ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES

PEIL SENIOR LEAGUE - Avondale came to town to put the Division 1A Éire Óg lads to the test and this they surely did.

For the locals it was not about the retaining of their status, that had already been achieved.

Rather it concerned their getting into the play-offs for promotion.

There is little to be said of the first half other than that it was bereft of a sense of urgency and muintir Na Clocha Liatha seemed to be coasting to a routine victory with a half-time lead of six points, 0-9 to 0-3.

This outlook was reinforced on the second minute after the break when the locals were in for their 10th point.

Then the complexion of the game changed completely. The Parnellites turned over the ball on the Greystones 10m line and from the first pass the outcome was writ large.

In a movement of rapid exchange Avondale threaded a goalwards path through layers of Éire Óg players who appeared frozen into inaction by the swiftness of the turnabout. Billy Norman had no chance in goals.

Shortly after, a clever lob into the goalmouth from out on the right near the end line was punched to the net by the towering Avondale full-forward.

Suddenly the host’s situation had lost its mantle of security and the outlook for Éire Óg then took on a singularly sombre aspect when the visitors added a third goal from a penalty.

In between the goals a number of points were exchanged. This bout of scoring ended with five minutes to go and with Avondale two points in front.

An air of despondency descended on the Éire Óg followers as on the basis of its play to that point in the second half the team looked unlikely to dig out a win. Thankfully our lads recovered a little of their composure and despite a number of glaring errors managed to come away with a three point victory, 0-19 to 3-7.

PEIL NA MBAN - The Éire Óg adult ladies last and victorious outing in the league took them up to Newtown to play the locals. With their three wins and two losses the team’s campaign has been reasonably successful.

Mná na Clocha Liatha made quite a fashion statement as they took to the field in their Cairn emblazoned pristine jerseys. As if inspired by same they were straight into action and before long the products of their efforts were being registered on the scoreboard.

The first digit appeared when Kelly Ann Hamilton found the net at the end of a well-executed movement involving Elaina Fusciardi and Katie Lawless. This

was followed immediately by a point from Rachel Purcell. Lisa Murphy’s spectacular shot to the upper left hand corner from what might be judged an impossible angle was another highlight of the 1st half.

Thereafter for the remainder of the game Ellie O’Neill, Katie Lawless and defender Sinéad Kelly played a major part in keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

It was not as if Newtown was not making life difficult for their visitors but their tally was being kept to a minimum by the resolute defending of Wendela Zeigers, Shauna Dillane, Frances Dalligan, Shauna Allen, Andrea Hamilton (guesting from under-16s) and Claudia Randells.

This win owed much to the mid-field dominance of Rachel Purcell and Kerry Ann Hamilton.

The team does not have a dedicated net minder and the management was grateful to Ciara Patrick, who is a very effective outfield player, for having taken on the task.