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This Week's Club Notes

November 7, 2018

CAILÍNÍ FAOI-14 Wednesday night our u-14 girls travelled to Blessington to play the locals in the league. A beautiful level sward accentuated in its greenness by the slanting rays of the setting sun enticed to athletic action. The girls responded and treated the spectators to to a lively and entertaining evening's football. Éire Óg lost, 4-8 to3-2, (we were 3 points behind at the break). A hugely encouraging result when one considers that in the corresponding encounter last year our girls failed to score. It was even said that if the game had continued 'til Christmas they still wouldn't have broken their duck. Two of our team's stronger players, Rachel Purcell, a regular on the county team, and Katie Lawless who contributes significantly in every game were absent – it was holiday time so the hosts may have had similar problems.

The score mighn't suggest it but the game was quite evenly contested in general play; the heroics of the Blessington goalkeeper were the factor which created the disparity between the play and the scoreboard. She gave a MOTM performance and prevented at least 4 Éire Óg “goals written all over them” shots from finding the net.

Ellie O'Neill, as has been her lot in a number of games,started in goals and transferred to the forwards (1-0) after the break. She was replaced between the posts by Emma Curran who also did very well in this role. Erika Bellamy (full-back) and Aisling Lawrence (centre-back) backboned a hardworking defence in which Katie O'Reilly was also prominent.

Aoife McTeague had a 'stormer' in the centre and was ably assisted by Frances Dallaghan.Olivia Strong, Eva Moore, Ellen Prendergast and Rose Wafer were particularly prominent in the forwards.

The u-12s, who have had a run of 3 victories in the B-League, travel to play An Tóchar on Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.

Go-Games Éire Óg, Bray Emmetts and Ashford got together for the u-8 Go-Games blitz which was run off in Ashford recently. On this occasion the Éire Óg management were in the happy position of having an embarrassment of riches. A not-unwelcome problem that had its solution, thanks to the flexibility of the Go-Games system, in the fielding of three teams. Mentors Kevin Healy, Peter O'Neill, Angela O'Leary, Cáitríóna Shanahan, Paddy Meyler, John Caffrey, Phelim O'Connell and Austin Baines were very pleased with the way the totality of the players got involved on the field and they took great satisfaction from the standard of football displayed by their charges -a huge improvement over last year.

Cathal Kirby, Holly Sheehy and Alec Bartek proved to be excellent choices for goal-keeping duties.

The constructive passing of Hugh O'Carroll (set up a goal), Piaras Healy, (some excellent free-taking), Maeve Gurrin (won great ball), Charlie Grogan and Thomas O'Connell showed a maturing understanding of team play.

The kick pass, a difficult skill and unfortunately underutilised in the modern game, was shown to good effect by Joshua Barry, Seán Lehane, Robert Moore, Liam Leonard, Jack Flynn, Orla Donnelly, Tom and Seán Meyler, Daniel Connerty and Jack Caffrey. The Meyler twins and Jack Caffrey also contributed on the score-board.

Colm O'Neill and Adam Travers delighted with their fielding as did Sam Travers with his long, relieving kicks.

Dearbhla Browne, Tara Casey, Max Moody, Isabella O'Farrell, Charlie Keogh, Jack Ferns and Cathal Byrne were staunch in their defending and demonstrated a good understanding of their role.

The modified pitches proved to be too short to contain the powerful kick-outs of Alex Baines and Darragh Shanahan showed himself an effective attacker.

DEVELOPMENT DRAW Congrats to the Kilcoole club on winning the top prize (10K) in Friday night's draw. The other important prizes went to subscribers from Rathnew (5K), AGB (2.5K), Tinahely (1.5K) and An Tóchar (1K).

SPONSORED CYCLE This coming week-end our Rúnaí, Daniel English (not a regular cyclist), is participating (150 Km) in the Team Galen sponsored cycle from Malin to Mizen (800Km). The team comprises cyclists from Greystones, Cycle Plus and the UK. Daniel's brother Galen was very seriously injured in a cycling accident some months ago. The proceeds from the cycle will be used to adapt Galen's home to his needs (www.teamgalen.com). Daniel will be giving updates of his progress on www.facebook.com/daniel.english.585.