Cúl Camps: The season of the Kelloggs Cúl Camps (responses of past participants would indicate that they found them quite cool) is nearly upon us, Éire Óg as usual is holding both a football and hurling/camogie camp.
Each camp takes place over 5 days in July; football the 7th to the 11th and the hurling/camogie from the 11th to the 18th. The cost of the camps, including kit and bag, is €55 per child with concessions for 2 (€45) or more (€40) from the same family (further information from Colm Gaskin @ 083 3937411 ). Cúl Camps which over the years have earned a reputation for being professionally run and for their child-friendly ethos have proved extremely popular with parents.
Both games incorporate a wonderful panoply of skills which makes them synergic with most sports of their respective types so it is no surprise that Gaelic players in general adapt readily to other field sports. The latest example of this versatility is that of the recruitment of Wicklow Ladies player Lucy Mulhall by the Ireland Women's National Rugby Union team to their Olympic 7-a-side panel.
With such a range of skills to draw upon the Cúl Camps in both sports are serendipitously endowed with that quality which is the spice of life.
Football U-10 blitz: The latest of the Go-Games football U-10 blitz which involved teams from An Tóchar, Bray Emmets, St. Pats and Éire Óg was hosted by An Tóchar on Friday night last. Ten teams were involved overall with three of them being supplied by Greystones. There is much organisation involved in the running of these blitzes; for the club there is the setting up of pitches etc. while for the visiting teams there is the problem of transporting much larger squads than usual and their supervision on site. A lot of manpower (or should one use the phrase “womanpower/personpower” for these political correct times) is involved. Éire Óg was fortunate to have on hand on the occasion an excellent groups of mentors, viz Kevin Healy, Angela O'Leary, Caitríóna Shanahan, John Caffrey, Austin Baines and Gary Lehane. B'fhiú dóibh an tairbhe an trioblóid, they were compensated in the behaviour of their charges and their worthy endeavours on the field.
On Team A Darragh Shanahan impressed with his fielding while Tara Casey did well in goals. Marley Gunne, a new recruit, and Dearbhla Browne delivered on the scoring front. Darragh Keogh and Cathal Kirby were to the fore in defence with a fine display of defensive skills. Cathal Byrne worked hard and passed intelligently while Diarmuid Carr caught the eye with his athleticism.
For Team B Daniel Conarty was lethal in front of goal while Daniel McGlynn showed great bravery in the execution of his 1st rate defending. Gavin Lincoln shone in both defence and attack and Conor Keogh was resolute in gaining possession. Both Gearóid Coughlan and Piarais Healy showed themselves to be no shrinking violets in the physical stakes and tapped over a few scores.
Hugh O'Carroll played a key role in a number of fruitful movements.
On Team C the Travers brothers, Sam and Adam, were energy itself on the field and showed perception in their anticipation and passing. Jack Caffrey and Charlie Keogh were assiduous in their defending and demonstrated a good understanding of team play. Liam Leonard defended well while Alex Baines displayed great versatility moving from goals to defence and on to attack. Seán Lehane made some spectacular goal-line saves.
Peil na gCailíní. Fixtures for girls U-12 and U-14 football are coming thick and fast as the organisers try to have the schedule of games finished before the onset of the summer break. An understandable target because it becomes almost impossible to field under-age girls' teams during the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. Last week offered the example of how team numbers are decimated by pleasant holiday weather. Tuesday evening 24 girls turned up for the U-14 game against Blessington, which Éire Óg won 5-15 to 4-04, while on Sunday morning only 11 players showed up for the game against St. Nicolas which, even-though the game was played with 11- a side, we, not surprisingly, lost 1-04 to 6-10.
In the Blessington game Erika Viellany and Rachel Purcell contributed 4-08 between them. Erika's input is particularly noteworthy in that this was the first game she played in the forwards having heretofore been the full-back on the team.
The half-back line of Alice O'Neill, Claudia Randles and Emma Curran together with the centre-field pairing of Eva McTague and Frances Dallaghan dominated the middle third and supplied great ball to the forwards. Katie O'Reilly was excellent between the posts and the full forward line of Katie Lawless, Erica Viellany and Eva Moore used their supply of ball very effectively.
Short most of its key players for the game against St Nicks, the team accepted that a win was going to be beyond its reach. Nevertheless the girls battled gamely against a physically superior opposition and earned admiration for their never-say-die attitude.
