It was with great sadness we learned of the passing of Peggy Mitchell last Thursday. The more Senior members of the club will remember her very fondly as a hard working stalwart of the club for many years. Peggy spent her final years in the loving care of her family in her native Carlow. There was a great turn out at her funeral of her neighbours from Grattan Park, club members and the wider Greystones community. She was the wife of the late Des Mitchell who was President of the club at the time of his own passing in July 2009. Peggy was involved in the running of the 30's club dances for years. It raised money for the old folk’s outings and by all accounts woe betides anyone that tried to slip in by her for nothing. Her Grandson David Aston, of whom she was very proud, in true family tradition, played for Laois minors against Kildare on Saturday. The music at her funeral Mass was beautiful and Fr. Liam Belton said a lovely few words reminding us that she was a lifelong pioneer and a Eucharistic Minister. God bless you Peggy and thanks for everything. May you rest in peace beside your beloved Des in the arms of Jesus.
Our Junior C team started their championship campaign in fine style on Thursday evening last in Arklow against Annacurragh. Under the management of David Hayden and Oran O’Suilleabháin they ran out comfortable winners on a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-4. The three goals came from Gavin Parslow, James Delahunt and a typical Gary Elliott special, racing through the middle, shrugging off defenders and crashing the ball to the roof of the net.
This team went all the way to the final last year only to lose out in a closely run affair to a determined AGB (Arklow) team. They are back on the trail again hoping to go one better this time. The line up is finely balanced with a rich mixture of youth and experience. They are in a three team group with their next game against Stratford to be played on the 19th July. Luke Bradley and Gary Elliott led the team with fine performances whilst Minor players James Delahunt and Conor Mitchell showed that it won’t be long before they are moving up through the ranks. The team was as follows: Keith Monaghan, Brian Gubbins, Brian O’Sullivan, Dermot Blake, Daniel Byrne, Seán Hughes, Conor Mitchell, Anto Byrne, Gary Elliott, Gavin Parslow, Luke Bradley, Ciaran Mc Donald, Kyle Sheridan, Kenny Naughton, James Delahunt. Subs: Hugh Staunton, Owen Kernan, Ian Bailey, David Hayden, Graham Morris.
Colm Dorgan and Maurice Prendergast’s Under 12 hurlers were very busy last week. They hosted a strong Bray Emmet’s side in Greystones and travelled to Aughrim, for a game later in the week. Whilst the side were edged out of honours in both encounters the management expressed themselves well pleased with the skills displayed and the endeavour put in by the players. The squad: Neil Burke, Oisin Shanahan, Neil Browne, Sean McCormack, Colm Shortt, Thade Shanahan, Joe Prendergast, Cillian Keane, Daniel Healy, Luke Dorgan, Freddy Happonen, Stephen Salmon, Tommy Harris O' Brien, Emmet Gulliver and Rory Barry.
Our Junior A’s played Blessington in the Championship on Sunday morning in Bray. It turned out to be a stern test. We lost on a scoreline of 4-11 to 1-8. The result hardly reflected the effort as the men from the West displayed an unerring knack for goals in a late flourish. Their last three scores were all goals in the last five minutes. Ironically our goal from Billy Norman also came in that period.
The club conveys its heartfelt condolences to Senior Football team mentor Anto Byrne and all of the family on the passing last Thursday of his mum Pauline Byrne. Ar dhéis De go raibh a hAnam dhílís.
Congratulations to Kevin and Angela Wynne on the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary. A great party was held at the Horse & Hound on Saturday evening to celebrate and reminisce. Their son John regaled the attendees with a witty and rousing speech.
