North West Indoor Hurling 2011

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.

Indoor Primary School Hurling Blitz @ Meadowbank

On Thursday 3^rd 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.

Under-12 North West Indoor Hurling Competition

For the past 3 weeks, 17 clubs, from 3 counties have been taking part in the North West under-12 hurling competition. The game is played indoors, with full hurling rules. Teams play 5-a-side with teams scoring by striking the ball against the basketball backboard. The first 2 weeks of the competition were seeding rounds held in the Letterkenny Community Centre, The Old Library Trust Hall (Derry City) and Dungiven Sports Pavilion. The final round was held on Sunday past, 31^{st Jan.} The A section finals were held in Dungiven and the B finals in Letterkenny.

Overall the standard of hurling was very good and players were clearly developing as the competition went on. Congratulations to all the clubs, players and coaches for their efforts over the past few weeks. A special word of thanks must go to Donal McLaughlin (chairman of Donegal hurling Board), Emmet Stewart (Derry City GPO) and Shauna McCallion (Derry City GPO) for supervising at the various venues during the course of the competition.

The A final was contested between Kevin Lynchs and Ballinascreen with Kevin Lynchs coming out as worthy winners in the end. In the B finals Kevin Lynchs came out on top again, defeating Na Magha in the final.

Indoor Primary School Hurling Blitz

On Tuesday 30th March Diarmuid Scullion organised a Primary 7 hurling blitz in the Backrow hall in Draperstown. Competing schools were St Eoghans, St Marys, St Columbas and Altayeskey. All pupils had a really enjoyable morning which was organised in partnership with Ballinascreen GAC

Key Stage 1 (P.4) Primary School Hurling Blitz

On Wed 25th of November we held our all County KS1 indoor hurling blitz in the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt. Six schools attended and enjoyed a full days hurling under the supervision of the Ulster Council coaches and their teachers. The standard was excellent and a fun day was had by all.
Thanks to all who helped make the day a success.

Key Stage 2 Primary School Indoor Hurling Blitz

On Wednesday 11th November Kevin Hinphey organised an indoor hurling blitz for primary school children at Meadowbank Sports Arena, Magherafelt. 8 Schools took part with 12 teams playing eachother. Below are some of the pictures from the teams that took part:

Thanks to all the teachers who helped out with the day!

A Busy Weekend

On Friday 6th March Tony Scullion delivered an excellent coaching workshop with the Derry Under 17 squad. It was disappointing only 20 coaches turned out. Thanks very much Tony for what was a very enjoyable evening.

On Saturday morning we had the Club Derry Development squad trials for the Under 15's and Under 16's close to 200 young hopeful's took part in a series of games in Owenbeg. We will trial again this weekend, anyone who couldn't make it to the trials on Saturday have been given the benefit of the doubt. Names will appear on the Derry website bu Wednesday.

While the development squad trials were taking place we also had 2 Under 12 Indoor Hurling blitz's beginning in Limavady and Swatragh. The following teams took part Kevin Lynch's (3), Swatragh (2), Ballinascreen (4), Coleraine (2), Na Magha (2) and Slaughtneil (2).

Under 10 Indoor Hurling

On Saturday 28th February we continued with our indoor Hurling Blitz's. We had two blitz centre's one in Roe Valley Recreation Centre and the other in Swatragh G.A.C.
15 teams took part in total at the two venues, fair play to Magilligan for fielding a team, they attended the last under 8 blitz too. This weekend the Under 12's are in action. I'm sure they're itching to get at it.

Indoor Hurling in Full Swing

We're well underway with our indoor hurling programme within Derry this winter. The Under 8's enjoyed a valentines blitz, the coaches were itching to get back to their other halfs. I spotted a big bunch of Red Roses in Hinphey's car for the women; Kevin's really romantic!

The clubs were split between Swatragh GAC and Roe Valley Leisure centre, the young lads all enjoyed a great days hurling.

On Saturday the Under 10's are out, we're using the same venues from 12pm and should be finished up before 3pm.

For the Under 12's we have two blitz days planned. One on the 7th March and the other 21st March. Many of our hurling clubs are also taking part in the North Antrim Indoor League which takes place just after Christmas, the extra indoor games should be a good aid to the players development.

Kevin Kelly from Ballinascreen has recently been appointed as the Ulster Council hurling officer and he's waisted no time in organising some indoor hurling blitz's that clubs can also enter. Some are a little out of the way for Derry clubs but at least they will throw up a few new faces to play against which I think is very important particulary when we only have 8 clubs.

As part of the 125 celebrations Kevin is hosting a large Provincial blitz for Under 10 hurlers in Meadowbank, all our clubs should be taking part on the 19th April. I am actually looking forward to going and seeing someone else under pressure at a blitz, 50 teams played off in an hour and a half :) - I'm not doubting him at all, no beter man!!