BRAY EMMETS: Club Membership: Membership fees for 2010 are now due. Letters will be sent out by post to all families and adult players during week commencing March 1st. We would greatly appreciate if everyone could have form filled in and returned with appropriate fee before 21st March. Thanking you all in anticipation.

Leinster Inter-County Schools

Football Final: Wicklow were beaten by a physically stronger and older Meath team in the Leinster A Colleges Final in Parnell Park. After ten minutes, Wicklow led by three points and missed a great goal chance. At that stage it looked like Wicklow were really in this game, but the stronger Meath team gradually got on top and ran out convincing winners. With only two players from the team not available next year, this team should really benefit from the experience of playing in a final. Well done to our three players on the panel, Hugh Douglas, Chris Lyons and John Henderson.

Leinster Colleges Final: We wish Arraon Murphy all the best as he prepares for his Leinster Colleges Football Final with his college Colaiste Eoin. Ronan Cunningham is also a member of this team. He is recovering from a knee injury and is working tirelessly to get back for the final. Good luck lads in the final.

Foundation Course: Congratulations and thanks to everyone that attended our Foundation Course in February. Our club really appreciates the time that you all give to the coaching of our young players. Thanks to Garrett Doyle, one of Wicklow Coaching Officers, for his excellent presentation. It is now a requirement that all coaches in our club must have the minimum of a Foundation Course completed. A Football/Hurling Award Course, which is the follow-on from the Foundation Course will be organised within the next two months but there will be limited places available. The coaching officer will contact all team mentors.

Senior Football: Our men's senior football team have new management for 2010. After finishing top of Division 1 of the senior football league in 2009, the management team of Pat Burke and Dave Barry stepped down. Thanks to both for their efforts over the last three years. The new manager of our senior football team is PJ Cunningham. Michael Murray is the trainer and Jim McNicholas, Pat Wogan and Frank Devlin are also on the management team.. This group have been involved with a number of successful Minor teams and have the best wishes of all in our club for the coming year.

Pitches at Old Connaught: At present there is only one pitch available for games in Old Connaught. This will remain the position for the next four to six weeks. We need the co-operation of all team managers in relation to the organising of training and matches. Challenge games should be played at an away venue. The all-weather pitch is nearing completion and should be available in early April.

Bray Emmets v. Cuala Camogie

Friendlies in Emmet Park: Our under-10 and under-12 girls began the season with friendly games versus our neighbours Cuala on Saturday, 13th February.

The girls all played very well against a more experienced Cuala side and all gave good account of themselves on the day.

Those who attended were: Aisling Moylan, Aoife Conaughton, Ciara Nolan, Claire Benville, Nicola and Claire Holland, Katie Dutton, Kelly, Lauren McKenna, Meave Ni Mhidigh, Niamh McCormack, Oliva Duffy, Trica Phelan,

Sarah Hayde, Shannon Scanlon, Vicky Crimmons, Allie Byrne, Kim Prylowski. A total of 19 girls turned up to play. The girls were divided into two teams of nine a side to ensure everybody got plenty of time on the pitch.

On Green team: Aisling, Ciara, Claire, Nicola, Tricia, Meave, Oliva, Sarah and Kim.

On the Blue team: Katie, Kelly, Lauren, Meave, Niamh, Claire, Shannon, Vicky, Allie.

Both teams played very well and are looking forward to plenty of action this year. Our thanks to Cuala for travelling out.

Bray Under-11 Football: Despite missing a good few players, Bray were still able to field a strong team against Ballinteer last Saturday. Ballinteer were short a few players and two Bray players in each half sportingly changed jerseys in order to provide a competitive game. In the first half Bray's midfielders, Cormac Kelly and Ben Kearney who was captain for the day, controlled the game and scored freely. Lochlann Dougan and Eoghan Martin were very solid in defence and didn't let much go past them while Paddy Redmond and Simon Reynolds made a number of good catches and passed the ball well out of defence. Shane Slattery switched from goals to attack and found the net from a tight angle for Bray and also scored in the second half. Davy Maloney was well able go past defenders bigger than himself and take his scores confidently. Cian Kavanagh did well in attack, never giving up, tackling and putting opposition backs under a lot of pressure. Ben Fay also did well in the full forward line, took his goal very well and when switched to defence in the second half stopped a number of Balinteer attacks.

In the second half Cormac Foley and Noah Cummins took over at midfield and were both excellent and dominated this area for Bray. Niall Groves started the second half in goals keeping a clean sheet and also keeping his man scoreless when he moved out into defence. Jason Pritchard having suffered an injury earlier took over in goals and made some good saves. Andrew Conway moved into attack passed well and scored a good goal. Daniel Jakob was very busy in the half forward line and took a number of clever free kicks which led to scores for Bray. Aaron Kennedy proved to be a real goal poacher and found the net twice for Bray. Although Bray won convincingly in the end the game flowed from end to end and was exciting for the spectators on the sideline. Many thanks to the parents who attended and to Stephen Kelly, Liam Morgan and Barry Groves who helped out with the team and setting up before the game.

Team and scorers: E. Martin, A. Kennedy (2-0), N. Groves, N. Cummins (0-3), C. Kelly (4-2), S. Reynolds, D. Jakob, P. Redmond (1-2), L. Dougan, S. Slattery (2-1), B. Kearney (2-3), J. Pritchard, C. Kavanagh, B. Fay (1-0), C. Foley (2-1), A. Conway (1-0), D. Maloney (1-2).

EIRE OG GREYSTONES

League decider: The calm before the storm! Logic has determined that the 'shoot-out' between Éire Óg and Kilcoole now takes place tonight Wednesday 24th at 7.45 p.m. in Roundwood. Luckily, with both clubs having their Dinner Dances on Saturday 27th, the original date suited neither side and controversy - there was enough of that in the lead-up to the decision by the Coiste Chondae that this promotion-deciding match be played - was avoided. With the news filtering out from Kilcoole that their footballers have been training hard for a number of weeks, we in Éire Óg are approaching this as a 50--

50 game; we have learned well the lesson of our defeat in the league by the same opposition and are fully aware of their determination to teach their next door neighbours a thing or two. Here's hoping for a good hard sporting game and a big turnout of Éire Óg supporters. Their encouragement could be the tipping of the balance.

County players: Éire Óg names were to be found in the accounts of all Wicklow matches at the week-end and, in the order of population distribution, this is only as it should be. However such is not inevitable because in the areas of high population density the sense of place and the sense of community which are more or less the sine qua non of dedication and commitment, are often tenuous in the extreme. It is extremely difficult for the G.A.A. to thrive in these circumstances of mobile loyalty; it doesn't have either social cachet or the seductivity-deceiving glamour of the incessantly hyped professional sports with their faux-profound après match comments delivered with aristotelian furrowing of the brow. However, it is imperative for the competitive strength of Cill Mantáin teams that there be a constant supply of players from the larger urban areas. This requires the cultivation of the idea of 'Wicklow' (brand promotion) - does 'Wicklow' have any meaning for many of our primary school pupils? - and very hard work on the part of many dedicated mentors. That Éire Óg is, at present, in the position - hopefully it will continue - to supply players to county teams is a tribute to those within the club who 'kept them interested' and supervised their training over the years. For the record, Lorna and Rebecca Fusciardi, Niamh Kelly and Caoilfhionn Deeney played on the ladies' team which beat Westmeath, Darren Hayden and Stephen Kelly had a hand in the defeat of Leitrim, Lorcan Treanor, Seán Horan and Roddy Carroll were on the U-21 team against Dublin and Billy Cuddihy was centre-back on the hurling team which defeated Armagh in the Kehoe Cup final.

Dinner dance: Cathaoirleach Fergus O'Brien tells me that the demand for tickets is very strong and we are well on our way to a sell-out. Note that the dinner (those requiring a vegetarian meal should inform Fergus well in advance) is scheduled for 7.30 p.m. to allow for the extra presentations and to ensure adequate time on the dance floor. The band on the night is the well known 5 piece Big Digger, a tribute band to Thin Lizzy. There will be the usual raffle - prizes for same are welcome - with profits going to the Wicklow Hospice Project in which our Juvenile Chairman, Brendan Cuddihy, is heavily involved. Go neireoidh an t-ádh leis an oíche!

KILCOOLE

This is a very busy week for the club with two major events taking place. The first of these is the division two play off where our Intermediate team will take on Éire Óg. The match is fixed for tonight (Wednesday) at 7.45 p.m. in Roundwood. The team has trained very hard for this encounter and all support will be gladly welcomed. It promises to be an exciting match given the local rivalry long associated with matches against Éire Óg and also the significance of the result, the winners of this match will play division one league football for 2010. We loook forward to seeing you all at the match, go n-éirí an t-ádh leo!

On Saturday the Club Dinner Dance will be held in the Parkview Hotel in Newtown. This is the first occasion to celebrate 125 years of our club, there will be fine food, awards for last season and dancing into the small hours. Tickets are available from John Toner, Eithne Walsh, Pappy Frawley and Sarah Donnelly, they are €45 each. Be sure to be there for a great night.

Club gear - jackets, hoodies, shorts, socks, t-shirts, gear bags etc, are all available from Noeleen Evans. The next order will be placed in the next couple of weeks, for information on prices and to order gear contact Noeleen on 086-8111843

Ladies Football training continues on Mondays at 7.30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on the pitch, all welcome.

Membership for the year is now due, €25 for juvenile players, €70 for adult players, €20 for nonplaying members and €75 for family membership (must include at least one juvenile member).

Tommy Nolan or any committee member will be happy to accept your membership. The new club website, www.kilcoolegaa.ie, is being updated on a regular basis, be sure to check it out! If you are a Vodafone customer you can help support the club for free, just log onto vodafone.ie, select support your GAA club, select St. Patrick's Kilcoole and add your details. Vodafone will then give our club 5% of your monthly bill, whether you're bill pay or prepaid, at no extra cost to you.

Minor Football: The Kilcoole Minor footballers start their league campaign this Saturday, February 27 away to Blessington at 3.30 p.m. Players are to meet at the church at 1.45 p.m. sharp. It is very important that all membership forms (signed by parents) and the €25 membership fee are returned before this date.

U-12 hurling: No training this

week..

U-10 hurling: No training this week. The indoor tournament in Arklow will continue on Saturday 27th February, meet at the church at 8:45 a.m. sharp. The match schedule is as follows: 9:50 v Bray Emmets, 10:10 v Glenealy and 11:00 v Arklow Rocks. Let's get out there and support our U-10s in what has been a great run in this tournament.

U-8/6 Hurling: No training this week.

Best of luck to our Minor footballers and also to our Intermediate footballers in their play-off.

KILCOOLE CAMOGIE

Entry to our Sports Prediction Quiz on www.sportsprophet.ie is now closed. Many thanks to all who joined the league. We appreciate your support and may the best Prophet win! We look forward to seeing the league table unfold over the coming months with the first results coming online towards the end of March as the club hurling and football finals are down for decision in Croke Park on St Patrick's Day.

Well done to Eugene Condon and Lauren Reilly who both completed their Local Sports Partnership Code of Ethics Course in the Brockagh Centre recently.

Adult and U-16 camogie continues every Friday in Loreto, Bray from 6 to 7 p.m. - new players are always welcome.

On Saturday, March 13th we will hold a Camogie Celebration Night in Kilcoole Golf Club starting at 8 p.m. There will be a Buffet Dinner with Music from DJ Darren. All adult players, parents, supporters and friends are invited to come and join in the fun. Tickets cost €15 and are available from Billy/Tracy. A night not to be missed - mark it in your diary straightaway!

Indoor camogie returns on Tuesday, March 2nd at the usual times in Colaiste Chraobh Abhann for all age groups.