Offaly GAA Coaching Corner
Condron Concrete Offaly GAA Coaching and Games Development news
National School & Development Squad Player Profiles
Two National School Pupils: and two boys from our Development Squads:
St Brendan’s PS – Player Profile 2026
Sixth Class Pupil Name: Andrew Plunkett
School: St Brendan’s Primary School, Birr
Club: Birr GAA
What do you play? I play hurling and Gaelic football for both my school and club. I’m also delighted to be training with Faithful Óg.
What’s your favourite part of GAA? My favourite part of GAA is winning matches and knowing I played well alongside my teammates.
Who is your favourite player? My favourite players are Adam Screeney and Offaly & Birr star Eoghan Cahill.
What is your favourite meal? My favourite meal is burgers and chips with a strawberry milkshake.
What are your GAA ambitions? My ambition is to play well in all my matches this year and continue improving as a player.
Tell us a few words about your club: I enjoy going to St Brendan’s Park to watch matches with my friends, especially when they take shots on me if I go in goals.
Emilie de Forge – 6th Class
School: Crinkill N.S.Club: Birr Camogie Club
What do you play? Camogie, rugby, tennis, and Gaelic.
What is your favourite part of GAA? Camogie.
Who is your favourite player? Kate Pilkington. She is a great player, she never gives up and is very funny.
What is your favourite meal? My mam's roast chicken.
What are your GAA ambitions? To represent Offaly, win an All-Ireland, and get an All-Star.
Give us a few words about your club and what you like and may dislike: I love the craic and fun with the girls I play with. We all love camogie and like to win. Our supporters are great and our club looks after us really well.
I wish we were treated the same as the boys, though, and were able to play on the big pitches sometimes.
Pupil Name: James Slevin
School: Banagher College
Club: St Rynagh's
What do you play: Gaelic football and hurling
What’s your favourite part of GAA: Going to watch the All Ireland's every year and playing in big stadiums
Who is your favourite player: Joe O’Connor
What is your favourite meal: steak and chips
What are your GAA ambitions: to win a Leinster championship u20 with Offaly
Pupil Name: Patrick Murray
School: Coláiste Íosagáin, Portarlington
Club: Gracefield GAA
What do you Play: Gaelic football and hurling
What’s your favourite part of the GAA: Winning matches
Who is your favourite player: David Clifford
What is your favourite meal: Roast ham
What are your GAA ambitions: Win a Leinster and all-Ireland
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly Development Squads: I am a part of the Offaly U15 football development squad and I have been with them since the start of last year, it has been a privilege playing for Offaly and it has brought me on so much and I have enjoy it so much playing with Offaly and winning games and I can’t wait for more wins to come.
Section 2
Academies
A reminder to all players, the academies are always revieing, wok hard for you club and hopefully you will get your chance!!
All Academy squads trained on Saturday last, with no Academy games taking place over the weekend.
Get to Know Our Team Managements
U14 Football
Dean Bracken, Nigel Dunne, Barry Corcoran & Declan Garvey
U14 Hurling
Brendan Murphy, James Condron, Cathal Murphy & Brian Watkins
U15 Hurling
Eunan Martin, Seán Hackett, Eamonn Hoctor & Pat Temple
U15 Football
Gordon Kerrigan, Neville Dunne & Jack Kilmurray
U16 Hurling
Séan O’Rourke, Glenn Halligan, Alwyn Owen, Paul Ryan & David Needham
U16 Football
Paddy Moore, Jimmy Stewart, John Monaghan, Keith Begley & Callum Stewart
A few words from one of our Development Squad coaches, who has been involved in the system for a few years:
Name: Eunan Martin
I help with development squads once a week, U15 Hurling. We work on game specific training, doing things at speed, and working on player weaknesses. We try to create an environment where players are happy and are proud to play for Offaly.
Section 3
Games Programme
Our underage games programme is well underway.
- Our U8, U10, and U11 boys are enjoying the Glenisk Go Games activities each week. Well done to the Young Whistlers in clubs assisting with games each week.
The Minor Hurling and Football leagues recommence this week as we reach the concluding stages of the U14 competitions. Our U14 football final winners – Tullamore – Mid Region, Na Fianna – North & Division 2 - Birr
Best of luck to all teams in action, including those representing:
- Shamrocks GAA Club
- Birr GAA
- Ferbane Belmont
- St Manchan’s GAA
We wish all players, mentors and clubs the very best in the games ahead.
Section 4 –
Get to Know Our Staff and Weekly Coaching Hints
Now we hear from our Athletic Development GDC, Oisín O’Gibne.
Oisín works with all of our Development Squads in Faithful Fields and also liaises closely with our older teams. He oversees the RYPT programme that all players complete at home as part of their development.
A few weeks ago, Oisín released an important graphic to all players and parents reminding everyone that it is okay to play and it is okay to train every day — provided the correct balance is achieved.
The key message is that young players should aim for at least 60 minutes of activity each day. Rather than being overly concerned about “rest days,” the focus should instead be on completing the correct amount and type of activity to support healthy development and enjoyment of sport.
See the graphic below for more information.
Section 5 –
Underage Club Spotlight
Kinitty Underage
Kinnitty field Go Games hurling & Football teams at U8 & U10.
Kinnitty/Lusmagh field hurling teams from U12 to minor level. We have small numbers but great young players who are very dedicated to the game. Our jerseys combine the green of Kinnitty and the red of Lusmagh.
Training and games take place in both villages.
We have very knowledgeable and dedicated coaches working together from both clubs.
Our training sessions benefit hugely from the coaching of our GPO Ryan Kinahan and the regular appearance of senior players and legends of the game to encourage our players.
Our U12s and U14s travelled together to support Offaly in Newbridge against Kildare and made plenty of noise on a great day for Offaly. A few players from our u16 and minor teams have hurled with distinction for club and county this year.
With continued hard work from our players and coaches, we have high hopes to bring some silverware to Kinnitty/Lusmagh in 2026.
In association with Condron Concrete
Compiled by Carina on behalf of Offaly GAA
If you would like to submit information (Player or Club) for this weekly underage promotion, please email [email protected].