Éire Óg Greystones GAA Club Notes

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IOMÁINT  Senior Hurling Corbett Gaels – “a quare name but great shtuff” – the new team (an amalgam of Éire Óg and Kilcoole players) on the senior hurling block took its first steps in the championship on Friday night against Arklow Rocks and, even though shorn through injury and holidays of some of its marquee names, came away with a draw.  The epithet “inspiring” is not one that immediately comes to mind when one sets about describing the proceedings.  Then how could they be such, any condition that might be named as being amicable to the game of hurling being absent?  The night was damp and dreary, the sod soft and sticky, and the grass in its length inhibiting to the movement of the ground ball.  All in all the playing of skilful hurling was a difficult assignment for even the most proficient wielder of the camán.

However, the game was saved from being a doleful experience for the spectators by the excitement generated by the closeness of the scoring and the whole-heartedness of the commitments.  The game from the Corbetts’ point of view certainly earned the title of a “game of two halves” – the team registered no score in the second half.  Given that the team was ahead at the break by only six points, 1-7 to 0-4, one can imagine the frayed nerves of its connections as Arklow gnawed inexorably into this lead in the second period and also their sighs of relief at the sound of the final whistle.

That the North-Easterners held fast owed much to the excellent defending of Eoin Keddy at half-back and of the OTT harassed John Deeney in the corner, and to the excellent goal-keeping of Jason Walsh.  The brotherly combinations of Ronán and Dara Keddy at centre-field and of Phelim and Anto Byrne in the forwards were effectively prominent in the action.  Phelim scored 1-2 and Anto contributed a brace of points.

As with the Tipp-Cork match, the game had its talking point.  A shot from Phelim was judged to be a point by one of the umpires but not to be so by the other.  The ref, to the Gaels’ chagrin, decided it was wide.

Junior Hurling Our junior hurlers are away to Glenealy in Round 10 of the Junior League on this Wednesday 27 June at 7.30pm.  Éire Óg have not suffered a defeat in this competition to date – one draw versus Avondale.  However, Glenealy are in a somewhat similar position so this is likely to be a contest to really test our Juniors’ mettle.  Both teams have plenty of skilful hurlers in their ranks so besides the anticipation of the game being an exciting, closely-fought encounter it can also be expected to provide spectators with a feast of good, hard-hitting hurling.

PEIL NA mBAN Neither wind nor rain are dampening the enthusiasm of our u-12s as they cascade down a crowded fixture list that has to be completed before the summer holidays.

Two of their recent games were played in “you wouldn’t even put a dog out” weather.  Against Valleymount the match had to be moved to Hollywood because the pitch in Valleymount was unplayable and the game was played in a downpour.  In Arklow the young ladies had to contend with an incessant deluge (as also did the poor mentors) as they splished and splashed through swamp-like underfoot conditions.  Éire Óg lost the game against Valleymount by five points but were 5-4 to 1-4 victors over Arklow’s second team.

In Hollywood Rose Wafer was excellent in goals and Katie Lawless was a livewire about the centre.  Ciara Short, Claudia Randalls and Olivia Strong made prominent contributions to the Éire Óg cause, as did Ellen Prendergast and Aoife McTeague. Alice O’Neill, Alanna NicSheáin, Kerri Williams, Aisling Lawerence and Mia Banton were the girls to catch the eye in the Arklow game.  The team defeated An Tóchar in Roundwood with a bit more ease than they did Arklow.  The heroines – does the term still have currency? – on the night were seven-goal Aoife Moore, Jane Doyle, Katie O’Reilly, Frances Dallaghan, Rachel Purcell and Jennifer Drumgoole.

COUNTY MATTERS Gach dea-ghuí to both the Wicklow men’s and ladies’ teams who are in action in their All-Ireland championships at the weekend.  They play Waterford and Leitrim respectively.  It is a source of great pride to the club that it is well represented on both panels.  We congratulate James Kelly and Daniel Woods on their recent invitations to join the county senior squad.