Offaly GAA Coaching Corner
Offaly GAA Coaching and Games Development News, in association with Condron Concrete
Offaly GAA National School and Development Squad Player Profiles
Two National School pupils; Two boys from Development Squads
James McConville
School: Rath NS
Club: Drumcullen
What do you play: Hurling
What’s your favourite part of GAA: My favourite part of GAA is being part of a team with my friends. I also like learning new skills at training and trying to improve all the time. Its great getting to meet players fom other clubs at development squads & matches too.
Who is your favourite player: Ben Conneely
What is your favourite meal: Steak & chips
What are your GAA ambitions: I'd love to win a Féile with my club and maybe get to play for Offaly some day.
Give us a few words about your club and what you like and maybe even dislike: I like that our club really focuses on developing young players with the Liam Lyons Academy. We have great coaches that always encourage us to try our best and never give up. Our club brings the whole community together like in our recent fundraiser where we raised over €100,000 for a new pitch.
Elayna Egan
School: Rath National School
Club: Drumcullen
Sport: Camogie
Favourite part of the GAA: Playing with my friends and lots of amazing experiences like going off to Féile together.
Favourite player: Caoimhe Spain
Favourite meal: Chicken curry
GAA Ambitions: To play in goals for Offaly.
My club: I have played Camogie with Drumcullen camogie club since I was 4 years old. What I love most about my club is that the pitch is never completely empty, there's always someone there! There are so many people who spend a lot of time coaching us. We are a very small club but because of that I think there's a great sense of community and people meet up at things like training and matches. We badly need a second pitch and hopefully we now have the money to build it. I like that both my parents are really involved in the club so we get to go to a lot of matches where I get to see my friends.
Conall Minnock
School: Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore
Club: Shamrocks
What do you play: Gaelic football and hurling
What’s your favourite part of GAA: my favourite part of the GAA is competing with clubs and counties from all around the country and having good days out with your friends.
Who is your favourite player: Mark Rodgers
What is your favourite meal: Beef stir fry
What are your GAA ambitions: My GAA ambitions are to fulfil my full potential and to compete and succeed at the highest levels.
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly Development Squads: I am part of the Offaly u16 hurling squad. It is great to be part of the squad as it allows me to build friendships with players from different clubs around the county and to build habits that will benefit me in the future. The strength and conditioning that takes place in training allows me to build a great base of strength that will help me when progressing into adult level.
Fionn Minnock
School: Colaiste Choilm, Tullamore
Club: Shamrocks
What do you play: Football & Hurling
What’s your favourite part of GAA: Playing matches
Who is your favourite player: Cian Lynch, Limerick Hurler
What is your favourite meal: pasta carbonara
What are your GAA ambitions: To win a county final with Shamrocks and to continue playing for Offaly.
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly Development Squads: I am part of the Offaly U14 hurling development squad. I enjoy Offaly training and going to matches. It’s good to get the chance to develop my skills further
Academies
David Needham
Club: Clara.
I have being involved with Offaly development squads for two years with the current u16s. In training we focus on both player and personal development to help the panel reach their potential.
Training is once a week and covers both gym and on field activities.
We play counties from all across Ireland so the lads exposed to a high level intercounty hurling.
Games Programme
League Winners – Presentation evening took place on Tuesday 7th July
U14 Football
- North: Na Fianna
- Mid: Tullamore
- Division 2: Birr
U14 Hurling
- South: Birr
- North: Kilcormac-Killoughey
- Division 2: Kinnitty/Lusmagh
U16 Football
- North: St Vincent's
- Mid: Ferbane/Belmont
- Division 2: Clara
U16 Hurling
- Mid: Shamrocks
- North: Tullamore
- South: Kilcormac-Killoughey
Minor Football
- North: St Broughans
- Mid: Tullamore
- Division 2: St Manchan's
Minor Hurling
- South: Birr
- Mid: Tullamore
- Division 2: Gracefield
Get to Know Our Staff & Weekly Coaching Hints
John Murray
I am from Drumcullen Club, and I work as a GPO in Offaly. I am also involved with the Offaly underage squads, focusing on strength and conditioning and athletic development. I attend Faithful Fields every Saturday morning, where there is a great atmosphere among all the young Offaly hurlers and footballers.
It is fantastic to see so many players eager to learn, develop, and enjoy being part of the player pathway. The environment provides young athletes with opportunities to improve their skills, fitness, and understanding of the game while building friendships with players from across the county.
I encourage players to attend training regularly and to be committed to their development. At the same time, it is important that training loads are managed appropriately. While young teenagers are capable of being active and participating in multiple activities, adequate rest and recovery are also essential for long-term development, performance, and enjoyment of sport.
The aim is to help build well-rounded athletes who can fulfil their potential and contribute to the future success of Offaly hurling and football.
Underage Club Spotlight
Drumcullen GAA
Drumcullen GAA and Camogie clubs, situated in Eglish and Drumcullen parish, provide hurling and camogie for boys and girls from aged 4. The Drumcullen Dragons is our nursery programme where boys and girls first get their introduction to our GAA family.
The boys then progress to the Liam Lyons underage academy until age 11, while the girls progress to the camogie underage programme. Hurling and camogie are deeply ingrained in our club, with both clubs having attained much success throughout the years. However our greatest success is in keeping players playing into adulthood and we are proud to be able to field 2 adult teams in both hurling and camogie.
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].