The following players are to attend a challenge against Antrim Under 16 Football Development Squad on Saturday 2nd May at Bellaghy's Drumannee pitch. The game will begin at 12 noon, all players are asked to be there no later than 11.15am. All players are asked to bring their own Derry shorts and socks. If a player listed below can’t make it for whatever reason they should contact Chris Collins on 07843232208 or via email on ccollins@derry.gaa.ie
Ardmore: Eoghan Dooher; Ballinderry: Declan Bell, Darren lawn; Ballymaguigan: Christopher Henry; Banagher: Shane Farren; Claudy: Niall O’Kane; Craigbane: Ruairi Moore; Desertmartin: Adrian Trainor, Martin Breen; Drumsurn: Cathair Friel; Dungiven: Brian Óg McGilligan, Sean McNicholl; Glack: Kieran McIntyre; Glen: Michael Warnock, Emmett Bradley, Odhran Glass, Gavin Tallon; Kilrea: Jack Kielt, Dermot Morrow, Dermot McWilliams; Loup: Caolin McGinley, Thomas McVey, Anthony O’Neill; Magherafelt: Fergal Duffin, Paul O’Kane, Antone McElhone, Niall Higgins; Newbridge: Nathan Rocks, Peter McGrogan, Justin Bradley, Ciaron McLarnon, Paddy McGuigan; Slaughtmanus: Damian Barr; Slaughtneil: Pearse McGrath; Steelstown: Brian Scallon
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
North Derry Primary Schools Football League
Today we had the North Derry Primary School's Football League competition in Owenbeg. The conditions were damp but it didn't dishearten the young footballers displaying their talent. 17 schools took part over the three sections.
9 Aside Section
St. Canice's Dungiven Winners
St. Mary's Altinure Runners Up
7 Aside Section
St. Columba's Ballerin Winners
St. Canice's Fenny Runners Up
5 Aside Section
St. Matthew's Drumsurn Winners
St. Anthony's Magilligan Runners Up
Well done to the teams that got to the finals and a big thank you to every team that took part.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Derry City Year 8 Football Blitz
On Friday 24th April as part of the 125 celebrations there was a Year 8 Blitz held in Temlemore, Derry. Five schools took part entering 9 teams: Lumen Christi 3, St. Columb's 2, St. Patrick's & St. Brigid's 2, Oakgrove Int.College1 and St. Brigid's 1. A total of 97 players took part in this 9 aside blitz. Feedback from the teachers and children was great and they all hope to attend the remaining three blitz's planned for the City.
Holy Family Celebrate 125 Years
Friday 24th April was a day of celebrations throughout the school to mark the 125th anniversary of the existence of the GAA. Holy Family, Magherafelt really got into the swing of it with fun GAA coaching for every child in the school and some spot prizes sponsored by Gaelic Life along the way. All the children and staff also got the chance to dawn their club or county colours on Friday. The event was very well supported by O'Donovan Rossa club, they provided coaches who put the 500 children through their paces throughout the day. Seamus Mc Cloy, county chairman and Anthony Mc Swiggan county vice chairman arrived in the afternoon to present certificates to all those who worked with the children throughout the day.
Friday, 24 April 2009
St. Mary's Bellaghy 125 Celebrations
St. Mary's had a fun day at school today to celebrate GAA 125 . Seamus Mc Cloy and Gerard O'Kane (jnr) were the two special guests. The pupils and staff all wore club and county colours and the pupils all took part in a fundamental games session. The school team played a friendly match in the afternoon against New Roe PS, Castledawson.
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Schools Celebrating 125 Years
Tomorrow many of the primary schools in Ireland will celebrate 125 years of the GAA. There are many different plans in place by the schools, I hope everyone makes it a day to remember.I.N.T.O. MINI 7s
Today we had the INTO Primary School 7's in Hurling and Ladies Football in a sundrenched Ballinascreen. 8 teams took part in the Hurling and 16 teams in the Ladies Football.
Tirkane and St. Canice Dungiven contested an excellent huling final in which Tirkane just came out on top. It was St. Mary's Draperstown against St. Mary's Glenview who battles their way to the final however it was Draperstown who found that little bit extra and were victorious.
Well done to all the teams who took part, thanks to Kevin Toner, Ballinascreen GAC and all the referee's who made the day very enjoyable. Good luck to Tirkane and St. Mary's Draperstown in Fermanagh as the Derry Representatives.
Tirkane and St. Canice Dungiven contested an excellent huling final in which Tirkane just came out on top. It was St. Mary's Draperstown against St. Mary's Glenview who battles their way to the final however it was Draperstown who found that little bit extra and were victorious.
Well done to all the teams who took part, thanks to Kevin Toner, Ballinascreen GAC and all the referee's who made the day very enjoyable. Good luck to Tirkane and St. Mary's Draperstown in Fermanagh as the Derry Representatives.
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Monday, 20 April 2009
The Posts are built and ready for action!
Today we stuck into the posts and got them built in anticipation of the Primary school and Go Games blitz's. The first outdoor primary school blitz's begin this week and the Go Games blitzes are only a fortnight away!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Referee's Beware
Referee's need be be on the look out. I'm a very harsh assessor!! On a closer look however I don't think the pink marker does much for my street cred ;-)
Derry Under 14 7's Football
The Under 14 7's football held on Easter Tuesday proved to be a huge success. Over 450 players took part in the day of football at Owenbeg.The Following teams contested the A Section:
Ballinascreen A, Bellaghy A, Dungiven A, Limavady A, Swatragh A, Slaughtneil A, Magherafelt A, Glen A.
The Semi Finals paired Dungiven A against Glen A and Slaughtneil A vs Ballinascreen A. Glen and Slaughtneil came out on top and played a keenly contested final that Glen won 2-04 to 0-07.
Congratulations to Glen and well done to everyone that took part. Some of the football played in Section A throughout was first class.
The B section had 21 teams competing for honours:
Castledawson A, Claudy A, Banagher A, Drumsurn A, Ballinascreen B, Glen B, Bellaghy B, Dungiven B, Glenullin A, Steelstown A, Desertmartin A, Doire Colmcille A, Doire Trasna A, Foreglen A, Greenlough A, Sean Dolans A, Lavey A, Kilrea A, Craigbane A, Slaughtneil B, Magherafelt B.
After some good sporting group games the semi finals were:
After some good sporting group games the semi finals were:
Castledawson A 1-02 vs Banagher A 0-01
Lavey A 9-03 vs Doire Trasna A 0-03
Lavey A 9-03 vs Doire Trasna A 0-03
Castledawson and Lavey came head to head in the final however it was Lavey who just had too much for the dawson winning on a scoreline of 3-06 to 0-02.
Well done to Lavey and Castledawson for the remainder of the year and a word of thanks to all the teams who took part in the B section, it was very competitive.
The C Section included the following:
Claudy B, Bellaghy C, Drum A, Banagher B, Glack A, Limavady B, Ardmore A, Magherafelt C, Kilrea B, Glen C, Ballinascreen C, Swatragh B, Lissan A.
The semi finals had the following games:
Limavady B 2-00 vs Bellaghy C 4-05
Swatragh B 0-00 vs Lissan A 4-07
So it was a strong Lissan team against a youthful Bellaghy team in the final. Lissan proved just too strong for the Wolftones winning on a scoreline of 3-03 to 2-01. Fair play to Bellaghy C team for making it through to the final, it shows their strength and depth. Congratulations to Lissan on a cup i'm sure they will enjoy.
A special word of thanks to Diarmuid O'Kane for having the grounds in great shape, Ashlene McCaul, Shauna McCallion, Emmett Stewart and Kevin Hinphey for doing a lot of the behind the scenes work to ensure the smooth running of the competition and finally to the six referee's who handle things very well.
Team photo's will be included on the Derry Website and in the local press.
Monday, 6 April 2009
Coaching Tips By Philip Kerr - Tip 5
He's fit...but not 'match fit'.
How many times have you heard someone say of a player.....He's fit, but he's not match fit.?
What does it mean? How can we be sure that a player is match fit? What can we do to get players match fit?
Match fitness can only come through playing games. Unfortunately, some have taken this to mean that a player needs to wait for a competitive game against another team before he can work on his match fitness. This is not true.
As I have said already, the only way to get match fit is to play games. If the right game is played in training then the coach can not only bring a player up to speed in terms of match fitness but can also set the limits for all players.
You see, match fitness is about how quickly a player can make a decision, how well he can react to a situation, how aware he is of the play around him. It has to be founded on physical fitness [particularly sharpness] but it is a 'brain' thing more than anything else.
When you hear people say that a player can't cope with the speed of the game, it doesn't mean that he cannot run as fast as the other players. It means his thinking, his reactions and his awareness are not as sharp as they should be.
So....what can coaches do?
The best games are based on the clock. Try playing a game, with normal rules except for the condition which allows each player a maximum of 3 seconds on the ball. Just count 1,2,3 when a player is in possession. This is better than calling for one toe-tap and/or one bounce. The best way to play this is to use one coach to referee and another to run the 3 second rule and blow only when this is broken.
If players really respond, cut it to 2 seconds. You will really only be able to do this after a number of weeks working on the former.
Another way to use the clock, is to decide on a certain number of seconds during which a team may score. Imagine the keeper kicks the ball out and a player gathers the ball at midfield. The coach/referee calls out a countdown......10, 9, 8 ,7 etc. The team must shoot for a score before 0 is reached. If the opposition wins the ball, the coach decides on the number from which to start the countdown [e.g. the opposition wins the ball only 45m from the goal. The coach needs to speed up their play, so he begins the countdown from 5.]
There are many modifications to such games...all based on working towards match fitness at speeds where opponents cannot hope to compete.
How many times have you heard someone say of a player.....He's fit, but he's not match fit.?
What does it mean? How can we be sure that a player is match fit? What can we do to get players match fit?
Match fitness can only come through playing games. Unfortunately, some have taken this to mean that a player needs to wait for a competitive game against another team before he can work on his match fitness. This is not true.
As I have said already, the only way to get match fit is to play games. If the right game is played in training then the coach can not only bring a player up to speed in terms of match fitness but can also set the limits for all players.
You see, match fitness is about how quickly a player can make a decision, how well he can react to a situation, how aware he is of the play around him. It has to be founded on physical fitness [particularly sharpness] but it is a 'brain' thing more than anything else.
When you hear people say that a player can't cope with the speed of the game, it doesn't mean that he cannot run as fast as the other players. It means his thinking, his reactions and his awareness are not as sharp as they should be.
So....what can coaches do?
The best games are based on the clock. Try playing a game, with normal rules except for the condition which allows each player a maximum of 3 seconds on the ball. Just count 1,2,3 when a player is in possession. This is better than calling for one toe-tap and/or one bounce. The best way to play this is to use one coach to referee and another to run the 3 second rule and blow only when this is broken.
If players really respond, cut it to 2 seconds. You will really only be able to do this after a number of weeks working on the former.
Another way to use the clock, is to decide on a certain number of seconds during which a team may score. Imagine the keeper kicks the ball out and a player gathers the ball at midfield. The coach/referee calls out a countdown......10, 9, 8 ,7 etc. The team must shoot for a score before 0 is reached. If the opposition wins the ball, the coach decides on the number from which to start the countdown [e.g. the opposition wins the ball only 45m from the goal. The coach needs to speed up their play, so he begins the countdown from 5.]
There are many modifications to such games...all based on working towards match fitness at speeds where opponents cannot hope to compete.
Good Practice Award Week 2
The award this week goes to Bellaghy and in particular Diarmuid Scullion for their terrific "Road to Croker" Under 12 indoor football competition which was run over a six week period in Bellaghy Hall.The Under 12 group was split into 6 different teams and played each other over the space of the 6 weeks on their quest to get to Croker! The hall was the centre of attention in Bellaghy on Sunday evenings and the players really enjoyed the games over the winter.
Fair play to everyone involved!
Friday, 3 April 2009
Coaching Tips By Philip Kerr - Tip 4
Increasing the Traffic
Many drills and practice exercises on the pitch are excellent, but often they do not mirror reality.
For example: A coach may run two or three drills in different areas of the pitch, all involving passing or catching or solo running or lifting etc. and all happening at the same time.
Small groups of players take part in each and there is always plenty of space in which to work. This is fine up to a point.
If coaches took two or even three drills, let players get used to them first and then moved the cones to superimpose the exercises one on top of the other in the same area of the field, this would allow players to practise skills and techniques while others moved among them and around the same area.
Players who can learn to cope with 'increased traffic' in a smaller area will be able to carry this through to a game, where there are team-mates and opponents getting in the way of passes etc.
Go on...try it!
Many drills and practice exercises on the pitch are excellent, but often they do not mirror reality.
For example: A coach may run two or three drills in different areas of the pitch, all involving passing or catching or solo running or lifting etc. and all happening at the same time.
Small groups of players take part in each and there is always plenty of space in which to work. This is fine up to a point.
If coaches took two or even three drills, let players get used to them first and then moved the cones to superimpose the exercises one on top of the other in the same area of the field, this would allow players to practise skills and techniques while others moved among them and around the same area.
Players who can learn to cope with 'increased traffic' in a smaller area will be able to carry this through to a game, where there are team-mates and opponents getting in the way of passes etc.
Go on...try it!
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Seven aside Football for Easter
This year Derry will hold the Under 14 7 aside competition on Tuesday 14th April at Owenbeg. Hopefully it will be a great family day out. Clubs must register with me via email ccollins@derry.gaa.ie or by phone 07843232208. There are three sections; A, B or C. Clubs can enter as many panels of 10 as they wish.
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
April Coach Education
Coach Education Courses for April
New Foundation GAA Course @ Slaughtneil – Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April
Slaughtneil club have organised this Foundation course for their own football, hurling and camogie members. If you have coaches within your club who would like to be a guest on this course send an email to ccollins@derry.gaa.ie The price of the course is £25 per person. If your club has over 10 coaches who would like to achieve this NGB it may be beneficial to organise a Foundation Course within your club.
Lucozade Sport Seminar – “Lifestyle: Getting the balance right” – Wednesday 8th April @ Owenbeg 7.30pm
Michael Toland will deliver this Lucozade Sport Coaching Seminar. This seminar will highlight a number of major lifestyle issues that will influence athletic performance. If the athlete is to ensure that their natural ability is maximised, every aspect of their lifestyle must be balanced.
The guidelines provided throughout this seminar will help in this regard. The three main area’s that will be discussed will be Exercise and Health, Rest and Recovery and Sleep.
This Course is open to everyone free of charge. Whether you’re working with Underage or seniors players there will be plenty of relevant information for you to take from this seminar
Hurling / Camogie Nursery Programme – Thursday 16th April @ Swatragh GAC 7.30pm
Kevin Kelly will deliver this indoor coach participation session and will look at drills, skills and games for players aged 4-8 years. Any queries regarding this course, please contact Kevin Kelly directly on 07920528794. Everyone is welcome to this free course.
New Foundation GAA Course @ Desertmartin – Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April
This will be the final Foundation course of the year. It will cover football, hurling and camogie. If you have coaches within your club who would like to take part on this course send an email to ccollins@derry.gaa.ie or call 07843232208. The price of the course is £25 per person and places are limited. The course will run on Friday night from 7.30pm to 10.00pm and on Saturday from 9am to 4.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
Pure Sport: Practical Sport Psychology Seminar – Thursday 23rd April @ Owenbeg 7.30pm
John Kremer a leading sport psychologist will deliver this coaching seminar. Pure Sport: Practical Sport Psychology explains in everyday language the whys and wherefores of contemporary sport psychology - pinpointing what works and what doesn’t when it comes to performance enhancement. By the end of the seminar coaches should have a number of exercises they will able to take back to the club and deliver with their players to enhance performance. John has co-authored a book with Aidan Moran called Pure Sport. Participants will be able to purchase a copy for the cost price of £10 if they wish to do so.
New Foundation GAA Course @ Slaughtneil – Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th April
Slaughtneil club have organised this Foundation course for their own football, hurling and camogie members. If you have coaches within your club who would like to be a guest on this course send an email to ccollins@derry.gaa.ie The price of the course is £25 per person. If your club has over 10 coaches who would like to achieve this NGB it may be beneficial to organise a Foundation Course within your club.
Lucozade Sport Seminar – “Lifestyle: Getting the balance right” – Wednesday 8th April @ Owenbeg 7.30pm
Michael Toland will deliver this Lucozade Sport Coaching Seminar. This seminar will highlight a number of major lifestyle issues that will influence athletic performance. If the athlete is to ensure that their natural ability is maximised, every aspect of their lifestyle must be balanced.
The guidelines provided throughout this seminar will help in this regard. The three main area’s that will be discussed will be Exercise and Health, Rest and Recovery and Sleep.
This Course is open to everyone free of charge. Whether you’re working with Underage or seniors players there will be plenty of relevant information for you to take from this seminar
Hurling / Camogie Nursery Programme – Thursday 16th April @ Swatragh GAC 7.30pm
Kevin Kelly will deliver this indoor coach participation session and will look at drills, skills and games for players aged 4-8 years. Any queries regarding this course, please contact Kevin Kelly directly on 07920528794. Everyone is welcome to this free course.
New Foundation GAA Course @ Desertmartin – Friday 17th and Saturday 18th April
This will be the final Foundation course of the year. It will cover football, hurling and camogie. If you have coaches within your club who would like to take part on this course send an email to ccollins@derry.gaa.ie or call 07843232208. The price of the course is £25 per person and places are limited. The course will run on Friday night from 7.30pm to 10.00pm and on Saturday from 9am to 4.30pm. Everyone is welcome.
Pure Sport: Practical Sport Psychology Seminar – Thursday 23rd April @ Owenbeg 7.30pm
John Kremer a leading sport psychologist will deliver this coaching seminar. Pure Sport: Practical Sport Psychology explains in everyday language the whys and wherefores of contemporary sport psychology - pinpointing what works and what doesn’t when it comes to performance enhancement. By the end of the seminar coaches should have a number of exercises they will able to take back to the club and deliver with their players to enhance performance. John has co-authored a book with Aidan Moran called Pure Sport. Participants will be able to purchase a copy for the cost price of £10 if they wish to do so.
Coaching Tips By Philip Kerr - Tip 3
Gaelic Football's Lost Tribe [The Half-Forwards]
Flavour of the month is to by-pass this group when attacking and employ them more and more as defenders who track back to block opposition attacks and close in to look for breaks from midfield.
A centre-half forward must be a creative player...one who orchestrates, who has great passing ability [preferably with both feet] and who has a tactical brain.
Wing half-forwards must be blessed with both stamina and pace, for they are link players who have to fetch, carry and support more often than any other group.
So, how about looking at your own team! Have you a playmaker pulling the strings at CHF? Do your wing forwards have the necessary characteristics to take them through a game? Or have you created three extra defenders who help the defence and watch long balls fly over their heads at such a rate that a Derby horse would do well to get up in support?
Oh...and one more thing they should be able to do.......SCORE now and again!
Flavour of the month is to by-pass this group when attacking and employ them more and more as defenders who track back to block opposition attacks and close in to look for breaks from midfield.
A centre-half forward must be a creative player...one who orchestrates, who has great passing ability [preferably with both feet] and who has a tactical brain.
Wing half-forwards must be blessed with both stamina and pace, for they are link players who have to fetch, carry and support more often than any other group.
So, how about looking at your own team! Have you a playmaker pulling the strings at CHF? Do your wing forwards have the necessary characteristics to take them through a game? Or have you created three extra defenders who help the defence and watch long balls fly over their heads at such a rate that a Derby horse would do well to get up in support?
Oh...and one more thing they should be able to do.......SCORE now and again!
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