• The History of Éire Óg Greystones

    In 1956 Greystones had a great double win in the Junior Hurling Championship and the Junior Football ‘B’ Championship. In late December of that year they beat Rathnew in the Junior Hurling final with the following team: N. Foley, Declan Clarke, Davy Fox, Jimmy Whiston, S. Dowling, Henry O’Kelly, Maurice Scully, Tommy Bolger, J. Doyle, Kevan O’Kelly, T. Corrigan, L. McNamara, E. O’Brien, Andy Byrne and D. Flahertty.

    After beating Annacurra in the semi-final of the Junior Football Championship in November, Greystones went on to win the ;B; title when beating Donard. Twelve of the players also associated with the hurling win. Tommy Bolger, Dave O’Connor, Davy Fox, Jimmy Whiston, Jimmy O’Toole, Henry, Paddy and Devan O’Kelly, Eddie and Willie Earls, Andy and John Byrne, John Gregory, Declan Clarke, J. O’Keefe, J. Doyle and Des Mitchell were involved in the football campaign.

    In 1965 Greystones beat Hollywood in Ashford, Now at that time there were no ‘super subs’, but Greystones had one that day. With only minutes to go Hollywood lead by one point and Greystones fielded their sub Ricky Kirwan who got two great points which took them to the final with Annacurra. The same Ricky Kirwan scored 4 goals and 1 point and with the help of 14 other great players Greystones won the Championship.

    They were the first team to win the well-known Swan Cup which at that time was the Championship Cub, (now you have to beat the Junior ‘B’ Champions after winning the ‘A’ Championship). Greystones also won the Schweppes Cup that year. The team that year was: John Byrne, Mick Carroll, John Connolly, Eugene Barry, Ray Barry, Shay Kinsella, Andy Byrne, Davy Fox, Ed. McKenzie, Rickey Kirwan, Jimmy Brady, Jimmy O’Toole, Paddy Whiston, Fran McGowan and Peter O’Neill. After winning the Championship the club did not fare too well for some time and did not win many games. Payers like Pa Redmond, Ray Barry, Shay Kinsella, Andy Byrne, John Byrne and a few more kept the club going but Eugene Barry left for Canada.

    In the 1970’s Des Mitchell, Ray Barry and Tom Swan often had difficulty in getting out tams. There were times when Des Mitchell, Eugene Kirby and a few others had to play in order to make a team. Greystones very seldom gave walk-overs. Then along came some other players and many times we got to finals with our great friends, Kilcoole and Kilmacanogue.

    In 1978 Greystones won the Junior League. In 1981 Kilmacanogue beat Greystones after a replay in the Championship semi-final. Greystones beat Kilmacanogue in Kilcoole and won the Championship (Swan Cup) in 1982 beating Baltinglass in Roundwood. They also beat Kilmacanogue in the Junior League with the same team: Peter O’Neill, Pa Redmond, Ray Barry, Paul Sutton, Garry Cambell, John Commons, Dermot Smullen, Seamus Whooley, Martin Mulford, Mick Kendrich (captain), Mossie Gaskin, Peter Dean, Paul Hayden, Bamber Gaskin, Jimmie Gilbert, P.J. Vickers, John Traynor, Niall Molloy and D. O’Toole, all local lads.

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