LOTTO Nos. drawn 13th March were 11, 12, 15,23. No winners. Pota Oir for Monday 20th was 4800 euro.
Sunday morning the Miley Cup (championship) holders, Baltinglass, and the current holders of the Dunne Cup (Div.1 League), Eire Og, went toe to toe in Na Clocha Liatha in the opening round of the Arklow Bay Hotel League. Taking to the field the locals were only too well aware of the challenge they faced but with the confidence engendered with their Dunne Cup win, they were not at all intimidated by the reputation of their opponents. A fact evidenced in Eire Ogs dominance, in which Daniel Woods and Darren Hayden were particularly dominant, of the early stages of the game.
On Sunday a strong breeze blew at an angle across the pitch and Eire Og had the mixed benefit of its advantage in the 1st half. The Greystones lads put their early ascendance to good effect and were, thanks to Darren and Justin OBrien, 2 points to the good on the 10 minute mark.Shortly after that they received a further morale boost when Daniel Woods knocked over another minor.
Then misfortune intervened. Up to that the home defence had proven rock solid and every Baltinglass attack had foundered on it but the one time in the 1st half it was penetrated the visitors capitalised on the opportunity to score a goal. At the short whistle Eire Og were ahead 0-6 to 1-1. The staunch defending of Na Clocha Liatha defence in this period is reflected in the fact that they conceded a mere 2 scores over the 30 minutes.
Baltinglass 1st score after the break, a magnificent point from 40m., illustrated what one might describe as a truism of modern day Gaelic football viz. if a team is to have any chance of winning it must be able to regularly deliver scores from this kind of distance.
The killer blow to Na Clocha Liatha hopes came near the 40 minute mark. A golden Eire Og opportunity was muffed and instead of the ball finding the back of the net it found its way into a defenders hands. Thereafter the ball was swept forward in an uninterrupted movement into Eire Og territory. An accurate kick delivered it beyond the defence and there to be pounced on by a lively Balto forward. This was offset a short time later by a well-struck penalty by Darren Hayden.
Final score: a four point win, 2-8 to 1-7, by Baltinglass. A disappointing result in that Eire Og had had many opportunities of adding to their tally.
COMHGAIRDEACHAS dos na leanai agus a stiuraitheoiri on their winning of the trophy for the most attractive entry by a sporting club in the St. Patricks Day Parade. The mentors who put a lot of effort into the preparation of the children for the parade and into their shepherding during it were delighted with the joyous way the leanai entered into the spirit of the occasion and with the proud way they carried the colours of the club on face and back. Their rendering of Oro Se do Bheatha Bhaile must also have made a good impression on the judges. Maith sibh uile!
PEIL NA gCAILINI While formal competitions do not begin until April our cailini have already been active on the field of play. Recently our u-14s took on Rathnew at home and found the visitors, who will be playing in the division below theirs, to be much better than their grading would suggest. This Eire Og team comprises mainly players who have graduated from last years u-12 Div. B winning team so will be meeting more mature teams in their competitions. Nevertheless on their display in this game their mentors are hopeful that they will be competitive in their division.
The u-12s had an unexpected win over Bray Emmets last week.
The mentors of the adult ladies team organised a 7-a-side blitz last week-end. Four teams took part, two from the club and one each from Barndarrig and Enniskerry. The two Eire Og teams involved some familiar faces from the previous team and some of last years u-16s. It proved a very worthwhile exercise both socially and football-wise. The games were run off with military precision with no players having to spend time on the sideline. The participants were able to get to know each other over tea and sandwiches after the game.
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