Éire Óg juveniles continued to impress at the St Galls P5 tournament on May Day. The Club had 2 teams entered, a P5 team and a P4 team. The P5 team, despite finding themselves in a very tough group against St Johns, Carryduff and Downpatrick, teams who have all done very well in this competition in the past, dominated their group winning all their matches. They were highly fancied by many to go all the way to the final but unfortunately came unstuck against Breda where, despite dominating the game, lost by a point in the final kick of the game. The P5’s played some excellent football and the tournament provided the opportunity for many of the squad to display their natural talent. In all the matches every player gave his best.
Éire Óg 2-2 St Johns 2-1
The first match of the day for the young Ógs saw them beat a highly fancied St John’s side. With Emmett Cummings outstanding in defence he provided the springboard for many attacks. Joe O'Neill in Midfield supported by Gavin Trainor, won plenty of ball and fed Paddy Cunningham who tormented the Johnnies defence.
Éire ÓG 4 -4 Carryduff 1-2
Éire Óg outclassed Carryduff with Steven Brown at Centre half back providing a man of the match performance closely followed by Joe O'Neill who scored 1–2. Crisp passing together with some excellent movement enabled Éire Óg to build up an unassailable first half lead. With Steven MCGuigan and Kevin McKenna showing well in the full forward line, the Carryduff goal was always under threat.
ÉIRE ÓG 2-3 Downpatrick 1-0
In the last match of the group Éire Óg faced a very strong Downpatrick who had some excellent individual players. Éire Óg again rose to the occasion and thanks to a wonderful goal keeping display by keeper Josh Murray the Ógs managed to hold back early pressure from Downpatrick. Gavin Trainor and Joe O'Neill again got a stranglehold in Midfield and were able to supply plenty of ball to Ciaran McAreavy in attack.
Éire Óg 2-4 Breda 2-5
This proved to be an excellent game of football with some superb individual performances. In the first half Breda dominated proceedings going in at half time 1 –4 to 0-1. The second half was a however a different story with the word s of manager Crick Browning ringing in their ears all the players gave 100% with Emmett Cummings and Conor Cochrane again outstanding in defence and Steven McGuigan scoring 1-1 in attack. Complete Éire Óg dominance saw them rattle in 2 goals and 3 points. And but for some wayward shooting would have been more. In a tense and very exciting second half the scores were level toward the end if the half but with the last kick of the game Breda snatched victory with a well taken point.
The P4 team were in the Plate competition and found themselves against St Galls B, Davitts B and Gort Na Mona B. Playing some excellent football the Óg’s won all their matches and progressed through to the final to meet arch rivals St Galls. Unlike the previous week when the P4's won the Locus Management P4 Tournament, today was not to be their day. 2 goals in the first 2 minutes killed the game and despite dominating possession in the second half the Ógs just could not find the net.
Eire Og 3-8 0-6 v Breda
Cherryvale May 12th 2002
The Eire Og P4 (Under 8) team continued its recent impressive form by overpowering Breda at Cherryvale. With several key players such as Steven Carson and Aidan Mc Garrity on P5 duty the young Ogs nonetheless played some great possession football to run out convincing winners by a 3-8 to 0-6 scoreline.
A rash of first half goals and points from Matthew Keenan, Paul Smith and Christopher Harrison were accompanied by a second half strike from Jamie Loughran and three points from Michael White. In what was at times a physical battle Eire Og emerged eventually as comfortable victors to continue fine recent form.
