Oak Leaf School of Excellence

This week we have advertsied our first Oak Leaf School of Excellence to be held in Owenbeg on Saturday 6th June at 2pm. The hope is that players who would like to gain that little extra bit of coaching can do so. Each session will have a key focus. I am delighted that Tony Scullion will lead the first ever Oak Leaf School of Excellence and it's pretty obvious his session will concentrate on Tackling (wouldn't be much point bringing Tony into do shooting! Can't mind ever seeing him score, I'm sure Tony will correct me).

The Oak Leaf School of Excellence is only for Under 14's, if a player is still Under 12 he is too young. The sessions are free of charge, however people have to register with me via email at chris.collins.gm.derry@gaa.ie

The maximum we will take will be close to 100. I expect places to go on this pretty sharp so please make sure and register early to avoid disappointment.

Depending on the success of the first session we would hope to have at least four more School's of Excellence before the end of the summer and vary the locations.

I.N.T.O. Primary School 7's

The camogie and boys football I.N.T.O. seven's took part in Glen on Thursday 21st May. The competition as always was very well attended.

Matt Trolan presents the INTO sevens trophy to winning captain Shannon McGilion from St Marys Primary Draperstown.

Matt Trolan presents the INTO sevens trophy to winning captain Jack Doherty from St Marys Glenview

Year 9 Vocational Schools Football Coaching Day

The Year 9's enjoyed a coaching day today in Owenbeg. Seven vocational schools attended with close to 150 pupils taking part. The day had coaching in the morning and games in the afternoon. Tony Scullion, Derry Legend was coaching defensive play, Richard Ferris, Derry minor manager concentrated on tackling, Paul Rouse former Tyrone player coached attacking play, Gary Mallon, Armagh senior coach focused on Kicking skills and Diarmuid Scullion, Bellaghy coach was running the lads through conditioned games. Paul Callaghan, Former Donegal Goalkeeping coach took the 8 GK's for a two hour session.

By 12 noon the players had built up quite an appetite, after digging into the sandwiches the schools rounded an excellent day off with games against each other.

The schools that took part were St. Mary's Limavady, St. Patrick's Dungiven, St. Joseph's Derry, St. Patrick's and St. Brigid's Claudy, St. Colm's Draperstown, St. Mary's Clady and Dominican College Portstewart.

Thanks to all the teachers and pupils who took part and a particular word of thanks to the coaches who kindly agreed to spend the day coaching the lads.

Derry Under 17's

The following players are to arrive at Ogra Colmcille on Saturday 30th May time 11.00am.
Derry U17s V Armagh U17s. 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 Brian Smith 07918703912 or Declan Toner 07746434520

Anthnoy Mc Gurk
Aron Devlin
Cahir Mullan
Charles Gilmore
Ciaran Devlin
Ciaran Ferris
Conor Kearns
Daniel Mc Kindless
Gavin Kelly
Karl Mc Keague
Kevin Scullion
Martin Burke
Martin Devlin
Martin Mc Closkey
Nial Mc Keever
Orrie Mc Peake
Philip Mc Cusker
Tony Martin
Ciarán Young
Joe Bradley
Owen Doherty
Cathal Deery
Tieran Rafferty
Phillip Love
Roddy O Kane
Emmett Mc Daid
Sean Og Mc Groggan
Kevin Farren
Canice Rocks
Fintan Bell
Ryan Ferris
Benny Quigg

Buncrana Here We Come!

On Saturday 16th May, the Club Derry Under 16 Football Development squad travelled to Cloghan in Monaghan for their first Ulster blitz of the year. They were paired in an extremely tough group with Down, Cavan, Fermanagh and Tyrone.
The squad was missing a few first team players due to exams however throughout the day they showed their strength in depth and came out winners of their group. They will now go to Buncrana on the 22nd August to face Monaghan in the semi finals and hopefully progress.

Derry's Results:

Derry 1-05 vs Down 0-02
Derry Scorers: Niall Higgins 1-00, Adrian Trainor 0-02, Cathair Friel 0-02, Emmett Bradley 0-01

Derry 2-07 vs Cavan 1-03
Derry Scorers: Adrian Trainor 2-01, Emmett Bradley 0-03, Cathair Friel 0-01, Nathan Rocks 0-01, Michael Warnock 0-01

Derry 2-07 vs Fermanagh 0-04
Derry Scorers: Niall Higgins 2-01, Ruairi Moore 0-02, Emmett Bradley 0-02, Dermot McWilliams 0-01, Michael Warock 0-01

Derry 1-02 vs Tyrone 1-04
Derry Scorers: Emmett Bradley 1-01, Cathair Friel 0-01

Well done to everyone involved and a particular thank you to all the players who were under pressure with exams

Speaking the Lingo

Shauna McCallion organised a recent hurling tournament for Na Magha's Feeder Schools in The Shantallow Community Centre.

The schools taking part were Bunscoil Colmcille and Gaeliscoil Eadain Mhor. Over 40 pupils, girls and boys took part. The hall was split into four so that children were playing the whole time they were there.

Children and officials were encouraged to speak only in Irish the whole time to each other and those hepling. Both children and teachers thought the day was a great success and are looking forward to the next one.

Derry City Primary School Blitz's Continue

Sean Dolans Feeder schools blitz day:

St Johns, Rosemount, Holychild and Gaescoil took part in a Gaelic games fun blitz on Wednesday 13th May 2009 with approx 120 children participating.

Steelstown Feeder schools blitz day:

Steelstown, Hollybush, St Brigids and St Pauls took part in the same event on Friday 15th May 2009 with approx 80 children participating.

The games consisted of teams of five with one solo, one bounce and handpass only. The games were four mins long meaning eveybody there was involved in lots of matches. Ashleen Kealey organised the events.

Lynco Go Games

The Lynco Under 12 Go Games football blitz held at Owenbeg on Saturday 2nd May was a huge success. Approx 700 children took part in a great day of football. The Under 8's are out on Friday night at Owenbeg. There are 600 players due to attend Owenbeg to take part in a total of 126 games.

I have attached a few photographs from the Under 12 blitz a few weeks back:

Beach Gaelic @ Magilligan ??

We all play a bit of 5 aside football from time to time just for the craic of it. It's a good enough way to get a bit of exercise and it loosen's the legs inbetween training. The GAA are pushing for more recreational games in the same mould as 5 aside soccer, fella's coming together for a game. No league, no winners or losers (even though we always keep the score, Brian Muldoon's the score keeper for the Drummullan games, he's doesn't do much else in fairness :-)

Well what about applying the same principle to a bit of Beach Gaelic. Here's the idea. Set up a series of pitch's with the plastic posts at Magilligan beach on one Saturday of every month during the summer.

Players can register a 5 aside team with me. The players can be still playing club football or could have retired, it's not really club based any group of players can make a team, they could be past housemates in student digs in Belfast or a team of brothers etc.

If I knew teams that were coming I could do up groups and ensure teams get three or four 20 minute games. Every player could pay a couple of pound, someone could do a barbecue and the entrance fee would get everyone a hotdog or burger!

Just an idea, what do you think?

Check out the video:
http://www.beachgaelic.com/new/home.asp?menuid=1

Club Derry Under 15 Football Development Squad

The Under 15 footballers enjoyed their first run out in a Derry jersey on Saturday 16th May at Cloghan, Monaghan. At Under 15 level each County takes two panels with them. Derry travelled with 39 players from across 20 clubs. Both teams were grouped with Tyrone, Antrim, Armagh and Monaghan.

In the first game against Tyrone both teams beat their Tyrone counterparts by a couple of points in what were closely contested games. Antrim and Armagh didn't prove as stiff of opposition for the Oakleaf lads both teams coming out on top. Against Monaghan in the final game, the farney lads started well and were ably asisted by some home town referee however both strong Derry teams weared down their opposition to finish the day on a high.

Well done to all the players and coaches involved in what was a very enjoyable and well run day.

Lynco Go Games Update and Under 16 7 aside Football

Please find the revised Go Games Fixtures and 7 aside competitions for May 2009.

Under 8 Football – Friday 15th May Owenbeg 7pm start
The Under 8’s footballers will get underway on Friday 15th May in Owenbeg. Under 8 football is 7 aside and all P.4 children are eligible to play. Can clubs please register how many teams they would like to enter with me via email or phone. The closing date is Monday 11th May.

Saturday 16th May – Lynco Under 12 Go Games Club Football Blitz’s (Clubs need to rearrange date)
Can the host club of each of the following blitz please contact the clubs due to visit them to rearrange the blitz as many of the Under 12’s will be taking part in the Ulster Feile. If the clubs aren’t dual clubs I would suggest rearranging them for Sunday 17th May:

Ballerin
Drum
Magilligan
Ardmore

Castledawson
Ballymaguigan
Ogramore
Greenlough

Loup
Drumsurn
Desertmartin

Foreglen
Glack
Lissan

Craigbane
Claudy
Banagher
Steelstown

Slaughtmanus
Sean Dolans
Doire Colmcille
Doire Trasna

Ballinascreen
Ballinderry
Bellaghy

Coleraine
Faughanvale
Limavady

Glenullin
Kilrea
Swatragh

Glen
Dungiven
Lavey

Slaughtneil
Newbridge
Magherafelt

Sunday 17th May – Lynco Under 12 and under 10 Go Games Club Hurling Blitz’s
Can the host club of each of the following blitz please contact the clubs due to visit them to arrange their Go Games blitz for Under 10’s and 12’s?

Banagher
Kevin Lynch's
Slaughtneil

Lavey
Swatragh
Ballinascreen

Coleraine
Na Magha
Guest Club

Saturday 23rd May – Lynco Under 10 Go Games Football Owenbeg 10.30am
Instead of playing Round 2 on the 23rd May we will put the club based fixtures proposed to Round 6 (19/07/09) and play the postponed Owenbeg blitz on Saturday 23rd May at Owenbeg instead. If you couldn’t attend the first time around and you can now make sure and let me know how many teams you will have.

Saturday 23rd May – Club Derry Under 16’s 7 aside Football Competition 4pm start
For the past two years Derry have held a 7’s competition for Under 14, Under 15 (Óg Sport – 20th June this year) and Under 16 football.
We have already had our Under 14 Football this year on Easter Tuesday (14th April). Glen won the A section, Lavey won the B section and Lissan won the C section.
For the Under 16’s this year we will have three sections A, B and C you can enter as many panels of 10 players as you wish. Please register you teams with me before Monday 18th April and let me know what section they are entering. Hopefully the slightly later start will help lads who have part time jobs etc.

Saturday 30th May – Lynco Under 12 Go Games Football Round 3:
Can the host club of each of the following blitz please contact the clubs to make sure everyone is taking part and do fixtures for the day to run smoothly. Please check where you are from the main fixture list

Club Derry Under 16 Hurling Development Squad

The Club Derry development squads have certainly caught the imaginations of the County's best young players, the three football and two hurling squads are going very well.

The Under 16 Hurlers travelled to Ballinascreen on the 25th May for their first Ulster hurling blitz where they recorded victories against Antrim, Down, Donegal, Armagh and Tyrone. Well done to all the players and coaches, keep up the good work!

Derry City Primary 7 Gaelic Football Blitz

This was the third P7 blitz of the year held on Fri. 8th May at Templemore for Doire Trasna and Ardmore's feeder primary schools. By some miracle we got a break in the weather and were able to go ahead, but it was too late for three schools who had cancelled due to the rain. The three schools who did go brought four teams with a total of 44 players and played a round robin group with all teams getting 3 games. The feedback from teachers and children was excellent. Thanks to Paul Simpson for organising and coordinating the event.

Football Development Squads in Action

Today each one of the Club Derry Football Development Squads are in action. The Under 16's and 17's will play eachother at Drumsurn at 11.00am.
I'm heading to Monaghan with the Under 15's who take part in their first Ulster Council blitz, the panel is:
Ardmore: Dan England; Claudy: Ciaran McCloskey; Ballinascreen: Paul Burns; Ballinderry: Gareth McKinless, Ryan Bell; Ballymaguigan: Jerome Downey; Banagher: Tiernan McCloskey; Bellaghy: Declan Brown, Dominic McFaul, Karl O’Neill, Kieran McPeake, Peter Cassidy; Craigbane: Ryan Moore; Doire Colmcille: Emmett McBride; Drum: Conor O’Reilly; Drumsurn: Daryl Mullan; Dungiven: Conor Murphy; Foreglen: Shane Feeney; Glen: Ciaran McFaul, Conor Carville, Conor Gallagher, Ryan McDonald, Ryan Duggan; Glenullin: Neil McNicholl, Enda Mullan; Kilrea: Niall Gorman, Odhran Rafferty; Limavady: Dessie Loughrey; Magherafelt: Ciaran Moore, Fintan Kerr, Matthew Higgins, Osisin Moran, Shane Heavron; Slaughtmanus: Jack McConomy, Jarlaith Canning, Kevin King; Slaughtneil: Gerard Bradley, Padraig Cassidy; Swatragh: Conor McAtamney, James Kearney, Martin McKeague

The lads first game is at 11.30 against Tyrone, they will also play Monaghan, Armagh and Antrim. We are very excited about this panel of players so it will be interesting to see how they fair out against the other counties.

Lynco Under 10 Foootball Postponed

On Friday night Owenbeg was to be awash with young footballers displaying their skills, instead the only visitor was the wind and the rain! Looking at the weather last night it was the right call, I will try and get another date for it and let the clubs know asap.

My Email Address

The GAA in their wisdom have decided to change all the email addresses during the busiest time of the year and what a mess it is.

My new email address is chris.collins.gm.derry@gaa.ie

I am having trouble with it at the minute but hopefully it will be sorted soon

Go Games Underway

The Go Games are underway! Huge turnout on Saturday and Sunday!

Bugger Off Rain

Football Championship weekend, Development squads are out and the Go Games are starting, what do we get only rain, rain, rain!!

Over 700 children will be in Owenbeg for Under 12 football on Saturday and 52 teams will take part on Sunday for Go Games hurling, Owenbeg will be awash with bodies, hopefully it won't be a washout!