Oak Leaf School of Excellence

On Wednesday 21st July 26 hardy souls attended the extremely wet Oak Leaf School of Excellence delivered by Chris Collins, Richard Ferris and Diarmuid Scullion. The lads worked on Kicking and Tackling and played small sided games to compliment these skills.

Thanks to all the coaches and players for taking part in such extreme conditions, the next Oak Leaf School of Excellence will be Wednesday 28th July @ Owenbeg 4pm - 5.30pm.

Key Stage 2 indoor blitz @ Meadowbank

St Mary's Grammar School, Magherafelt assisted by the Derry County Board recently held an indoor Key Stage two blitz for the primary schools in the area. 150 primary school pupils were coached in the morning by fourteen 6th form pupils who are currently working towards their foundation coaching certificate assisted by Diarmuid and Francis Scullion from Derry County Board. This was followed by a blitz in the afternoon where Anahorish PS defeated Portglenone by 3-07 to 3-02 in a highly entertaining final. Also well done to Stephen Bradley from St. Marys Greenlough who was awarded the player of the tournament award. Thanks to John McElholm and his pupils for a well run day.

Doire Colmcille Feeder School's Football Fun Day

Shauna McCallion, Derry GPO ran a football tournament on friday 4th December, over 100 kids from St Annes, St Eithnes and St Eugenes particpated in 5 a side handpassing games. The kids got to show off their skill infront of 4 Doire Colmcille members who came along on the day to help out. Each school played against the other but all was played with emphasis on fun and particpation.

This was the end of year tournament for the kids and all the skills that they have learned throughout the term could be seen in the games. The teachers all commented on how much all the children have improved and highlighted how benefical the coaching was to them throughout the year.

Derry Vocational School Football Winners

Well done to both St Patrick's & St Brigid's Claudy and St. Colm's Draperstown who won the under 16 and under 14 vocational school football championships this year respectively. I wasn't able to get to the Under 16 game because I was touring around Vietnam, however I hear Claudy deserved the victory on the day against the reigning All Ireland Champions St. Paul's Kilrea.

I did make it to the Under 14 final between St. Colm's and St. Mary's Claudy and I was very glad I did. Despite the extremely cold weather it was a very good tight final. St. Colm's I would say edged it throughout, although the game never looked certain mainly down to the fact that St. Mary's seemed to be able to score goals at will. In the end St. Colm's ran out winners by five points.

Good luck to both sides now in their quest for an Ulster Title. St. Paul's raised the bar last year, it would be nice to continue that progress in 2009.

Gaelic Fun Day @ Vale Centre

At the end of November Emmett Stewart, Derry City GPO organised a Gaelic Games Fun Day for some of his schools. Children from Claudy, Broadbridge, Craigbrack,Greenhaw and Mullaghbouy Primary Schools all ascended on the Vale center for a day of football. The children participated in small games against the competing schools which turned out to be a very enjoyable day for all who took part. A special word of thanks goes to all the schools who took part and their teachers and classroom assisants who helped supervise the event.

Photograph's of the teams that took part below:

Greenlough Under 10 Winter Programme

Just a few pictures from Diarmuid Scullion's Wednesday night coaching sessions with Greenlough. Thirty children from Under 10 level have took part in the sessions, which each night consist of skill work to start off with and finish with a 'Road to Croker' style blitz. The children have enjoyed the coaching thus far, and a word of thanks to club chairman Paul Downey, youth officer Fergal scullion and secretary Anthony Letters for helping out with the coaching. Keep up the good work!

Christy Cooney visit to Bellaghy Under 10's

Attached are a few photo's from when President of the GAA, Christy Cooney visited Bellaghy and witnessed an Under 10 training session. He was very impressed with the standard of coaching and football on show. Well done to Diarmuid Scullion, Martin Mc Faul and the rest of the Bellaghy Underage coaching team.

Magherafelt GAC Indoor Winter Coaching Programme

On Sunday Diarmuid Scullion attended the Rossa's underage training. Over 100 Children attended what was the first of they're indoor winter coaching programme in the Meadowbank Arena. Marty D, Colm, Ciaran and Diarmuid took the youngest 30 kids and put them through the Gaelic start programme and finished off with some games. For a number of these kids it was their first time to attend Gaelic football training and they really enjoyed the session. Also the interaction of the childrens parents throughout the session was very impressive and is surely an example for all clubs. Well done to Marty and his team of coaches involved with Rossa Ógs, keep up the good work!

St. Patrick's Pennyburn Gaelic Football Blitz

Shauna McCallion, Derry City GPO organised a Gaelic Football blitz for four of her classes in St. Patrick's Primary School, Pennyburn recently. The games were conditioned to small sided hand passing games to show off their skills. All the players had great fun!

Oak Leaf School of Excellence visited Foreglen G.A.C.

The weather was great for this Oak Leaf School Of Excellence on Saturday 31st October, 24 Under 14's took part helped out by 7 club coaches, the topic was conditioned games. All coaches and players took full part in the days activities
A word of thanks to a few people:
Richard Ferris for coordinating the day
Foreglen GAC for use of their ground (Micky Kelly for opening)
To all the club coaches would not have happened without you.
Finally to the young players for coming along looking forward to the next day:
Saturday 21st Nov at Banagher GAC

Roe Valley GAA Halloween Blitz

On Friday 30th October the young Gaelic footballers from Limavady district council area took part in an Under 12 and Under 14 indoor blitz at Roe Valley Leisure centre. Over 120 children took part in the indoor Gaelic football followed by a splash in the swimming pool courtesy of Limavady sports development department. Richard Ferris, GAA Games Promotion officer for the area said “it’s great to see so many young footballers in the area taking part, the speed of some of them games were unbelievable.” Richard also thanked the club coaches, many of whom took the day of work so that their club could be represented. Finally a word of thanks to Clare Devlin and Martin Burke who assisted with the refereeing and to Roe Valley Leisure centre for the use of their excellent facility.

Some of the coaches and Limavady GPO, Richard Ferris

Dungiven U14 Footballers

Faughanvale Under 14 Footballers


Foreglen Under 14 Footballers

Limavady Under 14 Footballers

Banagher Under 14 Footballers

Dungiven Under 12 Footballers

Limavady Under 12 Footballers

Faughanvale Under 12 Footballers

Foreglen Under 12 Footballers

Year 8 Derry City Football Blitz

On Friday afternoon the first of this year's Yr. 8 Derry City blitzs took place in Templemore, only 2 were able to attend. Still we had 5 teams there and played 10 matches of Super 9's across the pitch, 56 players took part. There was 12 GAA clubs represented by the various teams. The weather was a bonus and both schools brought sixth form students to assist. Help was also provided from Sean Dolans coaches which was greatly appreciated.

North Derry Indoor Primary School KS2 Football Blitz

On Tuesday at Roe Valley Recreation Centre, Limavady the Key Stage 2 indoor Gaelic Football Blitz took place coordinated by Richard Ferris, GPO for the area. This event has proved to be very popular over the last couple of years and this year was no different. 29 teams took part from schools in and around the Limavady area. 203 children enjoyed the days football immensely, with 127 games taking place across the three halls. Obviously a day such as this doesn't happen without the help of the teachers, 23 of whom helped with the smooth running.

Three sixth form students from St. Mary's Limavady refereed the games. Thank you to Michael McGonigle,Sean McGonigle and Ciaran McIntyre. Finally a big thank you to all the players who took part from 10am to 2pm, it was plain to see how much craic they were having and some of the skill levels on show was exceptional. Pictured below St. Mary's Altinure and Faughanvale Primary Schools.