Club News 1 November 2021

AGM: This year’s AGM will take place on 11 November at 8 pm. It will be held in a hybrid format with some limited spaces (eight pods of six) for physical attendees at the clubhouse. If you would like to attend in person or remotely, email secretary.eireoggreystones.wicklow@gaa.ie.

Minor Boys Football: ÉIRE ÓG added the Minor ‘B’ football championship title to the recent under-15 ‘A’ hurling championship they won two weeks ago in Ballinakill when they seen off a gallant Michael Hogans side in Dunbur Park last weekend.

From the start this game was a tight affair with scores coming at a premium. Early points from Patrick Leccardi and Joe McGuickian settled the Avoca, Aughrim and Avondale combination team into the game but a fine point from Geroid Murphy got Éire Óg on the score board after four minutes.

Michael Hogans suffered a set-back in the eighth minute when Sean Fleming was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate pull of Éire Óg’s Chris Stewart as he headed in on goal.

However, Michael Hogans did keep their opponents at bay during the 10 minutes and points from James Murray and Alex Kavanagh had them in the driving seat at the water break.

After the break, Éire Óg’s Finn Fogarty popped up into the attack and landed a very clever point on the turn off his right foot.

Then another Éire Óg attack yielded a green flag when full-forward Ciaran Foley fisted into the net after an inspiring run and weave by Oisin Shanahan who picked out Foley unmarked on the edge of the square.

An Alex Kavanagh free and a fine Sam Carroll point got Michael Hogans to six points at the half-time break while Geroid Murphy got a fine point just on the whistle for Éire Óg.

Amazingly, Michael Hogans were not to score any more in this game while the Greystones lads added 1-2 to their half-time tally in the final four minutes.

The second half was a dogged affair with Michael Hogans guilty of missing at least six or seven great scoring chances.

Éire Óg defended stoutly and their full-back line cut out all Michael Hogan attacks on goal. Added to that, the Wicklow People Man of the Match award winner Ruari Parker was excellent in his marshalling and ball reading throughout the second half.

With four mins of normal time left, substitute Patrick Byrne landed a brilliant point to push his team nearer the finishing line and then a brilliant goal – soccer style – from Oisin Murphy in the 60th minute ensured victory for the Éire Óg lads.

A final point in injury time by Callum O’Connor left the final score reading 2-6 to 0-6 for the visiting ‘Blue’ team to Dunbur Park.

Ruari Parker, Oisin and Geroid Murphy, Oisin Shanahan, Cian Lynch, Colin O’Shea and Finn Fogarty all contributed to an excellent Éire Óg performance.

For Michael Hogans, Alex Kavanagh, Sam Carroll, Sean Fleming Joe McGuickian, Patrick Leccardi, Cathal Baker and James Murray fought hard over the hour.

Éire Óg Greystones: Kevin Booth; Gordon Bailey, Finn Fogarty, Cian O Lonaigh; Ruari Parker, Colin O’Shea, Mark Hayden; Callum O’Connor, Geroid Murphy; Taylor O’Sullivan, Oisin Shanahan, Darragh Shanahan; Chris Stewart, Ciaran Foley, Oisin Murphy. Subs: William Mitchell, Craig Byrne, Patrick Byrne, Matthew Fallon, Dylan Potts.

U13 hurlers win plate: The Bord na nÓg year is drawing to a close and the hard-pressed mentors and parents, not to mention the players, must be feeling relieved.

Last Monday night in Avondale was cold and the sod was damp. Avondale was hosting the under-13 ‘B’ Shield final between the home side and Éire Óg Greystones. The seasiders had the better of the opening half but were pinned back in their own half for most of the second half as Avondale fought to overturn a two-goal half-time deficit.

However, the home side were unable to reflect that second half dominance on the scoreboard and this allowed Éire Óg to get the match winning scores in the final few minutes.

Éire Óg started the better in the opening half and Cian Donnelly got their goal after two minutes. The Greystones lads went on to have the better of the opening quarter in play but an Avondale goal from Tiernan Byrne Cahill after five minutes gave heart to the home side who began to come more into the game.

Alex Kavanagh, Tyler Byrne, Tyler O’Neill and Will Phelan all began to contest better. Dean Barry, who was the dominant Éire Óg man in the first half, pointed two frees and Arthur Lane added another to leave the visitors leading by 1-3 to 1-0 at the break.

Éire Óg added another Dean Barry point and a goal from Arthur Lane in the second quarter. Will Phelan responded for the Dales with a fine point. The Avondale No.8 was probably the youngest player on the field but what he lacked in years and size was more than compensated for in skill and energy.

However, Éire Og’s Conor Lehane, Ciaran D’Arcy. Dean Barry, Hugo Fallon, Ben Stronge and Arthur Lane were all strong players and ensured that their side led by 2-4 to 1-1 at the half-time break.

Avondale came out for the second period in a transformed mood. They took the game to Éire Óg, who were pinned back in their own half for much of the time. But a combination of two factors decided the game. Avondale were not getting reward for their efforts in scores while the Greystones side defended very well.

The tempo of the game went up as both sides battled to come out on top. Tyler Byrne, Charlie Cullen, Jake Browne, Will Phelan kept the pressure on.

A point from Tyler Byrne and a goal from Will Phelan brought the lead down to two points with ten minutes left.

At this stage Éire Óg, who had not scored since half-time, showed their mettle and Conor Lehane shot home a goal to ease them back to their five-point lead. Back came Avondale and when Charlie Cullen responded with a goal it led to an exciting final few minutes.

But Dean Barry finished the game as he began with a point to leave Éire Óg winners at 3-5 to 3-2.

Owen Doyle presented the Shield to the winners’ captain Hugo Fallon while the Wicklow People sponsored ‘Man of the Match’ award went to Avondale’s Will Phelan.

Éire Óg: Sean Donnelly; Conor Lehane (1-0), Ciaran Darcy, Sal Maxwell, Tom Fox, Evan Leahy, Jack Deegan, Dean Barry (0-4), Hugo Fallon, Harrison Lynch, Ben Stronge, Sean Ryan, Arthur Lane (1-1), Cian Donnelly (1-0), Donnacha Hinphey, Lucas O’Shea.

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