ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES
Even in defeat there was an air of near euphoria among the Wicklow followers leaving Parnell Park on Sunday. The predicted disaster had not happened. Instead they had seen a very enjoyable game of football with Wicklow fighting to the final whistle. A ‘maith sibh go léir’ to the Wicklow players. You did a lot to restore the county’s pride.
In am an gátat aithníotar cáirde – in times of struggle one comes to know one’s true friends. The Wicklow footballers have had their difficulties in the league and were certainly not expected to trouble to any extent a Louth team riding high on their promotion to Division 2. So the fair weather supporters were absent in droves from Parnell Park on Sunday. As it happened these were the ones who lost out. The followers who did attend had their faith in Wicklow football restored to more than a little extent. The Wicklow team showed great battling qualities and skill and to the surprise of everyone, including one is sure the opposition, really put it up to the wWee county who must surely have breathed a sigh of relief at the final whistle. Louth had a substantial overall advantage in height and this proved in the end to be the determining factor. It was their superiority under the dropping ball which largely carried them over the line.
Our two representatives played a significant part in what was an inspiring Cill Mantáin performance. Team captain Stephen Kelly led by nonchalant example and Darren Hayden using his considerable ball-carrying skills played an effective part in many of the attacking movements.
A “Maith sibh a imritheoirí” to the children from St. Laurence’s who, under the watchful eye of coach and teacher Donal Conlan, gave a fine exhibition of peil at the interval in the senior game.
Our senior footballers’ Division1 Arklow Bay Hotel League campaign has not, to say the least, being going terribly well and to date they have recorded only 2 wins. One hesitates to ask the unthinkable question “are they, like Leicester City, going to plunge from League champions to the position of being teetering on the edge of the abyss of demotion?”
In mitigation it has to be said that because of county loyalty, injuries and various other factors the management has been unable to field full strength sides for many of its matches. In the circumstances next Tuesday’s league game away to Bray Emmets at 7.30 pm could prove to be crucial to the team’s status in 2018. Your support would help to boost the team’s morale after its demoralizing defeat, 2-21 to 0-5, away to Blessington on Saturday evening in a contest which became quite fractious 10 minutes into the 2nd half. That defeat was to be the Greystones lads’ lot was pretty obvious at the break as by that time they had accumulated only 2 points against the opposition’s 1-7. Éire Óg’s goose was definitely cooked shortly after the resumption when a key forward was dismissed on a 2nd yellow of which it has to be said, knowing the unblemished history of the person involved, such a fate would not have been anticipated. Apart from Daniel Keane’s outstanding display at centre-back and the excellent goal-keeping of Lorcan Traynor there was little else in the match from which the Éire Óg followers could derive consolation. Lorcan saved a penalty and prevented at least 3 goal-written-over-them shots from entering his net. It speaks volumes about Na Clocha Liatha team’s performance that only 3 of its points came from play and 2 of which were supplied by last year’s minor James Delahunt.
With all sections of the club working on full throttle it is unfortunately not possible to give a comprehensive report on all their activities. An update like that below for Peil na mBan is often the best that can be done for each of them.
The U-14 squad which included seven U-12s recently undertook the long journey to Coolkenno and came away with a 6-9 to 1-6 victory. The U-16s who were away to Newtown in their last game, again because of previous commitments on the part of a number of regular players, travelled with a weakened squad. Not surprisingly they lost 6-10 to 3-6.
The adult team had no better luck against the same opposition losing by 4 points, 5-8 to 2-13 in what was an extremely enjoyable and exciting contest which indeed might have gone either way.
This squad is showing a great improvement in each of its outings and hopefully by season’s end will have become a team to be reckoned with.
As mentioned above many of the girls at U-12 have, perforce, been getting experience at U-14 and this is beginning to stand them in good stead in their matches. Lately they had a comprehensive win over St. Pa’ts B team.
FIXTURES: Tuesday evening next our U-16s are at home to Blessington and if the recent away game is any indication this should be a humdinger. On Thursday the senior ladies will take on the formidable Enniskerry/Kilmac combination, also in Greystones. Both matches are fixed for 7.30p.m.
LOTTO: Number drawn, 15th May were 5, 7, 17, 27. Pota Óir on Monday 22nd was €6,660.