SENIOR FOOTBALL: Our seniors registered another victory in Division IA of the League when they defeated Donard on the Mill Road on Saturday evening. Proceedings did not go at all as smoothly as the local followers would have liked with victory only becoming assured in the last quarter. In the first 20 mins our chances looked bleak with a disappointingly lethargic Éire Óg falling 5 points to one behind. The fightback was far from convincing until a goal from Dave Behan (2-3) brought us very much into contention against what was an extremely lively and intelligently moving Donard side. Craig Smullen (0-2 from frees), Eddie Davis, Jamie McDonald, Sam Thompson (a point each), accounted for the remainder of Éire Óg's scores.
UNDER 10 FOOTBALL: So far this season our U-10 footballers have participated in two Go-Games blitzes and the mentors were happy to report that they were in a position to field 3 teams on the two occasions. Ashford was the venue for the first series of games which involved teams from Bray Emmets, Ashford, Barrindarrig and Éire Óg. Every team played three games.
The weatherman definitely had it in for the participants that evening: it bucketed intermittently. Adults worried and thought it would be best to call the event off whereas the children, as is the wont of youth, were oblivious to the conditions and insisted it go ahead. They participated with relish and went home wet but happy of heart.
Their next outing was to St Pat's Wicklow, áit a raibh rogha gach bídh agus togha gach dí ar fáil (where they were well looked after) at the end of their exertions. The demograph of the squad is very much biased towards the lower end of the spectrum but the lads have made light of this disadvantage and have more than held their own in all their matches. In general, the players at U-10 have reached a very satisfactory skill level and spectators were treated on both occasions to many cameos of excellent fielding, brave blocking, lovely scoring and outstanding goalkeeping.
Players involved: Charlie Grogan, Piaras Healy, Robert Moore, Dara Shanahan, Conor Ryan, Ryan Ovenden, Dary Smith, Max Moody, Gavin Lincoln, Meallean Brady, Oisín Mills, Daniel Conerty, Jake Flynn, Hugh O'Carroll, Dara McGowan, Ciarán Duggan, Seán Darcy, Mikey Hatton, Charlie Fox, Cathal Byrne, Colm O'Neill, Marley Gunn, Daniel McGlynn, Cathal Kirby, Tom and Seán Meyler, Darragh Tucker, Alec Bartek, Charlie Keogh, Jack Caffrey, Thomas O'Connell, Adam Traynor, Hugh Carr, Alec Baines, Matt Fallon.
Comhghairdeachas to Kevin Healy on having earned award 2 Level in coaching, a not at all widely held qualification.
HURLING: It is a sad fact that there is a paucity of games at senior level within the county so the hurling management in Éire Óg is in constant trawl for matches against suitable opposition for its top flight players. Recently it arranged games against ARP and Avondale. The match with ARP involved a combination of juniors and seniors playing against ARP's intermediates. The players from both sides are to be complimented for having served up an enjoyable game in the most miserable of conditions. Senior goalie Dan O'Neill who made a rare outfield appearance showed his versatility by helping himself to 2 goals.
The game against Avondale, which was played in Rathdrum, was not as competitive as it might have been. Both teams were understrength but with Avondale being more so – it included a number of young and inexperienced players – yet overall it was a worthwhile exercise from Éire Óg's point of view with many of our lads putting in a good day at the office.
Our Junior hurlers returned to winning ways with their defeat of Carnew by a point in the league at home on Wednesday night. Well done to our visitors for making the long journey mid-week on a not too pleasant evening.
With the weather being as it was it was not surprising that this was a low-scoring encounter. Half time saw the locals 1-3, of which 1-1 had come from the camán of Dec Byrne, to 0-5 ahead. Carnew netted immediately after the break to leave us 2 points in arrears. Martin Joyce then set Éire Óg on the road to victory with a cracker of a point from a sideline cut. Points from play by Kevin Byrne and Hughie O'Neill followed immediately. On referee Con Keddy's final whistle the scores were 1-7 to 1-6. Team: Glen O'Reilly, Eoghan Kinsella, Dan Salmon, Eoin Byrne, Shane Mulford, Daniel O'Connor, Paul Gaskin, Kevin Byrne (0-1), Ben Nolan, Hughie O'Neill (0-1), Declan Byrne (1,1), Mikey Ryan, Thomas Ryder, Jack Commons, Martin Joyce (0-4).