Our senior hurlers returned to training last week following a short sabbatical and played Glenealy
intermediates in the 1st round of the Billy Byrne Cup in a dry, mild but blustery Greystones on Sunday morning. The 1st half was a scrappy affair and despite playing into a strong wind the Éire Óg lads were leading 0-5 to 0-2 at the break. Peter Keane's involvement was curtailed following an accidental blow to his ear and he was replaced by Andrew Walsh. While the game itself was generally a very sporting encounter the 1st half ended with a Glenealy player receiving a red card from Referee Con Keddy following a minor schmozzle.
The Glenealy lads battled hard throughout but were restricted to scores from the placed ball. The game ended as a contest when Michael Walsh scored the only cúl of the game – a cúl which would not be a serious contender for goal of the year, but then a goal is a goal and aesthetics are irrelevant! The long-range shooting, particularly from Ger Whyte, Stephen Kelly, Leon Browne and Shaun Hughes, of the Éire Óg lads was impressive and resulted in some spectacular points.
A little bit of excitement close to full time came with the awarding of a penalty to Glenealy which brought Keith “Anthony Nash” Snell the full length of the field only to be denied by the full length dive of captain Billy Cuddihy. The necessity for such a spectacular dive was the topic of much discussion afterwards!!
The team advances to the semi-final against St Pats which is scheduled for next Monday, 11.30am.
Team: Dan O'Neill, Shaun Hughes (0-1), Stephen Kelly (0-1),Kristin Flynn, Peter Keane (Andrew Walsh 15 mins.), Billy Cuddihy, Daniel O'Connor, James Kelly, Anto Byrne (0-3, 0-2f) Kevin Byrne (Shane Nolan 30 mins), Ger Whyte (0-2) (Michael Walsh (1-0) 30 mins), Martin Joyce (Aidan Ivers 50 mins), Danny Nolan (0-1), Barney Carroll (0-1) (Leon Browne (0-1) 40 mins, James Cranley (0-2f). Unused subs: Tom Enright, Jack Commons, Shane Mulford.
U-10 Last Saturday the Éíre Óg u-10 hurlers hosted a visiting team from Oylegate, Co. Wexford. The game was played in warm and sunny conditions and took place on the main pitch which added to the sense of occasion for the lads. The visitors showed their intent from the throw-in and had our lads on the backfoot throughout the game. To the Éire Óg boys' credit they fought gamely against a physically stronger Wexford team and did well to hold them to the score of 3-7 to 2-0.
U-8 and U-6 blitzes Friday evening last just as the light faded our u-6s pulled on the club jersey (or bibs as the case may be) for the 1st time. They were readying themselves to take part in both football and hurling blitzes being run in conjunction with St Pats, Wicklow. In keeping with the ethos of the coaching at this level the St Pats players were mixed with the Éire Óg players and formed into teams. The hurling and football on display was of a very encouraging standard and was enjoyed by all involved from players to coaches, referees, parents, grandparents and their families. The u-6 mentors on the night, Ciarán Ryan and Ciarán Goff, were thrilled with the standard reached in both codes and attributed this to the great work being done by their dedicated coaches who give of their time every Saturday morning and Monday evening to instil a love of our national games in the children of our community. Many thanks to Gary Lehane, Ciarán Ryan, Ronán Mellet, Prem Hamath Kumar, Ken Noonan, Diarmuid O'Doyle, Maeve and Bob Webster, Alison Goff, Tommy Doherty, Kieran Hinphy, and Ciarán Goff.
Our u-8 hurlers also played a blitz on Friday evening. St Pats and Kilcoole travelled to Mill Road. Our u-8s (hurling and football) are the club's largest grouping with in excess of 90 registered players. The coaches on the night, Noreen Keville, Jim Darcy, John Caffrey, Stephen Moody, Ciarán Marrinan and Mark Barry are part of a large coaching group with Phelim O'Connell, Ronan Mellet, John Keogh, Tony Duddy, Killian O'Dowd, Austin Baines and Ciarán Goff. The games were hugely enjoyable for players and spectators alike and the hot chocolate upon finishing was well deserved.
The club expresses its buíochas to the referees, Kevin Byrne, James 'Pooch' Cranley and John Deeney and also a go raibh míle maith agaibh to the catering team of Alison Goff, Emma O'Neill and Maeve Webster and to all the parents who brought sandwiches, cakes, buns and other treats.
Our thanks is also due to Anto Byrne, James Cranley and Kevin Byrne who acted as referees in the camogie blitz and whose names were inadvertently omitted last week.
