Training & Games
We played Tir Chonaill Gaels in our first league game of the season on Sunday in Greenford. The game was a competitive and close encounter from start to finish. TCG went on to win the game by four points. Eire Og 1-5 v TCG 1-9. Standout performances on the day came from Eoin Conway, Adam McAviney and James Keneghan
Our next fixture is on Wednesday 21st May against Moindearg in Greenford at 7:30pm.
Training this week is on Tuesday and Thursday at 7:30pm start in Highgate Wood School. N88RN.
New players welcome, contact John – 07833 016014 or [email protected]
Darkness into Light 5km Walk / Run
Well done to the 23 members and friends that took part in the Darkness in to Light 5km walk on Saturday morning. We would also like to thank Pieta House for the donation of a set of t-shirts for the team to warm up in on match day.
Member interview with our stats man Connie McCarthy
If you could take a sportsman from another sport and turn him into a footballer, who would you take?
I would have to say Pablo Zabaleta, an excellent team player who has good positional sense, is very consistent and can be a threat going forward. He would make a good wing back, if not centre.
Who was your toughest under-age opponent in Cork?
Most of them as I would have known them to see in school, or during summer camps held in Carrigaline. It can be very competitive when you’re a youngster, you’re eager to impress and there’s little margin for error.
Who wasyour sporting idol growing up?
I remember being in awe of Brian Corcoran when he had a trainer’s role in the Carrigdhoun GAA summer camps in 1992 and 1993, In the first he had just recently won a man of the match for keeping Pat Fox, a great Tipp player, quiet and Corcoran would go on to win young hurler of the year. In 1993 he was captain of the Cork hurling team and also became prominent with the footballers. For both years he was very popular and very humorous. I was a big Goran Ivanisevic fan during the 90’s and was elated when he finally won Wimbledon in 2001.
Do you possess any sentimental GAA items?
Probably my Indoor Hurling plaque which I won in a tournament organised by Carrigaline GAA club in the spring of 1992, my goalscoring feats helped the team secure victory. I also have underage street league medals from 1991 so that era was probably the pinnacle of my underage career! Old match day programmes are always interesting, especially the local ones which feature good luck slogans from defunct businesses.
Who is greatest ever sportsman in your opinion?
I must give my fellow Carrigaline man Nicholas Murphy enormous credit, a solid midfielder and consistent performer for Cork during the last decade. Also, another Corkman Robert Heffernan for overcoming sudden personal tragedy in 2010 to win the World 50k last year. Despite his successes I feel Bjorn Borg does not get the recognition he deserves. The way he kept his cool in the toughest of tennis matches was remarkable and twelve Grand slam victories, six each on both grass and clay is something that should be admired.
If you could play an All-Ireland final in any stadium outside of
Ireland, where would you like to play it?
A Cork v Dublin final outside of Ireland ha ha. Hmm probably the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, there’s a good atmosphere, no time difference and the weather would be nice in September.
What’s the best score you’ve ever gotten in your career?
Oh dear, it was probably in an indoor ‘competitive’ kickabout soccer tournament near London Bridge 4 years ago. Our keeper through the ball to me, I controlled it with the centre of my chest and hooked a left foot volley right into the corner. It won goal of the day!
Are there any sporting managers from other codes who you find inspirational?
Three Celtic managers:
Martin O’Neill for reviving Celtic’s league fortunes in 2000 and making them strong in Europe again, Gordon Strachan had a nightmare first game in charge against Artmedia Bratislava but went on to improve Celtic’s progress in the Champions league as well as winning 3 SPLs in a row, and Neil Lennon for being strong and focused in keeping Celtic successful in spite of extenuating circumstances that would perhaps affect other individuals.
What’s the best sports book that you’ve ever read?
Like another team member I enjoyed Paidi O’Se’s autobiography, it was signed by the great man himself and his own missed penalty which broke the shop window was hilarious. I have a vast collection of Sky Sports/Rothmans football yearbooks which I started collecting in 1995
What is your favourite type of food?
Big fan of Japanese food especially sushi – places like Wasabi, Yo Sushi, Itsu and Japanese Kitchen have burned many holes in my wallet. Apart from that I’d eat anything but baked beans – ugh!
What was the last live sporting event you attended?
More worried about the next event I’m going to attend – in other words I can’t remember!!