Back Row: Chris McAreavy, Adam Connolly, Chris White, Maurice Murphy, Adam George, Steven McCaffrey, Michael Sweeney, Mark Devlin, Gavin Trainor, Dan Cummings, Brendan Brophy, Conor McKenna, Chris Gilmartin.
Front Row: Aidan McGarrity, Gavin Bradley, Joe O’Neill, Ciaran McAreavy, Marty Hughes, Steven Carson, Gerard Meehan, James Hughes, Emmett Cummings, Steven McGuigan.
Team Managers: Paul Taggart & Fergal Lynch
Under 12: Division 2 football
Eire Og 0-6 Pearses 1-3
Eire Og began their 2nd division campaign with a well-fought out draw against Pearses. The eventual result did not reflect Eire Og’s performance, as they dominated long periods of play in the second half. Pearses started the match lively and scored two points without reply. This kick started Eire Og into more attacking play, culminating in three points. Pearses hit back to level the teams at half time.
The second half seen great displays from Chris White at halfback, Michael Sweeney in midfield and Chris McAreavy in half forward. Indeed it was Chris McAreavy putting pressure on the Pearses defenders, which resulted in a just and definite penalty. Unfortunately for Eire Og, Michael Sweeney was unlucky and hit the post, almost immediately leading to Pearses scoring a goal. Pearses never really threatened Eire Og after this. Eire Og stepped up their attack and with a great display by the Pearses goalkeeper were unable to clinch a goal. Brophy, Sweeney and Chris McAreavy were able to grab three points before the final whistle, bringing the final result to a draw.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Sweeney
Eire Og: Dan Cummings, Emmet Cummings, Steven McCaffrey, Connor McKenna, Chris White, Adam George, Mark Devlin, Michael Sweeney (0-1), Gavin Bradley, Martin Hughes (0-1), Chris McAreavy (0-1), Oisin Rodgers (0-1), Ciaren McAreavy (0-1), Brendan Brophy (0-1), Steven Brown
Subs: Michael Fitzpatrick, Gerard McKenna
Eire Og 3-5 McDermott's 4-9
Eire Og started this match brightly with only 14 players, but were soon up to the full 15 after a late arrival, and looked in control at the start. The smaller McDermotts forwards could not get into the game and assured performances from the Og’s defence left a lot of the play in the McD’s half of the pitch. With the midfield partnership of Sweeney and McAreavy winning a lot of the ball, Eire Og’s initial dominance showed with scores by Sweeney (1-2) and McAreavy (0-1) interrupted with a number of wides. McDermotts were limited to breakaways, one of which led to their first goal occurring from a scramble in the Og’s six yard box. Another goal and two points followed leaving McDermotts going in two points clear at half time.
The second half started as the first half had ended with Eire Og winning more possession which they converted into a goal and a point to lead by two points. But once the Ogs went in front they started to slacken off allowing McDs back into the game. Sweeney, being the main ball winner in midfield, was marked by three McD’s players from every Eire Og kick out, which allowed McD’s best player in midfield to mark off scores at will. During this 10-minute period of McDermotts dominance they notched up 1-6 before Eire Og managed to pick their game up again and go forward. Another goal (M. Hughes) and a point (M. Sweeney) followed for the Ogs as they went in search of scores to snatch a win, but as they overcommited players going forward, McDermotts were able to charge up the field and add another goal and two points to their final tally.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Sweeney
Eire Og: Dan Cummings, Emmet Cummings, Chris White, Steven McCaffrey, Martin Hughes, Brendan Brophy, Gavin Trainor, Michael Sweeney, Ciaran McAreavy, Paddy Cunningham, Oisin Rodgers, Conor Kearney, Joe O’Neill, Chris McAreavy, Steven Brown.
Eire Og 11-8 St Galls B 0-0
For the first time this season, Eire Og were at full strength for a match against a very young St Galls B team. The match began with Sweeney and Bradley exerting their influence in midfield in a blustery Falls Park against a visibly smaller St Galls team. Both midfielders immediately started as they meant to go on, with Sweeney scoring two goals in succession followed by a point for Bradley. With the wind at their backs, Eire Og spent most of the first half camped in the St Galls half with only occasional breaks from St Galls to relieve the pressure on their defence, but the Ogs defence held firm and dealt easily with these breaks. More goals followed from Sweeney (2-0) and Connolly(1-0), as well as points from O’Neill (0-1), Bradley (0-1), Brophy (0-1), Connolly (0-1) and Sweeney (0-2) to leave Eire Og going in at half time leading 5-7 to 0-0.
The second half started in the same fashion as the first had ended, with Eire Og in complete dominance. Great performances by the Eire Og midfield and half forwards allowed the team to stretch their lead as the players went in search of goals. Brophy (2-0), Ciaran McAreavy, Connolly and Sweeney (2-0) were all successful in this respect with Chris McAreavy also adding a point. This rounded off a great Eire Og performance, and left them wondering what would have happened had this team turned up against Pearses and McDermotts.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Sweeney
Eire Og: Dan Cummings, Emmet Cummings, Chris White, Mark Devlin, Martin Hughes, Adam George, Maurice Murphy, Michael Sweeney (6-2), Gavin Bradley (0-2), Chris Gilmartin, Chris McAreavy (0-1), Brendan Brophy (2-1), Ciaran McAreavy (1-0), Adam Connolly (2-1), Joe O’Neill (0-1).
Subs: Steven McCaffrey, Aidan McGarrity, Gerard Meehan, James Hughes, Steven McGuigan, Steven Carson, Gavin Trainor, Conor McKenna.
Eire Og 2-4 St Malachys 6-1
Eire Og started this match well even though they were missing some of their starting team from the previous match. During the first half the Ogs spent most of their time in the St Malachys half with Brophy scoring a goal followed by a goal and a point by Sweeney, but yet again they could not convert their dominance of possession into scores as the St Malachys keeper was having an outstanding game. Towards the end of the first half their lack of accuracy in front of goal cost them dearly as St Malachys raced up the field and scored a point. The inability of the Eire Og defence to clear the ball from the subsequent kick out led to another four goals from St Malachys as the Ogs held on until half time.
Coming out for the second half St Malachys held the upper hand as Eire Og struggled to get back into the game after their shock before half time. Their cause was not helped by a cynical challenge on influential midfielder Bradley who had to come off soon after. As the half wore on it was clear some Eire Og players did not have the stomach for the physical game which St Malachys were playing and this, allied to their keeper's great performance, showed on the scoreboard as St Malachys scored another two goals interspersed by points from Sweeney, Rodgers and Hughes. On the positive side there were some good performances by Ogs players including Ciaran McAreavy, Joe O’Neill and Paddy Cunningham who battled on regardless.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Ciaran McAreavy
Eire Og: Dan Cummings, Emmet Cummings, Chris White, Conor Diamond, Martin Hughes (0-1), Adam George, Mark Devlin, Michael Sweeney (1-2), Gavin Bradley, Joe O’Neill, Chris McAreavy, Brendan Brophy (1-0), Ciaran McAreavy, Oisin Rodgers, Steven McGuigan.
Subs: Steven McCaffrey, Gerard McKenna, James Hughes, Steven Brown, Gavin Trainor, Connor McKenna, Conor Cochrane, Paddy Cunningham.
St Agnes 5-5 Eire Og 1-6
Eire Og started this game with a strong team after players missing last week returned from injury. The game began with the Ogs playing into a very strong breeze, which left them camped inside their own 45 for most of the first half. This had a strong bearing on the game as the St Agnes forwards were in great form, scoring three goals and four points in the first half. Only limited breaks allowed the Ogs defence a rest, but yet again, the shooting was not up to scratch as opportunities to get on the score sheet were wasted. It was a case of damage limitation as Eire Og held on until half time.
With the onset of the second half the luck of the Ogs started to change as they played with the aid of the strong breeze. With the midfield partnership of Bradley and Sweeney winning more ball, Eire Og managed to get more possession as they went in search of scores. A point from Chris McAreavy followed by points from Hughes and Sweeney showed the grip Eire Og were beginning to take on the game. But St Agnes battled hard and their tackling in defence was great as they broke up much of the Eire Og play. Breaks from their defence allowed them to score another two goals and a point. Points followed by Chris McAreavy, Gilmartin and Sweeney as well as a goal from Adam George but this was not enough to deny St Agnes a deserved win. Some great goalkeeping was on display from both keepers but Eire Og were left to rue their lack of accuracy and substandard defending in the first half.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Gavin Bradley
Eire Og: Brendan Brophy, Emmet Cummings, Chris White, Mark Devlin, Maurice Murphy, Adam George (1-0), Conor Diamond, Michael Sweeney (0-2), Gavin Bradley, Martin Hughes (0-1), Chris McAreavy(0-1), Chris Gilmartin (0-1), Ciaran McAreavy, Adam Connolly, Joe O’Neill.
Subs: Dan Cummings, Steven McCaffrey, Conor McKenna, Conor Cochrane, Oisin Rodgers, Steven McGuigan.