GRASSROOTS

ÉIRE ÓG GREYSTONES

RENAULT SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP - By virtue of their 1-16 to 2-10 win over Avondale in the league part of the Renault Senior Championship the Éire Óg team is in an unassailable position at the top of the Group 3 table and are certain to be contesting the knock-out stages.

Two wins out of two, the first against Annacurra, gives Greystones four points and no matter the outcome of the matches to be played in the group none of the remaining teams is in a position to amass this total.

At the time of Éire Óg’s home league game against the same opposition, Avondale lay languishing pointless at the bottom of the table but, to the utter chagrin of the locals, the visitors took the honours with a late flurry of scores.

Ach is olc an ghaoth…….(‘tis a bad wind….) this defeat awakened the Clocha Liatha camp to the potential banana skin nature of the championship fixture and highlighted the danger men in the Parnellites’ ranks.

As a result our lads were better prepared than they might otherwise have been going into last week’s game.

Yet one wonders to what degree the lessons of the defeat were learned. Our forwards at times showed the same rabbit-in –the headlamps fixation in front of the goals, overused and rushed passing, and an underutilisation of inside forwards (a widespread malaise in modern era football).

Entering the last quarter, Jamie McDonald arrived on the scene when the game was on a knife-edge and, having cast aside the lack of confidence which seems often to inhibit his game, lifted Éire Óg to safety with a four-point tally.

Scorers: Darren Hayden and Enda King (0-3 each), Daniel Keane and Daniel Woods shared 4 points, Goalie Darren Quigley and half-back chipped in with (0-1) each while Billy Norman scored a vital goal in the first half.

Our lads’ next outing is against Newtown in a must-win game for Newtown on Friday 11th.

FAOI 11: Our under-11 footballers were at home to Blessington on Wednesday evening last but as it turned out matters did not proceed in a totally satisfactory manner.

The normal format for events at this age group is two simultaneous 11-a-side games with scores being combined to determine the winning outfit.

Unfortunately the visitors arrived with less than the required complement so the games had to be played at nine-a-side. Blessington won 2-17 to 2-13.

Éire Óg had 24 players so there had to be much juggling to ensure that each of them received reasonable game time. The evening also had its GUBU moment with an Éire Óg player receiving a straight red.

An action which at this age level has surely to be described as drastic.

One would think that speaking to the player or the manager should suffice. It was a huge punishment for his team as the loss of a player in a nine-a-side game has consequences way beyond that at a 15-a-side or even an 11-a-side game.

PEIL NA MBAN - The conditions in Barndarrig last week for the Éire Óg Ladies Championship game against the locals were anything but seasonal: a heavy drizzle driven by quite a strong breeze swept the area.

The pitch has a slope which is closely aligned with the direction of the prevailing winds and when these factors combine, as they often do and as they happened to have on this occasion, they tend to turn matches into games of very contrasting halves.

The half-time, 1-10 (Éire Óg) to 0-1, and full-time scores, 2-13 (Éire Óg) to 2-6, clearly show that this was such a game. There are no plaudits for deducing which team had the wind and topographical advantage in the first half!

This is the first time for this team to experience the elation of victory in competition. As a result of this win the Éire Óg name will be in the draw for the semi-final of the ‘B’ county championship.

Scorers: Tracy O’Halloran (1-4), Kellie Ryder (1-3), Aoife McTeague (0-3), Kerri-Anne Hamilton, Eva Roche, Ellie O’Neill (0-1 each).

Erika Bellamy (goals), Eva Moore (corner-back) and Wendela Zegers (corner-forward) were seen to advantage.

TINAHELY

Lotto results from July 31. Numbers drawn were 2, 8, 14, and 21. The bonus number was 21. There was no jackpot winner.

We had three match three winners: Bill Nolan, Paul Tyrrell, and Jim Coogan.

Next week’s lotto: €3,600. Draw to be held in Black Toms.

Junior Football - The lads were out in Round 3 of the championship last Thursday evening at home to Donard. It wasn’t the best game of the year but we managed a victory which puts us in a great position to qualify for the next round. Score line on the night was 0-11 to 1-4.

Team on the night was Alan Lillis, Timmy, kevin, Danny, willie Quaile, Brian Hickey, Bill, Niall O’Gorman, Anthony Phelan, Conor Kenny, David, Eric, Wazza, Bubbles, Stewart.

Senior Football - The lads are out in Round 3 of the senior championship this Saturday evening at 6.45pm in Joule Park Aughrim where they take on Blessington.

A win here is a must if they want to achieve qualification so come along and show your support for the boys.

Well done to all who organised a fundraiser last Saturday evening in Black Toms.

It was our King of FIFA competition and I can tell you now, Sir Conor Doran was dethroned. Your new champion for 2017 is non other than Sir Niall Gorman.

Thanks to all who took part and also thanks to everyone that helped out in the show field on Sunday last with the car parking.

COOLBOY

League fixture - Our next league match is at home to Newcastle this Sunday morning at 11.30am in the field. All support welcome!

ASHFORD

Lotto results from Monday, July 31 for a jackpot of €2,900.

Numbers drawn: 2, 18, 22, and 23. Match threes: Margaret Grant c/o S Lally; Richard O’Sullivan c/o O Whiter; Joanne Coady c/o Triona.

Next Draw: Tuesday, August 8. Chester Beatty’s for a jackpot worth €3,200.

Intermediate championship against Donard/The Glen takes place this Saturday, August 12, in Roundwood.

The Ashford Cúl Camp last week was an outstanding success. Over 100 boys and girls participated. Well done to Carla Kavanagh and Joshua Bishop, girl and boy of the camp respectively.

On Saturday, August 19, in conjunction with Centra, Ashford GAA are hosting a Fun Day and Grand Opening of our new clubhouse- Face painting, Funfair rides, Go- Games, Bar-B-Que etc. The Sam Maguire and Liam McCarthy cups will be on display. East Coast radio will be in attendance. Action starts at 1.00pm. and everyone is invited along.

ST PATRICK’S

On Friday evening our Senior footballers headed to Joule Park, Aughrim for the final group game against Coolkenno. The lads eventually found their range and went in at half-time ahead in a scoreline of 0-08 St Patrick’s Coolkenno 1-01. The half time team talk had the effect of a much improved second half performance and the lads had a comfortable win with the full time score of St Patrick’s 2-16 Coolkenno 1-04.

Team: Colm Byrne, Wayne Doyle, James Kavanagh, Ciaran Doyle, Shane Murley, Padraig Higgins, John Crowe, Dean Healy, Shane Doyle, Bryan Doyle, Padge Mc Walter, Conor Ffrench, Donal Fitzgerald, Jordan Petticrew, Tommy Kelly.

Scorers: Bryan Doyle 1-04 (1f), Tommy Kelly 0-04, Padge Mc Walter 0-03, John Crowe 0-03, Dean Healy 1-00, Jordan Petticrew 0-02

Substitutes: Emmett Cullen, Conor O’Brien, Paul O’Brien.

Well done to the under-8 and under-10 ladies who attended at blitz over the weekend in Baltinglass.

On Wednesday our under-15 lads welcomed St Nicholas to Dunbur in the league. A good brand of attacking football was played by both teams. St. Pats from the start had a massive team performance with excellent work rate and movement off the ball to record an excellent victory with the final score of St. Pat’s 7-09, St Nicks 4-07.

Scorers for Pat’s Jack Meaney 3-00, Jack Fox 1-03, Dylan Kavanagh 0-03, Fionn Luddy 1-00, Josh Watson 0-01, Matthew Ryan 1-01 and Callum Kelly 1-01.

Hard luck to our Junior hurlers who travelled to Ballinakill to take on Avondale in the Junior hurling league game on Wednesday and were on the wrong side of the full score of : Avondale 3-14 St Pat’s 3-07.

A massive well done to St. Pats under-11 blue football team for a superb performance and result against a very strong An Tochar team on Wednesday Evening in Roundwood.

Our under-7 boys have earned the weekend off with hurling training on Tuesday and football on Thursday. In the winners enclosure for the coveted player of the week awards were Michael Delaney, Jack Dempsey, Rian Kavanagh and James Carroll - well done to all!

On Saturday our supporters gathered outside the gates of Joule Park, Aughrim as there were rumours that Avondale were unable to field a team in the Senior hurling championship.

Unfortunately for hurling in Wicklow we received a walkover in the Dacia Cars Senior Hurling Championship clash between St Patrick’s and Avondale.

Referee Matty Dowling threw in the ball as required and Andy O’Brien scored the goal to make the walkover official. We await the decision of the CCC for confirmation.

On Sunday in Ashford at the early hour of 10.30am our Intermediate hurlers had a deserved victory over Bray Emmets with the full time score of 1-16 to 1-14.

Thanks to social media and some good detective work one of our missing jerseys has returned home. Please note All jerseys marked with club logo and sponsor are property of St Patrick’s GAA. Please return any jersey that has a number on it.

The club is delighted to announce that we have purchased a green field site of 30 acres on the Greenhill road.

This development will secure the long term future of St. Patrick’s G.A.A. Club and its future members for generations to come.

The club looks forward to sharing our plans with all our members and our supporters on the revised date of Friday, September 15, at 8.30pm in the clubhouse.

We are always welcoming new players to St Patrick’s GAA club. We begin at three years of age come along Saturday mornings at 11am and try it out.

Any Individuals interested in been involved with our club teams for 2017 should contact the Club Secretary at: Secretary. stpatricks.wicklow@gaa.ie.

Wicklow GAA currently have five positions available as a school coach in the following areas Arklow, Wicklow Town, Roundwood/Moneystown, Kilmacanogue and West Wicklow on a Wicklow GAA CE Scheme.

Please contact their local DSP Employment Services/INTREO Office to check your eligibility and to apply for this vacancy.

Vacancy Reference Number will be required. Applicants must also be in receipt of an Irish social welfare payment for one year or more. Aged between 21-55 years. Applicants should supply suitable character references and be prepared to complete a Garda vetting application form.

Wicklow Golf Club are hosting an inter club talent competition on Saturday.

This event is to raise much needed funds for Breast Cancer Research Ireland and is in conjunction with the Play in Pink golf competition that Wicklow Golf Club Ladies will be organising on Saturday, August 12.

A night of fun and craic at Wicklow Golf Club inter-club talent competition. Music on the night will be provided by Breakaway.

Any budding singers, comedians, dancers or any form of entertainer welcome! The winner will receive €100.

Contact Anthony Franey at afraney@ wicklowcoco.ie of 087 6799857 to take part in the show.

Have you got any used football boots/ hurling helmets you are not using? The club would love them. They can be dropped into the gear shop every Saturday morning to help with the club gear exchange program.

Don’t forget tuck shop and club gear shop open every Saturday morning 11-12:30.

“New Pink Club Supporters Jerseys” are now available.

Jersey sizes are: 0-6 months, 1-2 years, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 13, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 2XL etc.

Prices are €28 for sizes 0-6 thru’ 3-4, €30 for sizes 5-6 thru’ 10/11, €40 for size 13, €45 for all adult sizes.

A big thank you to volunteers Siobhan Hollingsworth, Emma Hughes Czwalina in the Tuck Shop and Marie O’Brien, Olivia Connolly Carey and Mick Murphy who have volunteered to assist with the club gear shop at the club nursery every Saturday in Dunbur.

St. Patrick’s Summer Camp Tue/Wed/ Thurs 15-17th August from 10am to 2pm each day in Dunbur. Contact Paul O’Brien for details: Email: Catherine_paul@eircom.net Mobile: 087 2681987.

Camogie - Training continues for under-8 and under-10 girls on Thursdays at 6-45pm in St. Patricks National School pitch. New players always welcome contact Margaret 087 7827881.

We had no winners for our match five or match four jackpots. We had four match three winners: Amy O’Doherty, Brian Madden, Margaret McNabb, C.J.L c/o C. Clarke. Don’t forget to buy your ticket this week. If you are not in you cannot win!

Numbers drawn were 2, 8, 27, and 30. The bonus number was 28.

Thanks to the weekly club lotto sellers who give up their time to help raise funds for the club. It’s greatly appreciated. The next draw is on Monday, August 7, in the Clubhouse. Make sure you buy a ticket each week and you could be the winner of our match four prize €2,200 or match five €10,000 jackpot!

As part of club development and potential additional playing facilities, we are requesting that each age group team support the lotto selling rota by providing a team of four on their designated Saturday. Are any of you available to sell in the pubs on Saturday nights from 9pm? Contact your team manager for details.

Please send any information for club notes to Pro.stpatricks.wicklow@gaa.ie before 9pm on Sunday evenings. You can contact St Pats at Facebook St Patrick’s GAA Club Wicklow Town or Twitter @ StPatsGAAWick.

KNOCKANANNA

Well done to Knockananna with a great three-point victory over Barndarrig in the championship in extremely testing conditions.

It was a real showing of guts determination and a fair bit of skill thrown in along the way.

Kevin Tyrrell’s sublime chip to the back of the net, ala Gooch Cooper and a smashing point with the outside of the right boot from ‘Shammy’ were the keys scores . It was a huge improvement from last week.

Well done to Eddie Bracken and Dereck Kavanagh who both turned in a five-star performances. We now face Laragh in a winner take all scenario in two weeks.

Our next league game is Sunday morning in Knockananna against Kilbride at 11.30am.

Our lotto will be going online soon. Further information to follow.

Further information on Ashford GAA activities can be found via Facebook and from our web page, www.ashfordgaa. com.