News

Date 2012-05-14

LOTTO and GOLF CLASSIC A Kilbride supporter remarked to me on Saturday after the junior match, “Ye have a fine place here now.  I remember the time when all the club had was…” (Tá a fhios agaibh an chuid eile den scéal). And ‘twas the truth he was telling.  But a “fine place” has to be maintained and its upkeep doesn’t come cheap.  Added to this cost are those for water, electricity, diesel, the rent on the juvenile pitch etc… The spirit drains at the list’s seeming endlessness. 
Membership, even if fully paid up, wouldn’t come near covering team expenses so other income streams have to be sourced if the club is not to sink below its present “glug-glug” level.  Two of these are of long standing – the weekly Lotto and the Golf Classic – but they alone are not sufficient to keep us in the black.
 
The Lotto, while not being hugely profitable, supplies the club with a vital weekly income.  However, a number of factors have contributed to a fall-off in sales of weekly tickets so we are appealing to you GAA supporters out there who are not subscribers to consider buying a weekly ticket or paying an annual subscription (96euro).  The Pota Óir stands at 7,600 euro at the moment.
The Golf Classic has been arranged for Friday 25th May in Greystones Golf Club.  Teams of four cost 280euro and juniors are welcome to play for 25euro.  You are invited to sponsor a tee-box (80euro).  A barbeque is included in the day’s events.  The prize-giving will take place in the clubhouse and will be accompanied by entertainment.  All friends of Éire Óg are invited to attend.
 
NA hÓGÁNAIGH  The u-14 footballers have had a very bright opening to their season with four victories on the trot, against opposition of some standing viz. St. Pat’s (Wicklow), St. Nicholas (Hollywood), Bray Emmets and Michal Dwyers (Kiltegan).  There was an added satisfaction in these wins in that all of them, save that against Wicklow, were away matches.
 
The recent game against Michael Dwyers involved a round trip to Kiltegan of some 90 miles.  Overall the team’s performance on the night had to be judged as somewhat below par.  No doubt travel fatigue played an important part in this.
Initially there was no evidence of this fatigue as the Éire Óg lads started off the stronger and controlled matters for the first ten minutes.  Unfortunately they dissipated their advantage in a succession of missed chances.  Then the inevitable happened.  The pendulum swung and Michael Dwyers got on top.  They made better use of their time in the driving seat and led at the break 1-5 to 1-2.  While our lads upped their game a few notches in the second period their play was still somewhat below its best.  Yet it sufficed, thanks to two excellent penalty saves from Conor Browne, which thwarted a powerful Michael Dwyers comeback.
In what was an otherwise sporting and well-contested encounter it was a little disappointing that Conor Nolan was sidelined as the result of a heavy off-the-ball tackle.
 
It is doubtful if any victory carries a greater relish than that in a local derby so it is fully understandable that the Éire Óg boys were especially pleased at their win over neighbours Bray Emmets on Friday night.  As with the Michael Dwyers game, Éire Óg were in the ascendant early on and ceded superiority in the second quarter.  Uncannily, they found themselves in exactly the same position (1-5 to 1-2) at the short whistle as in that previous game.
Éire Óg were a changed team after the break and set about their task with a single-minded determination.  Their football became more structured, their defending more tenacious and the return on their shots on goal improved.  They ran out winners on the score 2-9 to 1-5.
 
The u-14 hurlers played their opening game in the League against Barndarrig in Greystones on Wednesday but, unlike their footballing brethren, failed to carry off the spoils.
That it was their first outing was reflected in their playing, which lacked that cuteness that only comes with the experience of competitive games.  Hopefully they will develop this over the season.
Outfield the team held its own but when it came to scoring the visitors held the upper hand.  We lacked a strong ball-carrying forward with the ability to open up a defence.  Barndarrig had two such.
Alan Keane, a press-ganged goalie, had an excellent game between the posts.  He showed great bravery and brought off two brilliant saves in the second half.
Brian Lawless, Kieran Sheehy and Seán Looby put in a huge effort between the two 40s, while refugees from the football training Cian Ryan, Cian O’Flaherty and Luke Prendergast (of Mayo hurling stock!) served the hurling cause with distinction.
Jason Chatham was unfortunately forced to retire at the break through illness.  In rising from his sick bed to play he showed a commitment which team management would love to see widely emulated.
Welcome to our weekly news round-up. You can also browse through Éire Óg Greystones GAA Club News Archive below.

Date 2012-05-14

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