St. John's G.A.A. Academy is lauded
June 29, 2015
The U-6's following the medal presentations made by Sligo Senior footballers Charlie Harrison & Eoin Flanagan together with the club coaches.
The St. John's G.A.A Academy just started this year has proven an outstanding success story, writes Michael Mc Gee.
With the enthusiastic Fergal Kelly coming on board as the Club's Juvenile Chairman the initiative is already bearing fruit. Following the last training session in Cleveragh on Saturday last club and County stars Charlie Harrison & Eoin Flanagan presented the U-6's with their medals.
At the end of the club's Go games training session I interviewed the Juvenile Club Chairman and I began by asking him briefly to describe what was involved with the setting up of the St. John's G.A.A. Club Academy this year.
"We got the parents to help out and got them trained up as Coaches. Got them Garda vetted. We publicized it in the local media, Schools and Church bulletins. And we ended up with 45 registered players for the U-6's", said the Juvenile Chairman.
The Go Games have been running for the past 11 weeks and finished today Saturday 27th June. How successful was it as regards numbers playing, parental participation and learning the skills in a fun environment?
"It was absolutely brilliant according to the Club's Juvenile Chairman. There was no doubt about it was fantastic for the kids to get involved. It was their first link with the G.A.A Sports. The registration fee included the kids being kitted out. We had a relationship with Jako Sports in relation to that. It was brilliant parental involvement. The parents came down, they stayed with their children during the sessions and it was a great family atmosphere."
Looking forward what is the plan as having it an annual event for the club's underage players and improving upon what has been achieved this year?
"The U-6's is so important to any club. It's the link into the Go Games and into the U7's to U-10's and onwards. It's the foundation for any club and very important to have that group of players to link into the Juveniles teams and into the future."
The Chairman expressed his gratitude to all the Coaches for giving their time to train the kids for the past 11 weeks and also the parents for their involvement and to the players themselves whom he described "as a fantastic credit to their parents and to the St. John's G.A.A Club.
Judging by the amount of appreciation & praise that Parents gave to Fergal Kelly after the last training session of the season it certainly did not go unnoticed the hard work put in by the Club's Juvenile Committee led by Kelly's natural leadership.
The Club's Academy took its first real tentative steps in Coaching and underage development and the momentum now gained from it will ensure the Club fortunes will go from strength to strength in the years to come. And who know's a number of them could very well follow in the footsteps of club & County heroes Charlie Harrison & Eoin Flanagan.
Photos Go games no 1: Francis & Roisin Hargadon, Andrew & Fiona Fahey,Reuben & Finn Fahey,
Go games no 2: Gary Kelly, James Kelly, Gary Keavney, Isobel O'Loughlin, Fergal O' Loughlin & Emer Keavney,
Go Games no. 3: Emily Davey, Andrea Davey, Maura McGowan, Anna Carthcart, Mary & Michael McGowan,
Go Games no.5: Paul O'Doherty, Sarah Feeney Casserley, Joanne Kilfeather, Una Donohue, in front Florah Kilfeather & Rachel Feeney.
Go Games no 9. Charlie Harrison Sligo G.A.A Star, Eoin Flanagan Sligo G.A.A. Star & Gerry Quinn the club's U-12 Manager
Go Games no 10. Group photo of the U-6's
Go Games no 11. Group photo of U-6's following the medal presentations made by Sligo Senior footballers Charlie Harrison & Eoin Flanagan together with the club coaches.
