Last night almost 50 coaches turnout for a Coach Education course titled The Prefect Coaching Session delivered by Tony Scullion and Kevin McGuigan. The Derry minor football squad took part in what was a very enjoyable and worthwhile session. All the players had heart rate monitors on them and they will be given feedback on their performance during the session.
The players on both sides thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the 2,000-strong crowd cheered both teams to the rafters of the stand during the eight-minute duration of their match. Derry County Board Chairman John Keenan praised the efforts being put in by coaching and development staff in Derry and by the Ulster Council in promoting this initiative.
“The half-time game took place in Celtic Park on Saturday evening was truly remarkable and I would like to thank parents, coaches and anyone that had any involvement in organising the match. Both sets of players took great pride in representing their counties. Congratulations to Eilish McGurk, Seamus McCorry, Terry Maguire, Donard McErlean and Christopher McErlean for doing fantastic work with these young men alongside Derry Coaching Staff member Diarmuid Scullion and Ulster Council Regional Development Officer, Paul Callaghan. I can’t speak highly enough of our Derry coaches for all the work they do within the special needs sector.”
“Back in the summer time during my school visits with Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Christy Cooney we had the privilege of visiting the four special needs schools that currently have weekly slots in our Coaching Programme and we witnessed the connection our coaches are making with these children. The ‘GAA For All’ model is something that we in county Derry are very much supportive of and I would commend Paul Callaghan and the Ulster Council for rolling this programme out throughout the province.”
After the half-time game a presentation of sporting equipment was made to the teams by Club Derry Vice-Chairman, Brian Og Mullan, to help enable the players to continue to enjoy Gaelic games.
Four special needs schools currently have weekly slots on the coaching programme in County Derry giving these children the opportunity to enjoy and take part in Gaelic games. Over the past couple of months Derry County Board and the Ulster Council through Paul Callaghan, have been bringing a focus on club coaches and parents who have an interest in delivering adapted Gaelic games and activities to children and young adults with disabilities and special needs. To try and address this, Ulster and Derry GAA have run workshops in Foreglen, Glenullin, Steelstown and Ballinascreen over the past couple of months.
Any club wishing to learn more about this opportunity should contact Paul Callaghan at paul.callaghan.ulster@gaa.ie.
On Sunday 20th March the annual under-16 hurling 7s was held in Claudy. The games were played on Claudys excellent new 3G pitch facility which proved to be the perfect venue for the competition. 7 clubs in all took part, there were two groups with the top 2 teams from each section going into forward to the semi finals. The groups finished up as below:
Group 1:
| Team | played | won | lost | draws | points |
| Lavey | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Na Magha | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Slaughtneil | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Coleraine | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Group 2:
| Team | played | won | lost | draws | points |
| Banagher | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Swatragh | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Kevin Lynchs | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Na Magha have recently started a new initiative to attract more kids to the club. The parish league invites ten pupils from each parish in the town i.e 10 from Bunscoil Cholmcille (Steelstown), 10 from St Annes (Rosemount).
Over the past few weekends teams from Derry, Donegal and Tyrone have been taking part in the North West indoor hurling under 10 competition. The teams were hosted in 2 venues, LYIT in Letterkenny and Templemore sports complex in Derry City.The games were all ground hurling only and played in a Go Games format with the main focus of the blitzes being getting the lads to enjoy playing and helping to develop their skills. 14 clubs in all took part, with the standard of hurling improving as the games went on. A special word of thanks must go to Donal McLaughlin (Chairman Donegal Hurling Board) Noel Murray (Na Magha), and all of the various club coaches who helped to ensure that the blitzes were such a success. Many of the clubs participating will now take part in Ulster blitz in the Meadowbank this weekend so hopefully the North West competition will have prepared the lads for playing against teams from across the province.
Thanks again to all the clubs for their continued efforts in hurling development. I have no doubts that if clubs can sustain their current efforts they will soon reap the rewards. Thanks again, Kevin.
On Thursday 3rd March, the County Derry indoor hurling blitz was held in the Meadowbank arena in Magherafelt. 7 schools took part:
St.Canices Dungiven,
St.Eoghans Moneyneena,
St.Columbs Straw,
St.Johns Swatragh,
St.Brigids Tirkane,
St.Brigids Mayogall
St.Patricks Glen.
The schools took part in a series of Go Games matches throughout the day. The standard of hurling was very high with some exceptional individual talent on show. This is a credit to the work going on in the local clubs and within the schools themselves. We look forward to the outdoor blitzes in the spring to see how the lads are developing. Many thanks to the teachers who reluctantly took a day away from the classroom to help out at blitz and to the schools for their continued support in the development of hurling in Derry.
On Wednesday the 2nd of March the Primary 6/7 pupils of St Canices Feeny and St Marys Altinure participated in a hurling and camogie day at Claudys fabulous new 3G pitch. Aided by the glorious sunshine the pupils took part in various games. A special thanks to all the teaching staff from both schools. To the children who went home very tired but they really enjoyable this event. Thanks also to Richard Ferris and Emmett Stewart for organising the event.
Drumsurn GAC's Road To Croker programme started back on the 17.11.10. The programme concluded tonight under lights with Antrim running out winners after a tough final with the Dubs. All the players from all teams show great skill and determination throughout. A big well done to all players! There were no trophies or awards on the night,hopefully the big reward would be to be pulled out of the hat for Croker sponsored by Club Derry!
