History at Bray Emmets On Monday Night
For the first time in living memory and probably for the first time ever, Wicklow Co Board will hold a full monthly meeting in our town this Monday (March 13).
New Chairman Damien Byrne has decided to rotate meetings to the four different districts of the county and Wicklow President Jackie Napier believes this could be the first time ever we are hosting such an event.
The omniscient octogenarian in all things GAA says it has never happened in his lifetime and does not remember ever hearing of
a Co Board sitting down to discuss business in the North
Wicklow town before.
a Co Board sitting down to discuss business in the North
Wicklow town before.
So history in the making this week, congrats to our club and isn't it great we have such fantastic facilities at our disposal?
Worry over Hendo injury as our county men excel
The Bray contingent on the Wicklow hurling team are again leading from the front and were to the fore as the side easily accounted for Donegal following a long journey north for
Sunday's meeting.
Sunday's meeting.
The only black mark in the comprehensive 2-24 to 0-11 victory was the fact that centre back and captain John Henderson
suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury which has seen
him miss previous matches.
suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury which has seen
him miss previous matches.
Eoin McCormack was in top form with 1-5 to his personal credit while Ben Kearney continues to excel in defence.
Our club midfield of Luke Maloney and Diarmaid Masterson was again the preferred county duo in this vital sector where they dominated proceedings from start to finish.
In attack Padraig Doyle, David Maloney and Christy Moorehouse also showed up well while Mikey Lee gave added impetus when introduced.
Boland's virtuoso Performance For Hurlers
In terms of one-man-shows, there will hardly be a player across the country this year who will come near the display of Michael Boland when leading Bray to a great win over Round Towers in
Div 3 of the Dublin League on Sunday morning.
Div 3 of the Dublin League on Sunday morning.
The young doctor had a cure for all Bray ills when he single-handedly accounted for 2-17 of Bray's 2-22 total in a 14 point victory over the Clondalkin side.
Michael is fast becoming unmarkable and no doubt he has benefitted from how well he has played against some of the best defences at this level not just in Wicklow and Dublin but across Leinster in the past year.
Paul Carley will be delighted at how his side, shorn of a dozen
key players through county activity and injury, continues to excel in this standard of league play.
key players through county activity and injury, continues to excel in this standard of league play.
With every player showing up well, it was nice to see Cian
O'Byrne return at this level with a fine display as midfield
partner to the burgeoning talents of Cian Lohan on the day, capping it all off with a point to his name.
O'Byrne return at this level with a fine display as midfield
partner to the burgeoning talents of Cian Lohan on the day, capping it all off with a point to his name.
Bray Emmets: P O'Reilly; D Kennedy, D Henderson, S Maloney;
D Lohan, J Anders, G Henderson; C O'Byrne, C Lohan;
J Fitzgerald, M Lennon, S McDonagh; R Lambe, M Boland, C O Dualachain Subs S Anders K Ryder.
D Lohan, J Anders, G Henderson; C O'Byrne, C Lohan;
J Fitzgerald, M Lennon, S McDonagh; R Lambe, M Boland, C O Dualachain Subs S Anders K Ryder.
Footballers Great Win against Rathnew
It's not too often that Bray seniors go down to Rathnew in the league and bring back the two points on offer.
That is precisely what Shane Smith's crew did last Friday night when against the odds, they kept going in the face of refereeing adversity to end up triumphant by two points in front of a large home crowd.
The Bray support at the match were vocal and while the loss of two soft goals in the first half made it look very hard to see us winning, no one told the players that and it is testament to their determination and resilience that they upped their performances and were by far the better team in the second 30 minutes.
Without a dozen possible starters due to county hurling and football commitments, it looked like an uphill path for the side when former county man Paul Cunningham had to leave the field just before the interval with a head injury which left him dazed.
Down 2-5 to 1-7 at that stage (our goal was also a gift from the sporting gods but Rory Gunning wasn't complaining), Bray took
to their task in the second half with better application in terms
of tackling, blocking and support running.
to their task in the second half with better application in terms
of tackling, blocking and support running.
It was the old adage of doing the simple things well which stood to the Bray side, who showed no fear as they went about their task.
The introduction of Brian Nesbitt and Daragh Rochford gave the offensive end both direction and pace and with Dessie Kelly defying the hand of time with that trusty left peg slotting over seven points, Bray kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The flash of two black cards to our lads for minor offences going down the final stretch could have been game changers for previous teams but the 13 players left on the field refused to
bow the knee when there was an excuse there if they wanted it.
bow the knee when there was an excuse there if they wanted it.
Instead they played the ball around with great speed and
accuracy and I've no doubt that is a direct result of the internal sevens tournament the club ran in January and February. Good preparations comes from such moments and allowed the team
the confidence and fitness to keep going to the very last whistle.
accuracy and I've no doubt that is a direct result of the internal sevens tournament the club ran in January and February. Good preparations comes from such moments and allowed the team
the confidence and fitness to keep going to the very last whistle.
So hats off to all, especially those who made up for little lapses. Well done, Keego, that save at the death more than made up for those first half green flags. Best of all, it was great to see the team keep going to the very end.
Once one or two players get back their confidence by just doing the simple things well, it will give Shane and his backroom team even more ammunition to take on other opponents.
The full back trio were tight and shifted the ball on well while Cathal and David in the half line were able to carry to great
effect. James is a real find at centre-back and has the power to go right up to the scoring sector and raise flags; a county man in the making for sure.
effect. James is a real find at centre-back and has the power to go right up to the scoring sector and raise flags; a county man in the making for sure.
Rob was strong and available midfield while Ronan McMahon has
a cutting edge that I like and and attitude that doesn't come along every day. He too is a real find for this club.
a cutting edge that I like and and attitude that doesn't come along every day. He too is a real find for this club.
Ben McCormack always works hard and took his point well while Daire Lohan grew in stature as the game went on and can build even more now on this showing.
The full forward line that started out got little possession early doors but Dara earned his corn late in the game at the other end with several astute interventions.
Bray Emmets: P O'Keeffe; C Martin, S Kearney, F Green; C O Dualachain, J Healy (0-2), D Martin; R McMahon, R Walsh; B McCormack (0-1) D Kelly (0-7), D Lohan; P Cunningham, R Gunning (1-0), D O hAinnaidh Subs B Nesbitt (0-2), D Rochford (0-2), D Kelly.
Irish class for 6th Year Oral Exam 2023
It has been confirmed that Bray Emmets Oifigeach na Gaeilge, Brian Lambe, will
be doing a Leaving Cert Oral Irish class in the Clubhouse. The date can be
finalised when we make contact with the interested students.
This class is for any members of Bray Emmets who are sitting their
Leaving Certificate Oral Irish examination in a few weeks. If you are interested
in enrolling, please text your name to 087- 6970589. Go raibh maith agaibh.
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