FÉILE For weeks now a dedicated group of people from within the club has been engaged ( a word which does scant justice to the effort it has been putting in) in preparing for the arrival ins Na Clocha Liatha of Féile Peil na n-Óg which this year runs from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June. The Féile, a competition which involves u-14 teams from all over Ireland and a few from abroad, for 2015 is being hosted by Loch Garman, Ceatharlach and Cill Mantáin and the Éire Óg club is playing its part. Our guests for the week-end are from St. Brigid's club in Roscommon.
On the playing side the Éire Óg team travels Friday (leaving 12.30 p.m.) to Wexford Park to play a team from Sligo and one from Wexford. Saturday morning we play guests, St. Brigid's, at 11 a.m. and then it is on to Ferns to play in the quarter-final. Depending on the result the lads may have to return to Ferns on Sunday for the semi-final.
Go n-eirí go geal leis an deire seachtaine!
U 10s. One might describe it as a stroke of serendipity for our u-10s. Clann na nGael Fontenoy of Blá Cliath had arranged an outing for its u-10s on Sunday last. It included a visit to Clara Lara and a game of peil on the way. The proposed opposition cancelled at the last minute, a speculative call to Éire Óg was answered by an emphatic 'yes'. The clubs agreed to participate in a blitz-type competition in Greystones. In the event this provided a hugely enjoyable morning's sport.
The grateful visitors expressed themselves somewhat surprised at the quality of Éire Óg's performance, a performance that more than pleased mentors Kevin Healy, Angela O'Leary and John Caffrey.
Squad: Charlie Grogan, Piaras Healy, Ciarán Foley, Dara Shanahan, Dary Smith, Gavin Lincoln, Meallean Brady, Daniel Connerty, Hugh O'Carroll, Dara McGowan, Seán Darcy, Charlie Fox, Cathal Byrne, Cathal Kirby, Jack Caffrey.
A great all-round display by the Éire Óg lads in which that of Daniel Connerty was particularly noteworthy.
COUNTY MATTERS There was no shortage of jeremiahs foretelling the doom which awaited the footballers of Wicklow in the 1st round of the Leinster Championship in Navan on Sunday. Questions like “who would travel to see Wicklow being massacred by Meath?” were widely to be heard before the match among the team's regular supporters. To be fair to these purveyors of disaster there were grounds for their pessimism. Wicklow's record in the League was abysmal and the county had finished in the cellar of Div.4. Was it surprising then that the travelling support was minimal? However, contrary to all predictions the team put in a sterling performance and could even, with a little bit of luck, have won what was a very exciting and thoroughly entertaining game of open football. Éire Óg congratulates the team for creating a degree of optimism among its supporters and for bringing pride back into Wicklow football.
Greystones had quite a high profile at the game: Éire Óg had 3 of its members on the starting 15 viz. Daniel Woods at centre field, Stephen 'Chester' Kelly centre forward and Darren Hayden, left half-forward and also a team from bunscoil St.Kevin's took part in the half-time match.
The three Éire Óg players, all of whom have come up through the club's ranks, did Greystones proud on the day. All three got themselves on the scoreboard and Darren and Daniel played a significant role in the build-up of many of Wicklow's other scores.
Darren's performance was variously described in The Bray People as “majestic” and “immense” and earned him a place on the prestigious Hogan Stand Team of the Week, a singular honour for a player from a so-called weaker county. He was also awarded MOTM by the pundits on East Coast Radio.
This was Daniel's championship debut and he did extremely well against his physically imposing marker. His well-directed pass to Conor McGraynor, whose mother comes from Na Clocha Liatha, resulted in Wicklow being awarded their 1st vital .penalty.
Stephen 'Chester' Kelly who started in, what for him was the unaccustomed role of centre forward, was also prominent. He was praised for his uncanny anticipation, his intelligent play and terrier-like persistence.
Maith sibh, a bhuachaillí! You have set a remarkable precedent in the history of Éire Óg Greystones.
Comhgáirdeachas also to Lorna Fusciardi, former Éire Óg footballer – and no mean dancer- on being included in the half-back line of the Team of the Year chosen from Wicklow's Division of the Ladies League.
