwork and produced the score of the match. Twenty two players saw action.

The squad is managed by Ciarán Goff, Brendan Cuddihy, Gerry Walsh and Colm and Ciarán Gaskin.