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Home , 2017 Christy Ring Cup, 2021 Christy Ring Cup, 2021 GAA Congress, Aaron Gillane, Aghamore, Andy Moran

Vol 11. Issue 1 March/April, 20212021 ReadyReady forfor action!action!

Underage and inter- teams given the go-ahead to resume collective training

OFFICIAL GAA PUBLICATION €2.50 Nóta an Uachtaráin Nóta an Rúnaí

Dear friends, A chairde,

AM delighted to give my first address to all T has been a long winter the readers of Into the West. My name is John and spring without any IMurphy and I am the new President of the IGaelic Games activity GAA Council. whatsoeve r, but it looks like As the first Tubbercurry man to be elected to the patience of our club the role, on behalf of my club and my family I members and families will am honoured and delighted. Coincidentally, the pay off in the weeks and first man to be Connacht GAA President months ahead. was my grandfather, Jack Brennan, and At the time of writing although it is a consequence of my family's Government restrictions love of the GAA that I became involved in GAA keeping us within a 5km radius of our houses have administration, I am not in the job because my been eased slightly. There is a date on the table for a grandfather did it, but because I wanted the JOHN MURPHY return to collective training for our inter-county position myself. I am absolutely thrilled to have Connacht GAA President teams, while most importantly, in my eyes, is the the job and I am excited about what the next few reopening of our club grounds to facilitate underage years holds. training one week later on 26 April. All of these In the coming months and years, I hope to use this platform to easing of restrictions will have to be conducted deliver information on some important projects and initiatives within the guidelines provided. taking place in Connacht GAA. With the evenings getting longer and the One of the first projects we undertook was the delivery of five we ather improving it is brilliant to be able to bring webinars about property issues in the GAA to the five in our young GAA players back to the training field. the . The webinars were very well attended, so it is clear They will have to stay in pods of 15, but after a there is a genuine interest there from the membership. The webi- winter of ve ry little activity this is a real boost to nars dealt with: everyone. *Insurance and its importance Just ex actly what the GAA calendar will look like *The protocols that have been put in place for clubs and coun- in the months ahead remains to be seen, but discus- ties that wish to develop an infrastructural project sions are ongoing as to when our county players and *We finally dealt with property ownership and the necessity of club players can get back to action. Like everyone, I having the Trustees up to date, while also asking clubs to am very excited about the 2021 season. consider entering the corporate Trust model Our new Connacht GAA Council has been busy in If a club has an idea for a development, that project must first be the early months of the year, and despite the travel assessed, recorded in the minutes and gain support from the club restrictions, we have been meeting as usual – albeit itself. The project will then go to the County Development officer over Zoom – to keep GAA business moving. Our new and then to the County Board where it will be scrutinised along with council members have settled into their roles, and the business plan. If approved, it will go to the Connacht Council as our new President John Murphy describes in this and if necessary, to the National Finance and National Infrastruc- publication, we have been in regular contact with ture Committee. Large projects must be signed off by Coiste Bain- the various Clubs and County Boards in the last istí. Further information on the subject is available from the County couple of months. Development officers or the Connacht GAA webpage. The easing of restrictions around the Covid-19 At the time of writing, we are counting down the days to the pandemic have given us all hope that it will soon be return of inter-county and underage Games activities, and gone from our midst, but that is far from the case while it is a huge challenge for us, we must understand that Covid- just yet. I urge all clubs, counties and GAA members 19 is a world pandemic. Everybody wants to get back playing all to continue to follow the HSE and Government sports and as an organisation we want to resume playing, but we guidelines, and if we do so I’m sure we’ll see further simply must adhere to Government and HSE guidelines. relaxations in the months to come. We are all very keen to get playing again, but because the GAA is one of the biggest organisations in the country, if we move too Is mise, le meas early and the of cases rise again, we will be back to square one. John Prenty While it is painful to not have any activity taking Rúnaí, CLG Cuige place, it is better to hold off until 19 April for adult county teams and a week later for all underage training, within the strict guide- lines. On another note, there has been some unease about Croke Park withdrawing the wages cover from the player injury fund. The cost of the wages section of the player injury fund was in the region of ‘Into the West’ €1.3m per annum and because of the financial situation Croke Park withdrew that cover. It is important to note that the GAA is one of a few organisations that offers such a player injury fund. To counter the withdrawn of the wages fund, Croke Park have two options: they can either increase the insurance premium for all Keep yourself in the loop. Sign up today for your free elec- clubs by 25%, or they introduce an injury benefit insurance policy tronic copy of the magazine – emailed directly to your for players. The GAA is in the process of negotiating this type of Inbox. To sign up, email [email protected] policy with their insurers, Marsh. I believe the cost of such a policy ‘Into the West’ is produced by the Connacht GAA Council. will be reasonable and acceptable to all players. Editor: John Fallon. Published by: Pádraig Corcoran. Rather than increasing the payments into the fund for all clubs, News and photographs for inclusion can be emailed to it may be better to offer the players the option of this insurance [email protected]. To obtain an electronic copy of the maga- policy. zine each quarter, free of charge, email: [email protected]. Is mise, le meas • Deadline for advertising and copy will be announced on the John Murphy Connacht Council website – www.connachtgaa.ie. Uachtarán Chomhairle Connacht

Page 2 – INTO THE WEST ContentsContents

www.connachtgaa.ie.

Tributes pour in for Leitrim GAA legend Pakie McGarty.

Eastern Harps showing the way forward … 23 Connacht GAA Centre energy efficiency … 24 Castleconnor’s Mícheál Naughton is the new President of the Ladies Owenmore lights up………………………26 Association GAA finances back on track … 27 Gaelic Games Pathway ……………………………4 Healthy Club/My Life steps challenge ……28 Champions 15 selection ……………………………5 Leitrim Chairman praises 50 miles Football All Stars ……………………………………6 efforts ………………………………………………30 dup named in Cairde Liatroma wedding day …………………31 All-Star team………………………………………8 Marty Duffy named referees’ chair …………33 Ward and Higgins make the cut ………………10 Kathleen Kane awarded with entry Five of the best for Burke ………………………12 to LGFA Hall of Fame …………………………34 Connacht winners of President’s St Nathy’s One Good Club ………………………36 Awards ……………………………………………14 Walsh’s Invisible Game …………………39 ………………… GAA Congress meets virtually 15 Sligo hurlers in fundraising bid ………………42 Pakie McGarty, RIP…………………………………16 Moyles back at the helm in Mayo ……………43 A Season of Sundays marks strangest Mayo’s returning stars …………………………44 year …………………………………………………18 Freeman ready for return to action ………46 GAA Heart Programme …………………………20 O’Connor excited by next generation ………47 PJ McGrath, RIP………………………………………21 Sullivan keen to get back to the field ……48 Up and coming Mayo stars ……………………50 Win a Camper with Éire Óg ……………………52 Young Rossie Murray impressing with Connacht ……………………………………53 Fitzmaurice recognised for superb season………………………………………………55 Mayo and Connacht GAA mourns the loss of PJ McGrath. March for Maroon …………………………………57 COVER PICTURE –Paddy of Leitrim leads his team out for their 2020 Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-Final against Mayo at Avantcard Finnerty’s effort collates Galway Páirc in Carrick-on-Shannon. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile memories …………………………………………58

INTO THE WEST – Page 3 Launch of new Gaelic Games THE GAA, THE LGFA and Player Pathway AN CUMANN CAMÓGAÍOCHTA

HE GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association & An Cumann Camó- Tgaíochta are delighted to announce details of a new and exciting Gaelic Games Player Pathway. For the first time, all three Associations with responsibility for the promotion of Gaelic Football, , Ladies Football and Camogie will have an aligned path- way and vision for player development. All players are at the heart of this new Pathway – with club involvement central to its success – and there will be a key focus on creating an effective player develop- ment environment. The Gaelic Games Player Pathway aims to fulfil the mission of the three Asso- ciations to address elitism in underage development, make quality coaching within clubs a lynchpin and to provide an Speaking about today’s launch, work and collaboration of key stakeholders opportunity for lifelong participation in our Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, in all three Associations in bringing this games for every boy and girl, regardless Larry McCarthy, said: “The Gaelic Games Gaelic Games Player Pathway to fruition.” of their ability. Player Pathway is the result of several On behalf of An Cumann Camó- The Pathway has three main phases: years of careful work and planning that is gaíochta, President Kathleen Woods Foundation, Talent and Elite/High Perfor- designed to give every player the chance commented: “The is mance, with these phases further subdi- to have the best experience possible from delighted to be part of this historical and vided into eight sub-phases. their involvement in Gaelic games. ground breaking collaboration. All three Associations are committed to “All of our players are club players; and “The core and heart of this new path- providing players with the right supports at so it is vital that we put the club at the way is that it is player-centred and club- the right time, which will enable them to heart of our player development pathway centred. individually empower themselves to and ensure that whatever road your play- “This new pathway facilitates the devel- engage with the many challenges they will ing career takes, that it is something posi- opment of all players at all levels from face along their Player Pathway Journey. tive and that the club in turn benefits. participation to performance. hurling legend Aligning this work across the GAA, LGFA “The underpinning philosophy of the ( ) was on hand today and Camogie will embed this philosophy Gaelic Games Player Pathway is to to launch the new Player Pathway, along throughout Gaelic games coaching with a support players with the right environment, with Kilkenny Senior camogie player culture that nurtures the Person as much at the right time of development through Davina Tobin (Emeralds), and Meath as the Player.” coaching, education and developing their Senior Ladies Footballer Vikki Wall Uachtarán Cumann Peil Gael na athletic and personal capacities as they (Dunboyne). This announcement rein- mBan, Mícheál Naughton, commented: grow. forces the commitment and joint approach “This exciting programme will help greatly “This will ensure that the experience of to Games Development from all three to foster and enhance a culture of partici- playing our games is always appropriate Associations, and builds on previous pation and enjoyment for all of our players. for the developmental stage of the player collaborations such as Go Games, Féile, “Our wish is that our players get involved and will assist players, parents, Volunteer Training, the recently-launched involved in our Association and stay coaches, teachers officials and administra- ‘Be Ready to Play’ and the Introduction to involved for life. tors to make informed decisions about Coaching Gaelic Games Course, which “You may be a player who is fortunate player development so that every child will be launched very soon. to line out for your county on All- youth and adult can reach their desired The Pathway outlines a holistic Final day – or you may be a player who’s potential and enjoy our games throughout approach to Player and individual develop- in our sport simply for participation and their lifetime. ment, with the overriding aim of providing enjoyment. “I would like to acknowledge and thank all players with positive experiences, “There is no distinction to be made the work of the staff within all three asso- thereby increasing the retention rate of here – it’s about playing our sport because ciations and the many volunteers who lifelong participants. you enjoy it, and being encouraged to have contribute to the Gaelic Games The GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football play. Player Pathway Development.” Association & An Cumann Camógaíochta “I would like to acknowledge the hard are united in the wish to create a better understanding of the Player Pathway for all involved in nurturing a love of Gaelic For full details on the Gaelic Games Player Pathway, visit games – the player, the parent/guardian, the coach, the club, the teacher. https://learning.gaa.ie/playerpathway

Page 4 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Boland and Freeman make the cut in GAA/GPA Champion 15 selection

Christy Ring Cup winners, Kildare, lead of the Year in your respective competi- the way with four players on the 15-man tions. You are all very deserving winners.” selection, while Down, Donegal, Mayo, The selection process for the , Offaly, Louth, Wicklow, and GAA/GPA 2020 Champion 15 included Tyrone are also represented. player and coach feedback and was The Player of the Year winners in the finalised by an independent selection three competitions have also been committee of journalists and referees. confirmed. Paul Divilly of Kildare ( Cup), Donegal’s Danny Cullen (Nickey Rackard Cup), and Louth’s Andrew Freeman of Mayo breaks out of defence Mackin ( Cup), are all during the Nickey Rackard Cup Final. singled out for personal accolades on the Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile. back of excellent campaigns. Congratulating the winners, Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “This is a great honour for the players chosen and for their families and clubs who they represent. These awards will be a reminder of the lengths all our players went to for our benefit during the tough year that was 2020.” , CEO of the GPA, added: “First of all, I want to take this oppor- tunity to thank all the players who competed in the Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups in 2020. In very challenging times, you helped give fans of our games all over the country something to look forward to and discuss on a weekly basis and that should not be underesti- mated. My warmest congratulations to the 15 players who have made the Champion 15 and to Paul, Danny and Andrew on being named as Players Shane Boland of Mayo prepares to take a free during the 2020 Nickey Rackard Cup Final against GAA/GPA Champion 15 Donegal at Croke Park. 1: Stephen Keith (Down) – Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/ 2: Sean McVeigh (Donegal) – Nickey Rackard Cup Sportsfile. 3: Caolan Taggart (Down) – Christy Ring Cup 4: CATHAL FREEMAN (Mayo) – Nickey Rackard Cup 5: Conor McShea (Fermanagh) – 6: Rian Boran (Kildare) – Christy Ring Cup 7: Danny Cullen (Donegal) – Nickey Rackard Cup 8: Eoghan Cahill (Offaly) – Christy Ring Cup 9: Paul Divilly (Kildare) – Christy Ring Cup HE best hurlers from the 2020 10: Damian Casey (Tyrone) – Nickey Rackard Cup Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard, and 11: James Burke (Kildare) – Christy Ring Cup Lory Meagher Cups have been T 12: SHANE BOLAND (Mayo) – Nickey Rackard Cup announced with confirmation of the 2020 GAA/GPA Champion 15 team, with Mayo 13: Jack Sheridan (Kildare) – Christy Ring Cup duo Shane Boland and Cathal Freeman 14: Andrew Mackin (Louth) – Lory Meagher Cup named in the team of the year. 15: Christy Moorehouse (Wicklow) – Christy Ring Cup The selection contains players from nine counties and features seven players GAA/GPA Christy Ring Cup Player of the Year: Paul Divilly (Kildare) who competed in the Ring Cup, six who GAA/GPA Nickey Rackard Cup Player of the Year: Danny Cullen (Donegal) competed in the Rackard Cup, and two GAA/GPA Lory Meagher Cup Player of the Year: Andrew Mackin (Louth) who competed in the Meagher Cup.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 5 Mayo’s Mullin and O’Connor impressive season with PwC

LUE is the dominant colour in an All-Ireland champions are repre- and the influential at historic football selection that sented by a record-equaling tally of nine midfield. In the case of goalkeeper and Bcrowns the 2020 PwC All-Stars, but players on the final 15 – a haul not seen captain Galligan it makes him the 800th the Green and Red of Mayo were also by the Sky Blues since their iconic All- player to have received an All-Star since awarded for a brilliant year. Ireland championship winning team of they were first held back in 1971. 1977. Elsewhere, there is another notable It is a landmark selection for the Breffni first for Tipperary captain Blues of Cavan too, who previously had who is acknowledged for his prolific role in received two awards in the 50 years of the leading Tipperary to their first Munster win scheme in Ollie Brady and Dermot since 1935 with selection as a PwC All- McCabe. However, their magnificent Star in the full forward line. In the process Championship triumph is recog- he follows in the footsteps of county men nised through awards for ace goalkeeper and . Raymond Galligan, heroic defender Mayo’s Oisín Mullin, who is nominated Padraig Faulkner for the PwC GAA/GPA Young Player of the Year, is picked in a defence where Dubs dominate. Dublin’s Fenton, who has never lost a senior championship match since his 2015 debut, partners Thomas Galligan in the middle and collects his fifth career PwC All-Star. Cillian O’Connor’s razor-sharp contri- bution to Mayo in their march to Connacht glory and in reaching the All-Ireland final is recognised in an attack that features the towering Conor Sweeney, a first-time award for Scully and then an addi- tion to the personal hauls of Dublin’s big guns Ciaran Kilkenny, Con O’Callaghan and . The awards were picked by a panel of Gaelic Games Correspon- dents from across print, radio, tv and digital media. The winners will be showcased on a special tv programme on RTÉ 1 this Saturday evening at 6.35pm, where the PwC All-Stars in hurling will be announced and also the winners of the PwC GAA/GPA Player and Young Player of the Year will be announced in hurling and foot- ball. Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “I’d like to extend the warmest congratulations to all of those players who have been selected and know it is an honour that will mean a lot to them, their families and the clubs and communities who they repre- sent so well. These awards have stood the test of time as something truly special, and I want to acknowledge PwC for their support and helping ensure that after the achievement that was getting the 2020 202 All-Star and Young Championships played that we can Footballer of the Year acknowledge all of our players who made Oisín Mullin of Mayo is it possible and salute the cream of the tackled by – crop.” Senior Footballer of the Year – Paul Flynn, GPA CEO said: “I know during the 2020 All-Ireland foot- what a great honour it is to be selected as ball final at Croke Park. a PwC All-Star and all 15 players should Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile. be very proud of their achievements.

Page 6 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE awarded for All-Stars

Individually they were the best of the best in 2020. I also want to congratulate all the nominees who were shortlisted.”

PwC All-Stars Football 2020 (previous years selected in brackets) 1. Raymond Galligan (Cavan) 2. OISÍN MULLIN (Mayo) 3. Padraig Faulkner (Cavan) 4. (Dublin) (2017, ’19) 5. James McCarthy (Dublin) (2014, ’17, ’18) 6. John Small (Dublin) 7. Eoin Murchan (Dublin) 8. Brian Fenton (Dublin) (2015, ’16, ’18, ’19) 9. Thomas Galligan (Cavan) 10. (Dublin) 11. Ciaran Kilkenny (Dublin) (2015, ’16, ’18) 12. Con O’Callaghan (Dublin) (2017, ’19) 13. CILLIAN O’CONNOR (Mayo) (2014) 14. Conor Sweeney (Tipperary) 15. Dean Rock (Dublin) (2016, ’17)

PwC GAA/GPA Footballer of the Year – Brian Fenton (Dublin) Cillian O'Connor takes aim for Mayo during the 2020 PwC GAA/GPA Young Footballer of the Year – OISÍN MULLIN (Mayo) All-Ireland final. Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 7 Healy and McGrath claim

First-time All Star Orlaith McGrath celebrates scoring Galway’s first goal against Kilkenny during the 2020 All- Ireland Senior Camogie final. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/ Sportsfile.

2020 All-Stars team sponsored by Liberty Insurance:

1. Áine Slattery (Tipperary) – 1st Time Winner 2. SHAUNA HEALY (Galway) – 2nd Time Winner 3. Claire Phelan (Kilkenny) – 2nd Time Winner LL-IRELAND Senior champions 4. Mary (Tipperary) – 1st Time Winner Kilkenny dominate the 2020 Camo- 5. Hannah Looney () – 2nd Time Winner Agie All-Stars team sponsored by 6. Karen Kennedy (Tipperary) – 1st Time Winner Liberty Insurance, taking six places on this 7. Davina Tobin (Kilkenny) – 1st Time Winner year’s selection announced by Killian 8. Chloe Sigerson (Cork) – 2nd Time Winner Whelan during a maiden virtual event on 9. Grace Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2nd Time Winner Saturday 6th March. 10. Niamh Rockett () – 1st Time Winner All-Ireland runners-up Galway received 11. Orla Cronin (Cork) – 1st Time Winner two awards, with Tipperary and Cork 12. Denise Gaule (Kilkenny) – 4th Time Winner receiving three awards each and Water- 13. ORLAITH McGRATH (Galway) – 1st Time Winner ford completing the line-up with one 14. Miriam Walsh (Kilkenny) – 2nd Time Winner award. 15. Anne Dalton (Kilkenny) – 7th Time Winner Amongst the winners for the champi- ons were full-back Claire Phelan, left half-

Page 8 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Galway Bay FM’s Ollie Camogie All-Stars Turner pens ‘Game of back Davina Tobin, midfield Grace Walsh, (centre half-forward). left half-forward Denise Gaule, full-forward Waterford captain and right half- My Life - Galway’ Miriam Walsh and left corner-forward forward Niamh Rockett completes this Anne Dalton. year’s winning selection. A NEW book featuring All-Ireland runners-up Galway are Kilkenny was 25 well known former represented with right corner-back Shauna named as Manager of the Year for the first Galway hurlers telling Healy and right corner-forward Orlaith time after guiding his team to All-Ireland their stories about the McGrath. glory in December. game that helped Tipperary players Áine Slattery (goal- Kilkenny’s Denise Gaule also collected define their career and keeper), Mary Ryan (left corner-back) and the Camogie Association/WGPA Senior the highs and lows Karen Kennedy (centre half-back) receive Players’ Player of the Year award following experienced along the their first All-Stars Awards and are joined on from her match winning performance in way is now available in Irish bookshops. on the All-Stars selection by Cork trio the All-Ireland Senior decider. Niamh ‘Game of my Life’ is Hannah Looney (right half-back), Chloe Mallon of Down was the recipient of the penned by Galway Sigerson (midfield) and Orla Cronin Intermediate accolade whilst Armagh’s Bay FM’s Ollie Turner Ciara was chosen as the Junior and dedicates chap- Players’ Player of the Year. All three were ters to local legends selected after voting by inter-county play- who’ve worn the ers through the WGPA with the awards maroon and white sponsored by Liberty Insurance. over the past 50 years. All-Ireland Intermediate champions 25 of Galway’s greatest hurlers remember the Down lead the 2020 Soaring Stars one game that will live with them forever … includ- Awards, represented by six players; ing Jimmy Hegarty, Ned Dervan, Andy Fenton, Iggy defenders Dearbhla Magee and Fion- Clarke, Sean Silke, , PJ , Noel nuala Carr, midfielder Paula O’Hagan Lane, , Conneely, Anthony and forwards Sara-Louise Graffan, Cunningham, Pete Finnerty, Eanna Ryan, Gerry Niamh Mallon and Sorcha McCartan. McInerney, John Commins, , Intermediate runners-up Antrim are Micheál Donoghue, Padraig Kelly, Kevin Broderick, represented by three players; defend- Ger Farragher, , , Alan ers Chloe Drain and Niamh Donnelly Kerins, Moore and Gearoid McInerney … the day that defined their lives. along with forward Kelly. One of those hurlers is five time All Star Pete Represented from the All-Ireland Inter- Finnerty, who picked the 1985 All Ireland semi mediate Semi-Finalists are goalkeeper final when Galway shocked Cork. Here is an Aideen Lowry and defender Clodagh excerpt from Pete's chapter: Tynan from Laois, while Meath "When it came to picking the team for the 1985 defender Claire Coffey also receives semi-final, Phelim often commented that the an award. question was asked at a hurling board meeting… All-Ireland Premier Junior Cham- ‘Did ye pick that team from a hat?’ pions Armagh receive two Soaring It was seen as a bit of a laugh to put myself at Stars awards to forwards Leanne wing back and Keady at centre-back instead of Donnelly and Ciara Donnelly while centre-forward where he had played as a minor. the remaining position is taken by Tony Kilkenny made his debut that day at 28 years Nancy Murray Cup champion Róisín O’ of age, and Sylvie at corner-back was never that Keeffe from Cavan. far back in his life. If Galway hurling wanted a Speaking at the event Camogie Asso- change, this was definitely it. ciation President Kathleen Woods said: Farrell always sat us down in the middle of the “I would like to welcome everyone to field on the Tuesday before a game to announce this evening’s Camogie All-Stars presen- the team and it would be in the press the following day. I sat there and really did not expect to be tation. This event is down to the commit- playing. There were still a number of established ment of you, our players. It is down to the players like Seamus Coen, and Ollie commitment of Liberty Insurance our Kilkenny to fill the full-back line and Sylvie was sponsors who stood firmly with us there for half- throughout 2020. It is down to the back. Even though I was picked at wing back in commitment of county managers and training and had won an All-Ireland under-21 county boards to comply with all the there, I wasn’t given any real encouragement that protocols and procedures that were I was doing well and so when the team was called necessary. To all of you, thank you. out, I wasn’t sure whether I had heard my name or “You, our All-Star nominees played the not. Championships behind closed doors in He did say my name… didn’t he? I thought to empty stadia and it didn’t curtail you’re myself, but it was only after the team was your passion and commitment. Thank you announced that the subs went away and the start- also to the WGPA for their input in the ing 15 remained for a chat. There was a lot of us Players’ Player of the Year awards. looking at each other. As if to say… Jesus, he did say your name too!" Shauna Healy of Galway won her second Camo- “Congratulations to all of tonight’s

gie All Star for her performances in 2020. nominees and winners. Let us now look forward to the 2021 Championships”. Game of My Life - Galway is now in all good Photo: Cody Glenn / SPORTSFILE. bookshops, priced at €20.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 9 Ward and Higgins named in Ladies football Teams of the 2020 Championships

ALWAY’S Louise Ward and Roscommon’s Jennifer Higgins Gwere named in the 2020 Senior and Intermediate Team of the Champi- onship respectively at the recent awards ceremony. Armagh forward Aimee Mackin was been crowned TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year for 2020. Mackin (23) was voted best in class by her peers, with the Shane O’Neills player fending off stiff competition from Dublin duo Carla Rowe and Sinead Goldrick to claim the coveted individual award. Mackin’s Senior Players’ Player of the Year accolade was confirmed on ‘Peil na mBan – Foirne na Bliana,’ in association with AIG Insurance, which aired on TG4. And it was a show to remember for Mackin, who was also named on the Senior Team of the Championship, while her sensational second half semi-final goal against Dublin earned the lethal attacker the AIG Cúl na Bliana award. Vikki Wall, meanwhile, was named as the TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the Year following a brilliant season for the Royals. The Junior accolade went to Fermanagh’s 20-year-old forward Eimear Smyth for the second successive year. On the Intermediate team, Player of the Year Wall makes the grade as one of seven Meath representatives. Runners-up Westmeath have four players selected, Clare have two players on the team, with one each for Kildare and Roscommon – Jennifer Higgins. Named on the Senior Team of the Season, Louise Ward of Galway breaks away On the Senior selection, Dublin lead from the defence during the 2020 TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Foot- ball Championship encounter with Monaghan. Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

Junior Team Intermediate Team Senior Team

1.Shauna Murphy – Fermanagh 1.Monica McGuirk – Meath 1.Martina O’Brien – Cork 2.Emily Mulhall – Wicklow 2.Rachel Dillon – Westmeath 2.Martha Byrne – Dublin 3.Sarah Jane Winders – Wicklow 3.Lucy Power – Westmeath 3.Clodagh McCambridge – Armagh 4.Rebekah Daly – 4.Emma Troy – Meath 4.Eimear Meaney – Cork 5.Alanna Conroy – Wicklow 5.Róisín Considine – Clare 5.Melissa Duggan – Cork 6.Saoirse Tennyson – Antrim 6.Fiona Claffey – Westmeath 6.Blaithin Mackin – Armagh 7.Sarah McCarville – Fermanagh 7.Megan Thynne – Meath 7.Sinead Goldrick – Dublin 8. Gorman – Wicklow 8.JENNIFER HIGGINS – Roscommon 8.Jennifer Dunne – Dublin 9.Róisín O’Reilly – Fermanagh 9.Máire O’Shaughnessy – Meath 9.LOUISE WARD – Galway 10.Áine Cunningham – Limerick 10.Emma Duggan – Meath 10.Carla Rowe – Dublin 11.Laura Hogan – Wicklow 11.Vikki Wall – Meath 11.Lyndsey Davey – Dublin 12.Aisling Maguire – Fermanagh 12.Anna Jones – Westmeath 12.Aimee Mackin – Armagh 13.Eimear Smyth – Fermanagh 13.Stacey Grimes – Meath 13.Áine O’Sullivan – Cork 14.Meadhbh Deeney – Wicklow 14.Niamh O’Dea – Clare 14.Aishling Moloney – Tipperary 15.Marie Kealy – Wicklow 15.Róisín Byrne – Kildare 15.Noelle Healy – Dublin

Page 10 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Bronze sculptor Jarlath Daly's awards that will be presented to the players named on the Teams of the 2020 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championships, at his Dublin work- shop. Photo: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile.

the way with six players included, with beaten finalists Cork providing four play- ers on the chosen 15. Galway’s 2020 captain Louise Ward and Tipperary’s Aishling Moloney are also listed on the Senior Team of the Champi- onship. Marie Hickey, Ladies Gaelic Foot- ball Association President, said: “We are delighted to salute the various winners from ‘Peil na mBan – Foirne na Bliana – le AIG Insurance.’ “This was a wonderful production that brought so many memories flooding back as we looked back on our 2020 TG4 All- Jennifer Higgins from Western Gaels GAA club in Roscommon is presented with her Coaching Ireland Championships. medallion by LGFA President Marie Hickey during the Learn to Lead – LGFA Female Leadership “It was an extraordinary and unprece- Programme graduation evening at The Croke Park, Jones Road. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile. dented season that saw us play two of our All-Ireland Finals five days before Christ- mas Day – and we were treated to some “Our players went to great lengths to Alan Esslemont, Ard-Stiúrthóir TG4, brilliant football across the three grades. represent their counties and it was right to added: “Comhghairdeas le gach duine den acknowledge the efforts of leading players 45 imreoir a ainmníodh tráthnóna ar in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior ‘Peil na mBan - Foirne na Bliana’ le AIG Individual awards grades. Insurance’. “Well done to the 45 players selected “These players, from across all three TG4 Senior Players’ Player of the Year – on the Teams of the Championship, and inter-county grades played their part in Aimee Mackin – Armagh our TG4 Players’ Player of the Year award keeping the country’s spirits strong in TG4 Intermediate Players’ Player of the winners. 2020 and showed that in a challenging Year – Vikki Wall – Meath year for sport globally, the LGFA is a “What a night it was for Aimee Mackin world-class model for women’s sport. TG4 TG4 Junior Players’ Player of the Year – – who won the TG4 Senior Players’ Player was delighted that it could continue to Eimear Smyth – Fermanagh of the Year award, found a place in the showcase these superb athletes in 2020.

forward line on the Senior Team of the “Congratulations to Aimee Mackin, Championship, and saw her brilliant goal AIG Cúl na Bliana Vikki Wall and Eimear Smyth, who were against Dublin named as the ‘AIG Cúl na chosen by their fellow footballers as TG4’s 1.Aimee Mackin – Armagh v Dublin (TG4 Bliana.’ All-Ireland Senior semi-final) Players’ Players of the year. “We look forward to more brilliant foot- 2.Vikki Wall – Meath v Westmeath (TG4 “A special congratulations is due to ball in 2021, when I expect so many of the All-Ireland Intermediate Final) Armagh’s Aimee Mackin, who was not players acknowledged this evening to 3.Áine O’Sullivan – Cork v Dublin (TG4 All- only awarded ‘Senior Player of the Year’ feature prominently for their respective Ireland Senior Final) but who also scored the ‘AIG Cúl na counties again.” Bliana’. What a year 2020 was for her!”

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 11 Fifth hurling All-Star for Galway’s Burke

IMERICK’S status as the current benchmark in hurling excellence has been underlined with their domination Lof the final 15 in the PwC All-Stars for Hurling 2020. After their clean sweep of all major trophies last season, the All-Ireland champions were rewarded with nine places on the star-studded final team – a record equaling total and eclipses the six awards the Treaty County claimed when they won the MacCarthy Cup in 2018. Nine is the highest number of PwC All-Stars won by any team. It not only sees Limerick match their football counterparts Dublin in 2020 – but puts them in an exclusive group with the great Kilkenny hurling teams of 1983, 2000 and 2008 and iconic Dublin and Kerry football teams of 1977 and 1981 as the only other teams to claim that number of awards. On top of that, Limerick’s towering wing forward Gearóid Hegarty has been chosen by his peers as the PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year with the St Patrick’s star claiming his first award. Eoin Cody from Bally- hale Shamrocks is the PwC GAA/GPA Young hurler of the Year after his exploits with Kilkenny last season. In what is the 50th year of the prestigious awards scheme, Galway’s defensive rock Daithí Burke is honoured for the fifth time in defence, the prolific Clare ace picks up a second career award, while TJ Reid’s status among the game’s greats is enhanced with a fifth award for the top Cat. Another notable piece of history is made in the choice for goalkeeper. Nickie Quaid’s selection sees the Limer- ick custodian follow in the footsteps of his late father Tommy who was also a goalkeeping hero with Limerick and an All-Star in 1992. It is the fourth time that a father and son duo have been honoured in hurling – following Tipp’s Ken and , Richie Power senior and junior in Kilkenny and ‘Fan’ and Philly Larkin from Kilkenny. In addition to this there is yet another Limerick landmark in the selection of brothers Dan and . Brothers winning All-Stars is not rare – but siblings honoured in the same year is more unusual and an added feat for the Ahane duo. ’s Martin and John Quigley in 1974 were the first set of brothers to be picked on the same hurling team – followed by Kilkenny’s John and in 1983, and Ger and Fennelly also in 1983. Tipp’s Conal and Bonnar were both honoured in the same year twice – in 1989 and 1991. Billy and also shared the honours twice in 1994 and 1995. Tipp’s Paul and Eoin Kelly featured on the 2002 team and Cork’s Sean Óg and Setanta Ó hAilpín were there in 2003, and Ben and Jerry O’Connor featured in 2005. More recently it is an honour bestowed on Galway’s Ollie and in 2009 and Tipp’s Ronan and Padraic Maher in 2016 and 2019. Uachtarán CLG John Horan saluted the winners and said: “For the last 50 years the All-Stars has stood apart as something special in Irish sport, and our thanks to PwC for enabling us to continue this great tradition and particularly after the significance of staging the Championships last winter. Congratulations to all of the players, not only for their awards, but for the inspiration they There was a fifth All Star award for Daithí Burke of Turloughmore and are to their clubs and counties and it’s an especially great night for Galway at the PwC All-Stars for Hurling 2020. Gearóid, Brian, Eoin and Oisín and their families for being chosen Photo: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile. by their peers for overall awards.”

Page 12 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Mícheál Naughton, Uachtarán, LGFA, is presented with his Pres- idential medal by his wife, Annette, at the family home in Co. Donegal. Mícheál Naughton was inaugurated as the new Presi- dent of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association at 2020 Annual Congress, which was held remotely due to Covid-19 restrictions. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile. Castleconnor’s Mícheál Naughton is the new President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association

THE Sligo native, representing Donegal and Ulster, took over the position from outgoing Marie Hickey, who had served six years at the helm, at the association’s recent virtual Annual Congress. A successful businessman, and working in the hotel industry, Naughton is the 13th different President of the LGFA since its inception in 1974. Naughton will now preside for the next four years – and lead the LGFA into its 50th year in existence in 2024. Laois native Marie Hickey completed her second three-year stint before handing over the reins to Naughton. Westmeath’s Geraldine Giles also served for two terms as President from 2003-2009, while Wexford’s Pat Quill was Presi- dent of the LGFA for three terms (1985-1988, 2009-2012 and 2012-2015). Hailing from West Sligo, but based in Donegal for over 23 years, Micheál Naughton is a former Donegal and Ulster Council Chairperson who also managed the Donegal Ladies Senior Foot- PwC All-Stars Hurling 2020 ball team. (previous awards in brackets) Affiliated to the Four Masters club, Naughton guided Donegal to the 2010 TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate crown during her first 1. Nickie Quaid (Limerick) stint in charge, before returning to preside over a 2016 Lidl 2. Seán Finn (Limerick) (2018, 2019) National League Division 2 title win. 3. (Limerick) (2018) Mícheál is married to Annette, and they are the proud parents 4. DAITHÍ BURKE (Galway) (2015, ‘16, ‘17, ‘18) of daughter, Erin. Speaking at today’s Annual Congress, Naughton said: “I will 5. Diarmaid Byrnes (Limerick) always do my utmost to continue the good work that has already 6. de Búrca (Waterford) (2015) been done. I will continue to champion one of the fastest grow- 7. (Limerick) ing female sports in Europe. 8. Jamie Barron (Waterford) (2016, ‘17) "We're not the finished article but we've built an Association 9. Tony Kelly (Clare) (2013) that we should be very proud of. "We need to focus on our biggest asset - our players. In my 10. Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick) term as President, I would love to see Croke Park at full capacity 11. (Limerick) (2018) for All-Ireland Final Day. 12. Tom Morrissey (Limerick) "Looking forward to the next four years, I want to continue on 13. (Limerick) (2019) the great work and collaboration with the GAA and Camogie 14. TJ Reid (Kilkenny) (2012, ‘14, ‘15, ‘19) Association. I want to forge greater links and bonds.” In her final speech as President, Marie Hickey said: "Our links 15. (Waterford) with the GAA and Camogie Association have never been stronger at national level. This will continue to improve as we work PwC GAA/GPA Hurler of the Year – Gearóid Hegarty (Limerick) towards a federal system of governance. PwC GAA/GPA Young Hurler of the Year – Eoin Cody (Kilkenny) “This is a time for great reflection – it has been an incredible journey.”

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 13 Gradaim an Uachtaráin CLG GAA President’s Awards HE GAA is pleased to EDUCATION AWARD confirm the recipients MICHAEL McMAHON, Tfor Gradaim an AIT and Clare/Galway Uachtaráin 2021. Mike has been involved in These prestigious annual AIT GAA since joining the awards, organised with the staff as a lecturer in Civil support of AIB and broadcast Engineering in the early 90s. He has been a driving force in by TG4, affords Uachtarán the hurling club ever since. CLG, John Horan, with an Mike was involved with opportunity to acknowledge Comhairle Ardoideachais for outstanding commitment and a long number of years, serv- long service across the club ing in a number of roles most and county network. notably as Rúnaí. His dedica- The 11 awards are a tion was unwavering and he cross-section of people who put in countless hours, above have shared the common and beyond what most would deem necessary. theme of making an inspira- tional impact on their code CONNACHT He has been a driver of role and to Gaelic games in competition for the 'weaker' and also their club and this sector. RECIPIENT colleges, notably the Corn A native of Kilfenora in the PETER JOE FITZMAURICE, community. Pádraig MacDiarmada. Mike Burren, Mike is heavily Kilmore GAA,Roscommon Uachtarán Chumann no longer serves on CA involved in Clarinbridge GAA Lúthchleas Gael, Seán Ó Peter Joe was born in having finished up at the 2019 Club and Galway GAA and a hOráin, said: “The GAA September 1930 and has AGM but left a great legacy great role model for his self- stands on the shoulders of given outstanding service to through his devotion to the lessness and commitment. the Association. Kilmore GAA the people we are fortunate club was reformed in 1972 to be able to call our own. and Peter Joe became vice- Ultimately, the strength of the chairperson in its inaugural Association is down to the year and has been involved in resilience, dedication and the club ever since. inspiration of the volunteers On the field, Kilmore have who make it happen, week won the County Junior cham- after week, year after year. pionship in 1975, Intermediate “These awards give us an championship in 1981 and Roscommon senior champi- opportunity to single out a onship in 1983 and Peter Joe group who are not motivated Fitzmaurice has been an ever by recognition, but who have constant and was a selector HANDBALL RECIPIENTS on all three occasions. made an invaluable contribu- MICHAEL & ANN NAUGHTON, tion to our Association and He has held many roles St. Coman’s GAA Club, Roscommon within the club including Vice- are worthy of this acknowl- Michael and Ann Naughton have served their club, county Chairperson, Treasurer, assis- edgement and are great and province in a coaching and administrative capacity since tant Treasurer and is ambassadors for the tens of 1980. President of Kilmore GAA for thousands like them all Michael and Ann coached both boys and girls in St Coman's, over 20 years. Peter Joe also Roscommon, over this period and were particularly influential in across the GAA. served as a selector on many promoting and developing girls and ladies handball at the club. “I would like to acknowl- underage teams down the An incredible haul of honours followed and titles in Féile na edge AIB for their ongoing years. Gael, Community Games, Tailteann Games, All-Ireland 40x20 & support of these awards and He was a crucial part of 60x30, Girls Team of 10, World Championships, USHA Nation- of their wider commitment to the club drive back in 1979 als, 40x20 and 1-wall Nationals were brought back to the club Gaelic games. when Kilmore acquired new and county during their time. “Míle buíochas also to ground and developed the Ann served as Team manager to official Irish teams at vari- TG4 for their assistance in current pitch and facilities ous World Championships. Michael has served as club and helping us to bring these which were opened in 1982. county PRO. He won a number of Masters titles in both 40x20 He has also given over 20 awards to the widest audi- and 60x30 and had a long-playing career. He continues his years of service to Roscom- promotional work for handball through the Roscommon GAA ence possible and for the mon GAA as a loyal gate History Committee and is still coaching at the St Coman's Hand- work they do each year in collector on gates for club & ball Club. Both have been lifelong devotees to Handball and showcasing Gaelic games.” County games. have given a lifetime of invaluable service to the game.

Page 14 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE GAA Congress approves cynical fouls penalties AA Annual Congress ratified new penalties for aggressive and cyni- Gcal fouls in hurling and football on a trial basis for a year. 61 per cent of dele- gates voted in favour of the three deter- rents that were included in Motion 20. In hurling, if a player with a goal-scor- ing opportunity either inside the 20-metre line or the semi-circular that extends from the 20 metre line is pulled down, tripped, or struck with a in a care- less manner then a penalty shall be awarded and the offender will be yellow- carded and sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes. If the foul committed is a second caution or one that merits a red-card then Dublin Chief Executive John Costello during the GAA Annual Congress 2020 at Croke Park. the offender is ordered off for the remain- Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile. der of the game including any extra-time to be played. be a yellow-card. A repeat offence on the year. The exception would be where Similarly, in football, if a cynical foul is the day would incur a second yellow- the first Sunday falls on January 1st, in committed on an attacking player with a card followed by a red-card which which case the finals would be played on goal-scoring opportunity inside the 20- would bar the offender from the pitch or before the 30th Sunday of the Year. In metre line or the semi-circular arc, then a enclosure for the remainder of the 2021, for example, the 29th Sunday of the penalty will be awarded to the team game including any extra-time. If an year falls on July 18th. affected. individual is ordered off the pitch for The successful motion has also given Motion 20 was one of eight motions a third time, then they will incur a Central Council the power to make other from the Standing Committee on Play- one-match suspension. This motion arrangements “in exceptional circum- ing Rules that were voted through by will only come into effect after the stances.” Annual Congress. cessation of the current Covid-19 So, for example, restrictions caused by Motion 21: This motion deals with the protocols. the Covid-19 pandemic might make it advantage rule and is somewhat Motion 24: The passing of this motion impossible to play the All-Ireland Football related to Motion 20. If an aggressive has extended the scope of the rule Final by the 29th Sunday of the Year, in foul is committed then the referee can dealing with abuse of a racist, sectar- which case alternative arrangements allow play to continue if he believes ian, or anti-inclusion nature against would have to be made. the attacking team have a potential an opponent to also include such Motion 13 was passed that proposes goal-scoring opportunity. This period abuse against a match official. restricting county senior champi- of advantage can last for up to five Motion 25: Teams can now validly start onships to a maximum of 16 teams to seconds. If it becomes clear after five and finish a match with 13 players. help streamline the club season and seconds that no advantage has Previously if they started a match make it easier to deliver a practical accrued, then he can award a free. with 13 they were required to have a fixtures schedule. That would naturally mean a penalty full complement of 15 by the start of would be awarded if the foul occurred the second half. Motion 12 : There was no opposition to inside the 20-metre line or semi-circu- Motion 26: It was already a foul in foot- Motion 12 which stipulated that the lar arc. ball and hurling to attempt to distract All-Ireland Inter-County Senior Finals Motion 22: This motion dealt with a free-taker by waving your arms or will from 2022 be played on or before misconduct by team officials and has Hurley, shouting at them, or jumping the 29th Sunday of the year. defined what the categories of up and down. The passing of this The exception would be where the first misconduct are and introduced a motion has extended the rule to Sunday falls on January 1st, in which case scale of sanctions that includes include attempting to distract some- the finals would be played on or before the match suspensions rather than time one in similar fashion while they are 30th Sunday of the Year. In 2021, for suspensions. The implementation taking a puck-out/kick-out or side line example, the 29th Sunday of the year falls date is for the 2021 All-Ireland Cham- puck/kick. on July 18th. pionships in both codes and all Motion 27: The passing of this motion The successful motion has also given grades and then for other competi- means teams can now make a tempo- Central Council the power to make other tions it will come into effect in 2022. rary substitution of a player with a arrangements “in exceptional circum- Motion 23: This motion relates to suspected head injury. stances.” Motion 22 and dealt with unautho- A proposal to split the GAA season So, for example, restrictions caused by rised incursions onto the field of play. between inter-county and club was rati- the Covid-19 pandemic might make it Now no-one will be able to come on to fiedThere was no opposition to Motion 12 impossible to play the All-Ireland Football the field of play except a medic which stipulated that the All-Ireland Inter- Final by the 29th Sunday of the Year, in summoned by the referee. The sanc- County Senior Finals will from 2022 be which case alternative arrangements tion for an unauthorised incursion will played on or before the 29th Sunday of would have to be made.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 15 Pakie McGarty, RIP, is pictured here second from left, while in attendance at the Leitrim Supporters Club 25th Anniversary launch in 2011. Also pictured from left to right were: Tony Gallogly, ; Leitrim legend Pakie McGarty; Ben Wrynn, Leixlip; and Peter Hugh McPartland, Ballina- glera. Photo: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE Tributes pour in for Leitrim GAA legend Pakie McGarty

played for Connacht and Ulster and was a McGarty moved to where he By JOHN FALLON great man to solo. So Pakie practiced and worked on building sites and with London Media West (Ireland) perfected soloing and was very hard to Transport but continued to travel home to mark. play for Leitrim and notch up big scores. “He gave outstanding service to Leitrim He played for the Tara club in London. RIBUTES have been paid to and continued to come back here down He moved back to Ireland in 1964 and legendary Leitrim footballer Pakie through the years. He came back and opened a grocery shop in Clondalkin in TMcGarty, widely regarded as the played for towards the end of his Dublin which he operated until he retired best player ever from the county. career. I remember playing against him in 1998. The Mohill native had a distinguished one of those years. He was the only Leitrim player selected 23-year career with Leitrim, making his “He was a natural footballer and it’s a on the Connacht Team of the Millennium. debut when he was just 16, and won Rail- sad day for Leitrim. It’s the end of an era,” way Cup honours with Connacht. said McGovern. McGarty, who would have been 88 He played in six Connacht finals, losing McGarty had the distinction of playing later this month, played for the Sean five of them to Galway and one to Mayo in in a national league game against Offaly in McDermotts and Round Towers clubs after a career that went from 1949 to 1971. 1949 when he was just 16, and it was moving to Dublin and continued to have a Former Leitrim chairman and Connacht another eight months before he made his keen interest in Leitrim GAA throughout president Gerry McGovern from neighbor- minor debut for the county. his life, rejoicing when manager John ing club Cloone said that McGarty was an He was on the Leitrim junior team O’Mahony led them to only their second outstanding footballer. which was defeated by Meath in the 1952 Connacht title in history when they “He wasn’t a big man but he could run All-Ireland final and, along with Noel triumphed in 1994. at defences, had great agility and could Blessing, became the first from the county “He was a super footballer,” said pick off scores. He modelled himself a lot to win a Railway Cup medal when Stephen Flynn, secretary of Mohill GAA. on Leo McAlinden here in Cloone who had Connacht triumphed in 1957. “He was a superstar of his time.”

Page 16 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Clubforce investment good news for the West

LUBFORCE, the Galway-based sports participation software Ccompany, has announced plans to double its workforce following a €2.5m investment in the business. This expanded workforce of 40 members of staff will be spread between its Galway and UK offices and will allow Clubforce to accelerate delivery of an ambitious product roadmap. This will see the existing club management system evolve into a complete sports participation system, which will transform how club members, sports clubs and their governing bodies interact with each other. The new investment comes as Club- force finished 2020 strongly with unprece- dented demand for new and better Clubforce CEO Warren Healy technological solutions from sports club participation management to the core of its volunteers in the wake of the COVID-19 product and to continue its international pandemic. expansion from the Galway base. Speaking at the announcement, “While the product will be expanding Warren Healy, founder and CEO of Club- significantly in its reach, the volunteer in force, said: “Sports organisations were these sports organisations will always be already feeling a certain level of strain core to all of the product development,” before the pandemic struck. Grassroots said Ms Nealon. sports relies heavily on volunteers, who “Demand across the country, and over- tend to be time-poor and the pandemic seas, has gone through the roof in recent has made the role far more challenging. months because of good marketing, good “Our plan is to provide these volunteers product and the effects of the pandemic. with a significant number of additional The investment and ongoing recruitment tools to simply make their roles easier. We drive will give us everything we need to know that volunteer tasks are an increas- develop a world class product for our loyal ing challenge and we’re helping sports and increasing customer base". clubs to solve these challenges. The Carol Neylon, CFO, Clubforce The investment also sees a significant volunteers are the fulcrum around which addition to the board as Noel Murray, ex everything else rotates in amateur sports.” Head of Operations – Japan and Asia with Healy pointed out that most of the the existing board. Carole said that the Microsoft, is set to re-enter the fray of heavy lifting on the fundraise was driven funds will allow Clubforce to deliver on the business as Chairman of the board at by the company CFO, Carole Neylon and vision of the company which is to bring Clubforce.

Send payment to: Into the West, Padraig Corcoran, Toneybane, , Co. Mayo, Ireland. Make cheques payable to: Connacht Council

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 17 19 December 2020: Slippery Sam, elusive and still out of reach. Aidan O'Shea has a quick look as Colm Basquel takes his turn to lift the Sam Maguire Cup, no doubt wondering when he and Mayo will reach the holy grail. This is the county’s 10th All-Ireland final loss since they last won the title in 1951 and O’Shea’s fifth time to be on the losing team in a decider. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile. Sportsfile’s ‘A Season the strangest of years

HE GAA president, John Horan, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. much of the activity took place in front of attended a virtual launch to officially While the highlights of another spec- small crowds or none at all and a host of Tunveil the 2020 edition of A Season tacular calendar year in the life of the GAA new precautionary measures accompa- of Sundays. are expertly captured by the lenses of the nied the staging of matches and training Over the past 24 years, the publication Sportsfile photographers – and enhanced sessions. of Sportsfile’s A Season of Sundays has by Alan Milton’s perceptive captions – Thankfully, the club and inter-county become an annual sporting tradition, even they could not have envisaged the championships exploded into life, provid- marking the end of each GAA season with challenges that 2020 would bring to ing a welcome distraction and memorable a stunning collection of images. people’s lives and by extension to the on-field exploits followed. This year’s eagerly anticipated offering activities of the GAA. Speaking at the launch, the book’s looks back at all the memories throughout While the initial shutdown in March is creator Ray McManus said: “While we all a year like no other and is once again expertly captured, so too is the grassroots knew that something was heading west supported by Carroll’s of . volunteer movement that sprouted up we never thought it would have such an The 2020 edition captures the highs across the wider GAA club network, impact on Irish society and indeed on the and lows of an incredible GAA season with underpinning a massive community effort world. I remember sitting at my desk wait- another captivating and colourful look during the first lockdown. ing on the TV broadcast (by the back on a season that hung in the balance When training and games did return, Taoiseach) and trying to work out what

Page 18 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE 1 August 2020: Walking down the 18 October 2020: Where there’s a will there’s a way. The longing aisle. After togging out in the to get into grounds to see matches live and the frustration of stand, the footballers of Milltown, being locked out have generated some ingenuity among fans. In Co. Galway, make a grand entrance Tuam Stadium local man, Martin Connolly, finds a narrow viewing in . point at the gates. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/ Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile. Sportsfile. of Sundays’ captures in GAA history

would happen games and sports in Barracks – look back in 100 years’ time I ick’s win underlines the importance of the general. That may seem somewhat selfish hope that this pictorial record of a strange finals to the season as a whole. but it was my staff in Sportsfile I was really year accurately reflects the 2020 GAA “This year’s edition will doubtless be thinking of and how it would affect us as a season.” remembered for the many non-playing group. Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael pictures it includes and in capturing them, “Little did I know then that a hashtag Seán Ó hÓráin added: “We might be a Sportsfile have secured important snap- used by the Press Photographers Associa- little later than normal marking the release shots in history. Congratulations to Ray tion of Ireland would never be more rele- of A Season of Sundays – through no fault and his team and also to Carroll’s of vant. #CapturingHistory is what of Ray McManus or Sportsfile it must be Tullamore for their ongoing support of this photographers do every day and this year noted – but isn’t it fantastic to have a high- treasured publication.” was probably the best example ever. In quality collection capturing the highs and this, the 24th edition of A Season of lows of a season we thought we’d never Sundays, I believe we have captured a see in our lifetime. most extraordinary year in Gaelic games. “I’m delighted Ray and his team waited “When the historians or The National to capture the finals and the front cover An ideal gift for any GAA fan, the book is Museum of Ireland – specifically the Deco- picture of Gearóid Hegarty celebrating a available at bookstores nationwide and online rative Arts & History branch in Collins memorable final performance and Limer- at www.sportsfile.com and is priced at €27.95.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 19 Antrim hurler Neil McManus and his father Hugh at Cushen- dall GAA Club in Antrim. Neil is an ambassador for the GAA Community Heart Programme which seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of defibrillators to clubs and make it possible to fundraise to acquire them. Neil's work is inspired by his family experience five years ago when his father was saved by the presence of a defibrilla- tor in the community during an emergency. GAA club-based defibrillators have been used to save 42 lives. Photo: David Fitzgerald/ Sportsfile. GAA Community Heart Programme seeks to help save lives through defibrillator awareness CCORDING to a recent survey, 42 In addition to having a bespoke near a GAA-based AED during an emer- lives across Ireland have been fundraising platform, Clubs will be able to gency. Asaved by Automated External Defib- avail of a significant reduction of €995 Uachtarán CLG Larry McCarthy rillators (AEDs) located in GAA facilities saving per unit if they register and secure encouraged clubs to engage with the being used on members of their communi- their AED(s) via the Community Heart Community Heart Programme. He said: ties. Programme. Once the fundraising target “The GAA club is the focal point of the The GAA is marking this by today of €2,150 per unit has been reached, the communities in which we operate. In the launching the Community Heart AED unit(s) will also be delivered directly past we have seen how access to these Programme. to the club. Programme partners Heart devices have made a critical difference This initiative encourages every club in Safety Solutions will supply the unit to the during an emergency. This Community the country to A.C.T. now and ensure that club. Heart Programme not only plays a vital their club can also be prepared in case of We know that AED units save lives. role at raising awareness, but also affords an emergency and that they can avail of a However, AEDs, like all medical equip- clubs an opportunity to ensure that they defibrillator that is ACCESSIBLE, ment, need to be replaced over time. The have some of the most up-to-date equip- CHARGED and that there are enough life expectancy of an AED is between eight ment available.” TRAINED rescuers within your club who and 10 years. Critical components such as The GAA is working alongside Stryker have the ability to operate the device. pads and batteries need to be checked to deliver the program. Stryker is one of The Community Heart Programme regularly. the world’s leading medical technology allows GAA Clubs to fundraise for life- Remember, an AED should be ACCES- companies and, together with their saving Automated External Defibrillators SIBLE, CHARGED with sufficient Club customers, is driven to make healthcare (AEDs) via a bespoke fundraising plat- members TRAINED in how to operate the better. The company offers innovative form. The programme allows clubs to device. AEDs must be checked regularly products and services in Orthopaedics, fundraise for new AEDs, which are to ensure that they are in working order Medical and Surgical, and Neurotechnol- connected to the internet via the mobile and ready for use. ogy and Spine that help improve patient phone network. This means the AED will From school children to seemingly fit and hospital outcomes. check itself and notify designated club and health club players to older members For more information see: members via email if there is an issue that of the community, there is a broad spec- https://savealife.communityheartprogram.c needs to be addressed, such as the trum of people represented among the list om/gaa. battery or pads needing to be changed. of those who have benefitted by being

Page 20 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Mayo and Connacht GAA mourns the loss of PJ McGrath

MAYO GAA &

AYO GAA are saddened to learn the passing of PJ McGrath, MKilmaine GAA. PJ was a member of the Mayo Senior panel in the mid-60s before he took up refereeing at club and national level. PJ was regarded as one of the greatest referees. He went on to referee the 1982 All-Ireland senior football final between Offaly and Kerry in 1982 and two All- Ireland minor finals. PJ was heavily involved in GAA Admin- istration, serving as Mayo County Board Chairman from 1997 to 2002. Over this time he served on the Connacht Council as president from 1994 to 1996. PJ was nominated to contest the position of Uachtaran C.L.G in 2002. He also was Chairman of the National Referee's Committee. P.J. was presented with a Hall of Fame Award by the GAA in November 2014. Former referees PJ McGrath (right) and Neil Duggan from Limerick are presented with their Hall The South Mayo GAA Board said P.J. of Fame awards at the 2014 National Referees' Awards Banquet at Croke Park. served the GAA throughout his life for Photo: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE club, county, province and nationally. A tribute by the board stated: "He played his club football with Kilmaine and "Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis." 1982 All Ireland football final between was a member of the 1966 Mayo senior Away from sport, the deceased was a Offaly and Kerry. football panel. leading figure in the Mayo Fianna Fáil "He was also a dedicated and active "He also played at full back on the organisation for many years and served as member of Fianna Fáil. He served as chair Mayo Junior team the same year. constituency chairman. of Mayo Fianna Fail. "He served Mayo as County Board Paying tribute to him, Deputy Dara "I and many more benefited from his chairman from 1997 to 2002 and later as Calleary stated: "It is with great sadness generosity of time and spirit and his president. He also served as Connacht that I have learned of the passing of P.J. immense wisdom and experience. I will be Council president and ran for the GAA McGrath of Kilmaine and Claremorris. for ever grateful for that. presidency in 2002. "P.J. was one of life's gentlemen. He "My thoughts and prayers are with his "P.J. refereed the 1982 All-Ireland was a distinguished member of the GAA wife Phil and their wonderful family. senior football final and two All-Ireland as a player, a referee and an official at all "His legacy is immense, his influence minor finals and was also chair of the levels. wide and long lasting. Go ndeana Dia National Referees Commitee. "He served as referee of the famous trocaire ar a anam."

PJ McGrath, RIP, is pictured here in 1983. Dublin captain Tommy Drumm (right) shakes hands with Cork captain Christy Ryan ahead of the All-Ireland senior championship semi-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as PJ McGrath gets ready for the game. Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 21 GAA Green Clubs mark National Tree Week

To mark National Tree Week Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Larry McCarthy, planted a native oak tree, presented by Orla Farrell, Project lead of Easy Treesie. The planting took place on County Council land at Malahide Castle adjacent to the St Sylvester's GAA playing fields. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

O mark the launch of Phase 1 of the Biodiversity Datacentre. Biodiversity is ship with the GAA and to see our trees GAA Green Club Programme and one of five themes being explored through planted in GAA, Camogie and Ladies TNational Tree Week, the Easy the Green Club Programme, which is a football clubs nationwide this year,” said Treesie – Crann Project partnership between the GAA, LGFA and Mark Carlin, Managing Director of Coillte. (www.easytreesie.com) supported by Camogie Association and local authorities “National Tree Week reminds us of the Coillte (www.coillte.ie) and Trees on the across Ireland. multiple benefits of trees and forests for Land (www.treesontheland.com) will The Easy Treesie Project aims to plant climate change, for nature, for recre- provide GAA, Camogie and LGFA clubs one million trees with Ireland’s one million ational spaces and for providing a with 45,000 native tree saplings, which school children and their communities by sustainable source of wood for our due to current restrictions on access to 2023 joining the UNESCO-backed Plant- homes.” Club grounds will be distributed to for-the-planet’s www.trilliontreecam- Larry McCarthy, Uachtarán Cumann selected Clubs at the beginning of the paign.org challenge, reducing global Luthchleas Gael said: “The GAA, along next planting season in November. heating by 1°C during the UN Decade of with our sister organisations are very Coillte and Trees on the Land will Ecosystem Restoration, 2021-31. grateful for the donation of these native donate and deliver the 45,000 native Orla Farrell of Easy Treesie said: “We saplings to our clubs. While reinforcing saplings to the project. The saplings will are delighted to support the GAA with this our responsibility to our environment be used to create shelter belts, planted initiative which will help restore biodiver- through the Green Club Programme we along walkways and to generally enhance sity in communities across the island. We will also be exploring how our Clubs func- the natural landscape and biodiversity of would like to thank our many supporters tion from a sustainability perspective, in the site. who have successfully started this work in terms of energy use, water, waste and Planting trees is included in the five recent years, planting approximately transport. This work is directly related to ways to make clubs biodiversity-friendly 14,000 saplings and apple trees with our values of Community Identity, as identified in the recently published several GAA clubs and their communi- Respect and Teamwork and reflects the guidelines on pollinator-friendly manage- ties.” best of our manifesto ‘Where We All ment of sports clubs by the National “We’re delighted with our new partner- Belong’.

Page 22 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Eastern Harps gets up and gets moving

FTER Christmas, Sligo club Eastern Harps’ Healthy Club group came up Awith their ‘Get up, Get Moving’ initia- tive. This is a community-based event that caters for all ages and levels of fitness and is family orientated. This event is free to all participants as the club has received a grant from Healthy Ireland to run this event. Over 160 adults and children had registered for the six weeks programme which started on 13 January. It has been hugely successful and due to popular demand and the fact that our club’s initiative made the six one news on Saturday 13 February we are going to run this event for at least another 3 weeks. Have a look at our news clip here: https://www.rte.ie/news/connacht/2021/02 13/1196949-healthy-activities-sligo The club offers Pilates classes live on zoom with instructor Ann Wynne which take place on a Thursday evening and Sunday morning. They also offer pre- recorded HIIT sessions from TAPA Coach- ing which allows people to do these in their own time. Some fun bonus point activities that were in place over the six weeks included ice-bucket challenges, baking banana bread, creating a romantic Valentines table setting, Jerusalema dance challenge and making snowmen. Phase two of the programme started on Wednesday 24 March with an addi- Eastern Harps members were building snowmen as part of their Healthy Club initative. tional 70 participants joining in, swelling number to 220 participants starting the cookery class coincides with our ‘Get Up then be a facility with high internet speeds second phase of the challenge. Get Moving’ initiative as there are a lot of for members of the community to work This programme has proved to be a big the same people involved in both. The and study from. This would be a great hit during lockdown as it motivates people baking class is another family-based initia- asset to our rural area. to get outdoors and be active with their tive by our Healthy Club committee. kids. WEEKLY 50/50 DRAW

FAMILY FUN QUIZ & SHORT The club has launched a new weekly VIRTUAL BAKING AND STORY COMPETITION 50/50 draw which began in January. The COOKERY CLASS total amount of money raised by weekly The club hosted a family lockdown quiz ticket sales is split, with 50% going to the Another idea that was brought to life on 30 January. This encouraged families winner and 50% going to the club. after hearing of another lockdown after to get together on a Saturday evening for People wishing to take part have the Christmas was virtual baking classes over a battle of wits. The quiz gave people the option to buy tickets both in the local zoom. The Healthy Club approached chance to test out their knowledge but supermarket or online, where they can pay Eileen Kirrane – Eileen’s Kitchen Table also acted as a social event allowing weekly or enter multiple draws with a from Cloonacool and organised six weeks members of the club the chance to chat single payment. The draw has been highly of virtual classes on a Saturday from 10- and have the craic between rounds. The successful thus far as there is a winner 12noon. We currently have over 70 event was very successful with kids and each week and the club aim to continue parents and children baking each Satur- adults of all ages logging into zoom and running the draw every week. Play our day morning with this number growing taking part. 50/50 draw here lottoraiser.ie/Eastern- each week. This is another initiative that Harps has been a huge success in our locality with past club players and families joining BROADBAND HUB too. The club has also been This programme has proved to be the working alongside Sligo break that both parents and kids needed County Council in from home-schooling. It allows parents to exploring the options to have the dinner ready by noon and the form a broadband hub in line Eastern Harps’ kids get a couple of hours entertainment in with the national broadband Healthy Club t-shirts, the morning as well as getting to spend plan. The hope is that this kindly sponsored by time together as a family. We are currently could present the opportunity East Brothers looking at extending this programme as of creating a hot desk area in Machinery and the feedback is extremely positive. This our clubhouse. This could supplied by GRG.

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 23 ConnachtConnacht GAA'sGAA's centrecentre ofof ee

helps clubs and grounds in implementing lence in Bekan, Co. Mayo was completed By JOHN HARRINGTON green and sustainable actions. in September 2020, the culmination of a Connacht GAA’s commitment to this project many years in the development. ethos was apparent even before the Even before the first sod was turned on HE Connacht GAA Centre of Excel- Centre was officially opened back in 2012, site, sustainability and respect for local lence has a higher profile than ever as four acres of the site were planted with and community heritage were at the heart Tthanks to the completion last year of ash trees in 2008. of the Centre of Excellence planning. In the full-pitch air dome at the heart of its And when the Centre of Excellence 2008 four acres of the Bekan site were campus in Bekan, . was then built it was designed to collect planted with ash trees and the fairy fort Less visible to the naked eye than that rainwater from its main roof area which area on the site was secured. And it impressive structure is the considerable could then be stored underground in a seems that a_n lucht sí _ have indeed work that Connacht GAA have undertaken 72,000 litre tank. given their blessing to the development, to make their Centre of Excellence also as the Centre of Excellence project has live up to its name as far as sustainability gone from strength to strength, in doing so and being kind to their local environment Excellence in Sustainability – setting the example for the sustainable is concerned. Green Growth in Connacht GAA development and operation of regional This is why they’re one of two regional Centre of Excellence sport facilities. grounds, along with O’Moore Park in The Centre of Excellence collects rain- Laois, participating in Phase 1 of the The full-pitch air dome that is at the water from its main roof area, which is GAA’s new Green Club Project, which heart of Connacht GAA’s Centre of Excel- then stored in an underground 72,000 litre

Page 24 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE nergynergy efficientefficient excellenceexcellence

tank, the toilets are now fed from this rain- most recent biodiversity project on the List of participating clubs: water system, reducing water bills and the Bekan site is being undertaken in partner- pressures on water supply. Movement ship with a number of local schools while The following Connacht clubs and detectors and low flow valves further the Centre’s management are collaborat- grounds are participating in Phase One of enhance the water efficiency across the ing with the local bee club in plans for the the GAA’s new Green Clubs Programme: Centre. installation of hives onsite. Energy efficiency measures throughout Bekan Connacht GAA Centre of Excel- Ballina Stephanites, Mayo the site include a recent LED upgrade, a lence is one of two regional grounds, Shannon Gaels, Roscommon full building management system to along with O’Moore Park in Laois, partici- Clarinbridge, Galway manage energy usage and lighting pating in Phase 1 of the GAA’s new Green St Colman's Camogie Club, Galway sensors throughout the facility, while there Club Project. The Green Club project is * Connacht GAA Centre of are plans in place for a new solar installa- working with the two regional grounds, 45 Excellence, Bekan (regional venue) tion and a number of e-car charge points. clubs for the island of Ireland, the local The Connacht GAA Centre of Excel- authorities, through the Climate Action lence isn’t only a sports centre, it is also a Regional Offices, and a number of expert community facility and the Centre’s team partners to develop a Green Club Toolkit are looking forward to welcoming school to support clubs and grounds in imple- and community groups to explore the facil- menting green and sustainable actions. ity and to help the team in its future For more information, please visit sustainability and community projects. The www.gaa.ie/greenclub

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 25 Ownemore Gales completes its Solar Lighting Project

WENMORE Gaels are delighted to Electric Skyline Ltd for their exper- that you would walk in the direction to announce that the Solar tise and assistance throughout the around the track as indicated by the OLighting Project along our walk- whole process from planning stage signage erected along the fencing. ing track at Connolly Park has been through to its completion. Social distancing should be main- completed. This is the first such light- The lights will come on at dusk and tained at all times. Dogs are not ing system to be installed at a GAA turn off at 10pm. The club requests allowed on the track at any time. club grounds in the country. Did you know? The project was 75% funded by the •10 laps of the track at Connolly Sligo Leader Rural Development Park is equal to 5km! Programme 2014-2020, under the •Our electricity costs are nil! Renewable Energy Category. Thanks Thanks to everyone that supported the club's 50:50 Draw over the past few months where the proceeds contributed towards the lighting project.

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Page 26 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Roscommon GAA finances back on track as Interim Finance Committee stands down

Roscommon captain Eoin Colleran lifts the Connacht minor title in 2020. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile.

N Monday, 22 March Roscommon Rossie, which has raised €2.1 million weeks and then the make-up of these GAA turned another financial (net) during the past three years. This committees, along with all our other sub- Ocorner when the Interim Finance committee, working alongside the County committees will be announced. Committee, appointed by Croke Park, Board officers, the County Executive and Roscommon GAA Chairperson Brian stood down and passed all financial all the clubs within the county are respon- Carroll looks forward to some normality control back to the County Board officers. sible alongside our two main sponsors, returning to the GAA scene later this year At the final meeting, held virtually due Seán Mulryan and Tom Hunt, for reverting and is committed to do what’s best for to Covid-19 restrictions, Interim Finance Roscommon GAA to a stable financial Roscommon GAA, both on and off the Committee Chairman John Murphy, footing. field. complemented the massive efforts of Roscommon Treasurer, David O “As a county we found ourselves in a Roscommon GAA in completing a remark- Connor, thanked the outgoing Interim very challenging financial position in 2017. able financial turnaround in just over three Finance Committee for all their help and Since then, with the help of the Interim years. commended the finance team in Croke Finance Committee, we worked together Since its inception in 2017, the Interim Park, led by Kathy Slattery, for advising to get our financial situation back on Finance Committee has assisted the and guiding them through this tough track,” said Carroll. board in monitoring and managing signifi- period. cant income and expenditure items by David O'Connor said: "We have terrific “I want to thank everyone in Club conducting regular financial scenario plan- supporters, are blessed with two wonder- Rossie, the members of the Interim ning and recommending a long-term ful main sponsors in Seán Mulryan and Finance Committee, members of the framework. Tom Hunt and with Club Rossie going County and Management Committees, all With full financial control, the Roscom- from strength to strength each year, the our clubs, our two main sponsors Seán mon County Board now looks forward to a future looks bright." Mulryan & Tom Hunt and all our other stable financial future and hope to Roscommon GAA will now proceed to sponsors for their continued support in commence capital development works at appoint a new Finance Committee in reaching this milestone. and the Dermot Earley 2021. An audit committee will also be “We must now ensure that our financial Centre of Excellence in the near future, appointed with external independent situation stays in a healthy state while while also ensuring teams are adequately members to oversee and review regularly continuing to progress the GAA in prepared and the current coaching struc- how the Roscommon GAA County Board Roscommon, both on and off the playing tures continue their excellent work. are running their affairs. This will ensure field. Hopefully, before long, we will see all Roscommon GAA are the envy of continued good governance. our players back on the pitch and our many counties due to the very strong Both committees will be confirmed by supporters at games, with everyone back commercial and fundraising arm, Club the County Committee over the next few where they belong.”

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 27 GAA members get timely health boost thanks to Healthy Club / MyLife by Irish Life Steps Challenge

ROFESSOR Niall Moyna has heralded the personal and public health impact of the Pregular exercise and health score 28,000 participants representing almost 700 GAA clubs walked an average improvements experienced by the participants in the recently concluded GAA Healthy Club / MyLife by Irish Life Steps Challenge. 268,000 steps each and recorded an improved Health Score during challenge Between January 13th and March 3rd, 28,000 GAA members walked a combined total Games have been forced to stop as leader of 6 million kms as part of the ‘Every Step boards on the MyLife App allowed clubs to see Counts’ challenge hosted on Irish Life’s MyLife their standing within their own county, App. To put that into perspective, it is the province, and nationally. St. Colmcille’s topped equivalent of walking the circumference of the the leader-board for total distance earth 15 times; a combined step count of 7.5 covered, just ahead of Clontarf in Dublin. billion. The aim of the challenge was to offer “We (were) having great craic with them on GAA members a fun incentive to stay active social media chasing each other. They have within their 5km radius. On average, each small. Walking is a highly accessible activity. It done super work in their community as well. I participant walked just over 200km. requires no special skills or facilities, can be saw a fundraiser they did in aid of the Irish Prof. Moyna, BA, MSc, PhD, FACSM, FFPHMI, easily accommodated into an existing lifestyle, Cancer Society and Pieta House encouraging Full Professor: Clinical Exercise Physiology, can be undertaken at almost any age with little all their members to do something active. They School of Health and Human Performance, risk of injury and has been shown to positively have been a great kind of adversary in the Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City impact on physical, psychological and cogni- nicest possible way for us throughout this.” University, who is also well known for his GAA tive function. Indeed, there isn't a single organ GAA President Larry McCarthy said: “The credentials, said: in the body that is not positively affected by a steps challenge provided our clubs with a “It is very gratifying to see that the partici- brief walk,” Prof. Moyna added. meaningful and safe way to express their pants in this MyLife by Irish Life Healthy Club A club target of 4,000km was set for the community identity while keeping people Steps Challenge walked an average of 268,000 ‘Every Step Counts’ challenge – the equivalent connected during this difficult period of lock- steps and had an 11-point increase in their of a circuit of the coast of Ireland. All clubs down. As the incredible figures demonstrate, it health score in the only, eight weeks. The that achieved this goal were entered into also helped motivate thousands of participants public health implications of these results randomised draws in their province for gear to achieve their recommended weekly physical cannot be underestimated and demonstrate vouchers worth €2,500, €1,500, and €1,000, activity levels within their 5km limit. I’d like to the value of promoting walking across the generously provided by Irish Life as part of thank Irish Life for their continued, innovative, lifespan.” their on-going CSR partnership of the Healthy support of the GAA Healthy Club Project and The challenge helped fill some of the void Club Project. An additional €23,000 worth of look forward to more clubs getting involved in created by the absence of any on-field GAA gear vouchers were set aside for specific this great project in the future.” activity and the forced cancellation of the achievements within participating clubs, with Head of Wellness, Irish Life Stacey Maches- popular annual Ireland Lights Up walking the winners to be announced next week. ney said: “Health & Wellbeing continues to initiative, normally delivered in conjunction While the winning clubs welcomed the prize become increasingly important with immedi- with RTE’s Operation Transformation during monies during this challenging financial period ate and long terms health benefits directly January and February. for all sports clubs, the benefits of the chal- linked to physical health and exercise. From The 28,000 participants represented over lenge far exceeded the financial rewards. our own research carried out we know approxi- 700 GAA clubs across the 32 counties. It was Ciara Lalor, PRO with the St. Colmcille’s mately 90% of us are looking to improve our the second such steps challenge delivered Healthy Club in Meath, explains: health with lack of motivation being the during the pandemic through the GAA’s award “Seeing the engagement that we have had biggest challenge to achieving this. The winning Healthy Club Project. They Healthy from members and the community and giving insights coming from MyLife are showing us, Club Project is delivered in partnership with something back to our members at this time the more opportunities we get to exercise in a Irish Life, Healthy Ireland, the HSE, and when there is very little else going on, you take social and connected way, the greater success National Office for Suicide Prevention. The great pride in been able to do it. We take great we have in staying motivated to be physically first challenge in June 2020 attracted 12,000 pride in keeping people active, keeping people active”. participants from over 400 clubs, with the engaged and keeping people having a bit of fun The GAA Healthy Club Project currently MyLife App once again tracking all 2.2 billion and giving them a reason to get out and a engages 300 clubs and will open expressions steps taken. reason to walk.” of interest for to new entrant clubs in Novem- “The amount of physical activity required to Ciara also noted the benefits of a bit of ber 2021. For more details go to: produce substantial health benefits is quite inter-club rivalry during a time when Gaelic www.gaa.ie/community

Winners of random provincial draw amongst all clubs that reached 4,500km target: Province €2,500 O’Neill’s gear voucher €1,500 O’Neill’s gear voucher €1,000 O’Neill’s gear voucher LEINSTER Gaeil Colmcille CLG (Bettystown) Meath Johnstown bridge GAA, Kildare St. Michael’s GAA, Meath CONNACHT Owenmore Gaels, Sligo Allen Gaels, Leitrim Ballinaglera GAA, Leitrim MUNSTER Beale GAA, Kerry Ballybacon-Grange Hurling & Camogie Club, Tipperary Emly GAA, Tipperary ULSTER Loughgiel Shamrocks GAC, Antrim Lavey GAA, Derrynoose GAA, Armagh

Page 28 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE Tribute to former Gortletteragh footballer Hugh Colreavy

attended Drumgownagh National School. Hugh had a great interest in people and Typical of him, he took great pleasure from was always happy to have a ‘chat’ with meeting some of his old school mates whoever he came into contact with, be N January 22, Gortletteragh GAA when he attended the school reunion in they young or old. lost one of its former players when 2013. Even though he lived in Mohill for the OHugh Colreavy passed away to his After attending the Tech in Mohill, he past number of years, he never lost his eternal reward. headed for the big city of Dublin, like a lot interest in Gortletteragh and had his green Hugh was a member of the Colreavy of others at that time. and gold flag out on the lawn beside the family from Annaghoney and, along with While working as a barman in some of Mohill flag for the 2020 County finals. his brothers Fr Tom, Mick, Jack and the better known hostelries of that era like For all of us Gortletteragh people and Seamus, played for the Club during the the Beachcomber Bar in Raheny and the visitors in general, Hugh and Jacinta’s 60s and 70s and later served as a team Starlight Hotel in Bray, Hugh encountered house in Mohill was always a very welcom- selector. many colourful characters that he often ing place to call to. He represented his county at under 16 talked about in later years. Whatever your timetable was at the level in 1959. He graduated to club senior In the late ’60s, he returned home to start, you could forget it, as conversations level after that and had the honour of Leitrim to take over the family farm and took place on subjects ranging from play- getting the first score when the Club work in Hanley’s Meat Factory in Rooskey. ing football to farming to the meaning of life returned to senior ranks in 1965 after a Farming life may not have been very and everything in between. break of 25 years. profitable at the time but it was always far Predeceased by his brother Fr. Tom In 1970, Hugh was a selector with the from dull when Hugh was around. and his sister , Hugh will be sadly Senior team that won its first Champi- It was during these years that he met missed not only by his family but by his onship title in 64 years. This was the team his future wife, Jacinta McGowan, from the many friends in south Leitrim and beyond. that paved the way and set the standards neighbouring parish of Mohill. We offer our sympathies to Hugh’s wife for future Championship winning teams in After living in Gortletteragh for a Jacinta, to his brothers, Mick, Jack and the Club. number of years, they then moved to Seamus, his sister Kathleen, the extended He will always be remembered as a Mohill. They had a wonderful life together Colreavy family in Gortletteragh, the teak-tough player with the Club who never and were inseparable. McGowan family Mohill and his wide circle shirked a challenge. Indeed, nowadays, Hugh had a number of health issues in of friends. we hear that all the great teams in all recent times but managed with the help Hugh now joins an elite band of former sports attempt to train with match day and support of Jacinta to come through Gortletteragh greats in their heavenly intensity but that was the way Hugh was them all. home where we can be sure they are remi- operating back in the 60s as any of his He was a man of great faith and was a niscing on their happy footballing days. opponents in the park, during practice deep thinker on all things spiritual and reli- God be good to Hugh and may he rest matches, would testify. gious. He was an avid reader and was will- in peace. Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a anam Hugh grew up in Annaghoney and ing to hear all sides of the story. uasal. Leitrim are well represented in GPA Rookie Camp Mayo’s Stephen Dr. Losty works with many interna- LEITRIM OBSERVER Coen spoke to tional athletes including members of Irish players in teams. IGHT players from Leitrim were attendance at This was followed by a panel discus- among 303 players new inter- the GPA’s sion where Mayo footballer and current Ecounty panel members who logged Rookie Camp. PhD student and Cork on to the GPA’s 2021 Rookie Camp Photo: footballer Dr. Orlagh Farmer shared their which was held remotely across three Eóin Noonan/ experiences on how building their own evenings in January. Sportsfile. personal wellbeing toolkits have helped The camp, which is in its third year, is them overcome challenges and setbacks aimed at helping young players to adapt on and off the field. to life on a senior panel and also at showcasing the supports they have at The final night of the camp saw inter- their disposal through the GPA. national athlete Ciara Mageean and Irish Gráinne Hyland (Camogie), Oisín 7’s rugby star and Love Island winner McLoughlin, Tom Prior, Michelle Hackett, Greg O’Shea discuss how they balance Michelle Beirne and Mary Alice Maguire focused on Strengths-based approach to their lives in sport and outside of sport. (Football) and Michael O’Brien and developing my personal wellbeing toolkit, They focused on how they ensure Cathal O’Donovan (Hurling) all attended. helping players prepare for the opportuni- they look after the 3 p’s – the physical, On Tuesday night sport’s psychologist ties and challenges associated with personal and psychological parts of their Dr. Ciara Losty delivered a presentation being an inter-county player. lives.

• FOCUS ON LEITRIM • FOCUS ON LEITRIM INTO THE WEST – Page 29 Putting in the Leitrim GAA chairman hard miles at 93 years of congratulates everyone age for on 'phenomenal' 50 Leitrim GAA

miles challenge HE big weekend is here as over 1,250 fundraisers from around Tthe globe finish out the 50 Mile challenge in various time zones. underage players, Enda didn't want to single There have been many wonderful By DONAL O’GRADY people out but felt it would be remiss of him Leitrim themed stories shared Leitrim Observer not to acknowledge the contribution of former amongst the group who assembled Leitrim player and 1994 hero, Aidan Rooney on Facebook. It has been a month who personally raised over €6,000 for Leitrim long trip down memory lane coupled T started out as a chance to raise some GAA. with some very touching stories. “Everyone got out and walked and ran and The pride of following the Green and badly needed funds for Leitrim GAA at a people just loved it, even people who have Gold has been the common bond. Itime when such opportunities were difficult One of the participants in the to envisage, let alone put into practice. little or no connection to the GAA. At a time of challenge is 93 year old PJ McNabola But mighty from little acorns grow lockdown people needed a boost and they – a proud Leitrim man. and how this 50 miles in January challenge got a boost, it was just phenomenal,” said captured the imaginations and hearts of Enda. He said he was amazed to see that over Leitrim people here at home and throughout PJ McNabola one proud 100 Leitrim people of all ages came together the world. in New York last Sunday to support the chal- Leitrim man Leitrim people have been drawn to this lenge and raise €5,000 in the process. Leitrim people are proud and unique event from all corners of the world Three former presidents of the Leitrim none prouder to be from Leitrim and not alone has it helped to raise funds for Society of New York, Margaret Taylor Finu- than PJ McNabola. PJ was born in Leitrim GAA, but it has brought together and cane (New York), her father Joe Taylor 1927, a historic year for Leitrim foot- re-connected Leitrim people in a very special ball when they won the Connacht (Eslin), and Dessie McWeeney (Augh- way. Senior Championship. He was nasheelin) proudly supporting the 50 miles in present the next time Leitrim won The target at the beginning was an opti- January challenge for Leitrim GAA the Connacht Senior Championship mistic €50,000 but Chairman of Leitrim GAA, “It just goes to show the huge amount of in 1994. When Leitrim got to the Enda Stenson said the figure at the time of Leitrim people there are out there and the Division 4 final in 2019 against Derry going to press is now somewhere between support there is for Leitrim. If you're from in Croke Park PJ was not going to €70,000 and €80,000, while the €100,000 Leitrim, you're from Leitrim, and you love it,” miss it. At the age of 92 PJ’s family mark was soon passed. Enda said. ensured he would be in attendance “No words of mine could say how Adrian O'Flynn, the former Leitrim player and the Leitrim Observer honored surprised, delighted and grateful I am to all who conceived and designed the whole him by taking his photo in the Croke the people who took part in this,” Enda said. campaign said, “I am thrilled with the way Park Hotel before the match. “It drew Leitrim people from all corners of things are working out and the really good For a man that never played foot- the world. It was more than a fundraiser, the ball his love of football was all thing is the level of enjoyment and satisfac- connectivity of the people was something to tion expressed by the participants.” consuming. In Eslin at that time behold. they had no football team and PJ still Meanwhile, Joe Dolan of The Bush Hotel, “People were absolutely so grateful to us regrets not been able to play. Down has penned a lovely letter in tribute to Leitrim the years he has been an avid fan of for doing this and for them to be able to GAA. his beloved Eslin, he loves to cheer connect to other Leitrim people they hadn't In it, he acknowledges their innovative and on his grandchildren Kyle, Joshua, & seen in years,” he said. resourceful initiative in raising much needed Kayleigh who play for Fenagh and “I want to thank all the people who funds in such unprecedented times this Niamh who plays for Mohill. PJ occu- contributed, who got out and did it and January. pies the only Corporate Box over- donated,” he said. “This event has so captured the attention, looking Mohill GAA pitch namely his A clearly emotional Enda paid huge tribute imagination and admiration of all Leitrim and bedroom window! to the men behind the idea who drove it to Leitrim connected people in Leitrim and PJ was an ever present at all ever greater lengths and heights in recent beyond… in Ireland and around the world. Leitrim games over the years. weeks. “Aside from the (amazing) financial Wherever the match was PJ with his He thanked former Leitrim footballer outcome this initiative has been an emotive nephews Padraig and Liam Higgins Adrian O'Flynn who came up with the idea, and evocative stimulus in strengthening would be there. Limerick or , and Eamon Duignan and Mike Feeney of the wet wind or rain the three boys community engagement, physical and mental Leitrim Supporters Club in Dublin who met would be there. wellbeing, pride, camaraderie and crack. PJ, at 93 is still out and about and with the County Board, outlined the idea and “In essence, it is what the GAA is all has participated in our 50 Challenge drove it on and kept it front and centre at all about. Whilst we may not frequent Croke during the month of January. times. He also thanked the tireless Brendan Park as often as other better resourced coun- Well done PJ and all of the partici- Doyle for his expertise in the field of IT. ties with greater talent and financial pools pants, you are wonderful people! Thanking everyone for their contributions, one cannot but acknowledge our resilience. including the footballers, the hurlers and the It’s not all about on the pitch!”

Page 30 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON LEITRIM • FOCUS ON LEITRIM Win a €25,000 dream wedding day with Cairde Liatroma Win your dream Leitrim GAA 50 day at Lough Miles winners Rynn Castle The prize draws, associated with the Leitrim GAA 50 Miles in January Chal- lenge, for the fundraisers and donors Estate & Gardens took place recently and were beamed out on Facebook live. The following were the lucky winners: T’S a fairy tale dream of many to get walled gardens are spectacular for FUNDRAISERS DRAW married in a Castle, and for one lucky wedding pictures. This is a hugely posi- 1st Prize Signed Leitrim Jersey: Icouple this dream could be made a tive initiative given the difficult year we Ann Whitney, . reality, by simply entering a competition have all had”. 2nd Prize Leitrim GAA Jacket: on winaWedding.ie Speaking to Lough Rynn Castle’s Paula Mollahan, Leitrim Village. If you have put your wedding plans on General Manager Ciaran Reidy, “We 3rd Prize Leitrim GAA Wind Cheater: hold due to the pandemic, or maybe you have always been loyal supporters of our Aoife Dorr, Longford. are recently engaged, then here’s a local GAA community, and we are competition worth entering. Leitrim GAA extremely proud to support Leitrim GAA DONORS DRAW in partnership with the luxurious Lough through this campaign, which will benefit 1st Prize Coaching Session for a nomi- Rynn Castle Estate and Gardens, are the overall development of nated team at Leitrim COE with Terry offering a lucky couple the opportunity to GAA. Hyland’s Management Team: Mandy Win a Dream Wedding, valued at For the prize winners, they certainly Gilmartin €25,000 for 150 guests. are in for a treat; we will ensure they have 2nd Prize €1,000 Brick in Wall at Leitrim The ticket price of €22.50 is for an the most wonderful wedding day experi- GAA McGovern Aughavas COE: Marie early bird purchase with multiple ticket ence. McWeeney purchases priced at €20 each This competition is open to everyone, 3rd Prize 1 Year Subscription to Leitrim The dream prize covers everything we are particularly mindful of all those GAA TV: Patrick O Meara you would want for that perfect day: who have been unable to hold the • Arrival Drinks and Canapé Recep- wedding of their dreams due to restric- While we have the contact details of the tion for all your guests tions and who have a wish to celebrate winners in the Fundraisers Draw, we do • An exquisite 6 Course Meal their union with wider family and friends not have access to the contact details of • Wine served though out the meal at a later stage , where this prize is the winners in the Donors Draw. In order • An Evening Buffet ideally suited to them also. We are to claim your prize, you need to contact • Room décor – including pipe drap- extremely excited about this partnership. [email protected] with factual ing, fairy lights and chair covers The tickets can be also purchased as a verification of your donation receipt and • Wedding Suite + 10 deluxe gift and the prize is valid up to January we will contact you back to confirm bedrooms for bridal party and / or 2025.” details. family Lough Rynn Castle Estate & Gardens Leitrim GAA is hugely appreciative of the • Full access to the Lough Rynn have a dedicated Wedding Team avail- efforts made by almost 2,000 people Estate & Walled Gardens for able 7 days a week, and look forward to across the globe towards this extraordi- Photography working with the winning couple in putting nary success which has been contributed Simply enter at winaWedding.ie with their dream plan together. to and shared equally by all donors, the first 1,000 tickets offered at €22.50 The wedding prize is valid until participants and organisers. each. Tickets can be purchased for your- January 2025, with an option to extend to Míle Buíochas daoibh go léir. self or as a gift. January 2026. Chairman of Leitrim GAA, Enda Sten- To enter the draw, tickets can be son says “we are delighted to partner up purchased at winaWedding.ie, so hurry with the beautiful Lough Rynn Castle. It is as the first 1,000 tickets are being sold at one of the leading wedding venues in the an Early Bird price of €22.50 with total country, and we are thrilled with Lough tickets limited to 4995. There will be an Rynn’s support to Leitrim GAA. It’s an additional mini draw for €1,000 when the amazing prize for some lucky couple to early bird tickets are sold. win, I’ve been to weddings there myself, The Draw is scheduled to take place and it’s a super venue, the service is on July 3rd and is being run by Cairde always top class, and the grounds and Liatroma on behalf of Leitrim GAA.

• FOCUS ON LEITRIM • FOCUS ON LEITRIM INTO THE WEST – Page 31 St Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA for All – All-Stars Club programme

Parent, Martin McGirl, explained the coaches attended a 2 hour CARA webinar, LEITRIM OBSERVER importance of including all children in club delivered by club member Brian O'Don- activities. nell, with a focus on awareness of disabil- T Mary’s Kiltoghert GAA Club in “Children with disabilities get the same ity, inclusion and meaningful integration. Carrick-on-Shannon is pleased to enjoyment out of supporting their club, St Mary’s All Stars will be launched offi- Sannounce the introduction of the preparing their gear, and heading off to cially when restrictions are eased. GAA for All – All Stars Club programme. training as their peers. They love the feel- GAA for All is a national initiative run by This initiative is being rolled out for chil- ing of being involved with their friends, and the GAA. The GAA charter espouses the dren with any additional need which being an active part of the team. aim of this social inclusion initiative which hinders their full participation in main- “However, the pace of the training is to offer an inclusive, diverse and stream sport. sessions, and the pace of the games, can welcoming environment for everyone. The rationale, in St Mary’s All Stars, is be too much for our children with disabili- Inclusion essentially means people to create a welcoming and inclusive envi- ties to keep up with. having a sense of belonging, of being ronment where all children can participate. “The “All Stars Club” programme is comfortable in being part of something Their emphasis will be on engagement, terrific in that the training sessions and they value. participation, development of fundamental games are specifically designed to accom- Inclusion is a choice. Diversity means movement skills and most importantly, fun, modate children of all abilities, and will being aware of accommodating and cele- in a safe environment. allow our son Caelan to reach his full brating difference. “We have plans for integration and potential, in the sport that he loves.” This initiative welcomes all children reverse integration within training This programme has been in the ether who would like to become involved. Club, sessions, as a starting point. for a while. In November, a committee parish, county boundaries are forgotten. “However, this is not set in stone, as including parents, coaches and club offi- All children are welcome. we will continually adapt to meet the cials, was formed. The initial intention was needs of the children. The initiative is child to begin their All Star Academy in late CONTACT DETAILS: centred and we aim to give children the February, however that date will likely If your child would like to be involved, or if support they need. change due to HSE restrictions. you have any questions, please contact: “Another important aim for us is to “Our coaches have been recruited and promote the ethos of inclusion in the have been Garda vetted and have Kathy: 086 - 831 8696 community and the club,” the club stated. completed GAA Safeguarding 1. All Emma: 086 - 237 9036

Cairde Liatroma CLG Committee approved among other Leitrim GAA 2021 Committees

MONG the various 2021 sub-committees of Leitrim GAA which were approved at a meeting of the Leitrim GAA Management Public Relations/Marketing Committee: B. Loughlin-Byrne: J. Molloy: ACommittee of 13 March 2021 is the newly established Cairde B. Doyle: D. Bohan: E. Tiernan: B. Blake. Liatroma Sub-Committee. This committee will be responsible for Coiste Iomána: P. O Connor (Chair): H. Phelan(Rúnaí): E. Stenson: D. fundraising ongoing and in addition to normal activities of the Leitrim Bohan: Martin McCartin: plus one delegate of each affiliated club. GAA Supporters Club Committee. Cultural Committee: L. Crossan(Chair): G Keegan: B. Reynolds: R. We wish the members of all the sub-committees the best of luck in Kennedy: C. Crossan: K. Butler. their work throughout 2021. Supporters Club: J. Mulvey (Chair): M. Quinn, M. Mc Cartin: J. J. Cullen: Leitrim GAA Management Committee: Enda Stenson (Chair): Michael M. Feeney: N. McLoughlin: S. Mc Goldrick: G. Gallogly: J. McWeeney: Quinn: Declan Bohan (Rúnaí): Martin McCartin: Noeleen McLough- T. Boyle: A. O’Reilly: B. Loughlin-Byrne: P Brown: C. McCartin (NY). lin: Barbara Loughlin Byrne: Terence Boyle: Attracta O’Reilly: PJ Coiste na nÓg: P. Murphy [Chair]: M. Kenny(Rúnaí): B. Loughlin Byrne: Meehan: John Mulvey: Pat Feely: Enda Tiernan: Laura Crossan: N. McLoughlin: S. McGoldrick: P. McGourty: M. McKiernan: M. Paddy O Connor: : Jamie Murray: Mark Heslin: Vincent Heslin. O Rourke: Brian Blake. Coaching and Games Steering Committee: P. Murphy [Chair]: T. Competitions Control Committee: Seamus McManus (Chair): Vincent [Rúnaí]: E. Stenson: D. Bohan: M. McCartin: B. Loughlin O Rourke (Rúnaí): John Keenan [Rúnaí Smachta]: P. Mc Morrow: M. Byrne: M. Heslin: C. Cregg. Doherty: S. Mc Goldrick [Underage Fixtures]: H. Phelan [Coiste Iomána]: E O Grady [Referees coordinator]. D. Bohan (Fixture Páirc Seán Committee: S. Mc Goldrick (Chair) M. Doherty: R. Butler: S. Analyst) Murray: E. Stenson: S. Butler: M. Diffley: A. O Reilly: M. McCartin: Hearings Committee: S. Mc Govern (Chair): L. Faughnan [Rúnaí]: P. Health and Wellbeing: B. Loughlin-Byrne (Chair) N. Brady (Rúnaí): K. Egan: S. Murray: J. Mc Nama: K. Torsney: T. Boyle. Williams: M. Fanning: T. Boyle: D. Loftus: H. McHugh: M. Heslin. Finance Committee: M. McCartin [Chair]: J. Mulvey: N. McLoughlin: P. Handball: J. Murray (Chair): J. Smyth (Rúnaí): S. Wrynn (Treasurer): N. O’Connor: M. Quinn: E. Stenson: D. Bohan. Scollan (PRO): Cairde Liatroma Committee: M. McCartin (Chair): J. Mulvey: M. Fixtures Analysts: D. Bohan: M. Quinn. Feeney: N. McLoughlin: E. Duignan: P. White: S. Clarke: C. Clarke: B. County Development and Safety: T. Boyle (Chair) M. Quinn: P. Doyle: B. Blake. McGourty: P. Feely: PJ Meehan: H. Clinton: S. Mc Goldrick.

Page 32 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON LEITRIM • FOCUS ON LEITRIM Sligo native Marty Duffy has been named as chairperson of the GAA's Central Referees’ Appointments Committee (CRAC). Photo: Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile. Duffy is Chair of Referees’ Appointments Committee

Duffy hung up the whistle at the end of of high-profile Division One football By CATHAL MULLANEY 2017 with his final game being the matches in early 2020. Connacht Senior club final of that year. Duffy's appointment comes following His brother, Michael, was also a Larry McCarthy's official stint as member of the national panel and refereed Uachtaráin beginning following Congress All-Ireland finals at both minor and U-21 at the end of last month. The Cork native ARTY Duffy has been appointed level. He has also been extensively says it is his intention that each of the as the new Chair of the GAA's involved in the administration side of refer- committees established under his Presi- MCentral Referees’ Appointments eeing, both in Sligo and Connacht. He was dency will have female representation. Committee (CRAC). chairperson of the Connacht referees Sligo GAA Chairman Sean Carroll and The Enniscrone/Kilglass man - who is committee in recent seasons and deliv- Sligo GAA also extend congratulations to currently chairperson of the West Sligo ered his final report in last month. His West Sligo men Marty Duffy club - enjoyed a lengthy period as an inter- elevation to the national role will see him Enniscrone/Kilglass & Michéal Naughton county referee. He was the man in the chair the committee tasked with appointing Castleconnor. middle for the All-Ireland Senior men's referees to fixtures at national level. "Marty Duffy who has been appointed football final in 2009 between Kerry and Two Sligo officials - Castleconnor's Chair of the Central Referees’ Appoint- Cork, while he was also in charge of two Barry Judge and 's John Gilmartin - ments Committee & Micheál Naughton All-Ireland Ladies football finals earlier in have been on the national panel of refer- who became President of the LGFA. his career. Having also been assigned to ees in recent years, while Ronan Hynes "We wish them both every success in provincial finals in Munster and Leinster, from St Farnan's ran the line in a number their new roles."

• FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO INTO THE WEST – Page 33 Kathleen recognised for

"I mentioned all that and she repre- By EMMA sented her county as a player and as a The Sligo Champion manger and managed her county to two All-Ireland final appearances. "She would later become County Board Chairperson, took on the role of Children's Officer ATHLEEN Kane made history by before moving on to become Connacht becoming the first person from Sligo LGFA President. to receive an LGFA Volunteer Hall of "She is now fulfilling the role of Assis- K tant Secretary at National level and the Fame award. She has done so much for ladies foot- hours of dedication and diligence this ball not only in Sligo but also through her volunteer has given to ladies football is various roles nationally. unquantifiable. Kathleen has been influential in her "Our Hall of Fame winner is Kathleen club, St Nathy's and also her county, both Kane from the St Nathy's club in Co Sligo. as a player and a manager along with "Kathleen, how are you this evening?," numerous administration positions down the presenter then asked the Ballinacar- through the years. row native. Kathleen first started out her playing "Do you know what, we were rehears- career at 27 and she hung up the boots ing this earlier on and I said when I'm ten years after a successful tenure, which naming out half the stuff, I better take a included a National League title in '95 with break and a drop of water! Sligo and an All-Ireland Junior final "Where did you get the time to do all appearance with St Nathy's. She wasn't these jobs?". Kathleen said: "Well, it didn't long taking over as manager after her happen now all together! It has taken playing career came to an end, guiding about 28 years to get there." her county to two All- in '04 and Sligo match officials Kathleen Kane and John Daithí added: "With all joking aside, all 2005. Niland, during the 2014 TG4 Ladies Football the jobs they've named out there, you've Daithí O'Sé was the host at the virtual All-Star Tour to Hong Kong Football Club. seen it all Kathleen." "I would like to think award ceremony, which was also Photo: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE. that I have yes. I suppose when we streamed live on Facebook. started back in 1993 and you told me that I'd still be involved 28 years later, I would The Kerry native said that the last "This volunteer has contributed as a have thought no it's not possible. "Here I award on the night was the Hall of Fame club player, county player, club manager, am, it's not like it's a chore, it's definitely a award. "The volunteer Hall of Fame award county manager, club officer, county offi- passion with me." will be presented to an individual who has cer, Provincial officer and National officer. Daithí said that having been involved given exceptional service or made an "I better take a drink here now because with Ladies Gaelic football for so long, did outstanding contribution to volunteering in there's more to come," she ever think she would be getting the ladies Gaelic football over an extended joked. "I'm only halfway there Kathleen Hall of Fame award and Kathleen replied time period. Kane! she never did. "It's totally humbling, it's a huge honour to get for myself and I'd like to thank Olivia Flannery McLoughlin for the nomination and I think I might speak on behalf of all the winners tonight to say that we're standing on the shoulders of thousands and thousands of people all over the coun- try, all over the world who profile ladies football and do similar type of work to what the rest of us are doing at a volunteering level." Daithí said she must be very, very proud as a volunteer getting a Hall of Fame award and seeing the progress of ladies Gaelic football, particularly in the last 20 years. Kathleen said that there was no doubt about it and the differences from when she started playing to now was huge, including live streaming of matches and she praised the role TG4 is doing nationally at promot- ing the sport. "That was completely foreign to us 27 Pictured during the 2020 LGFA Annual Congress, from left, Kathleen Kane, Assistant Secretary; years ago. The whole advent of media has Geraldine Carey, Treasurer; and Con Moynihan, Development Officer. been wonderful for the game," she added. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile. "To bring the ladies game into so many

Page 34 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO her ladies football role

households, it's fantastic. The numbers and parcel of Kathleen's life the best part followed with 2 Connacht Championship that have been at our All-Ireland's have of 30 years. Anne Cunnane, Sligo LGFA success later the same year and again in been so pleasing to watch, moving up PRO, said she's been a player, mentor, 1996. While the Association didn't form exponentially and over 56,000 in 2019, we manager and a manager of people. until well into her Adult years missing out were kind of cheated a little bit in 2020, Knowledgeable supportive, loyal and at on Underage success, she more than but I'd to think maybe not in 2021 but the forefront of ladies Gaelic football, were made up for it with 6 Senior Champi- certainly in 2022, we're going to build on the words describing the Hall of Fame onships in 7 Years with St Nathy's, the first those figures." winner, Kathleen Kane. coming in 1996. "A Connacht title and an Daithí then said that cameras had been Connacht LGFA also paid tribute to the All-Ireland appearance followed in 1999 - filming in Sligo ahead of the award cere- Ballinacarrow woman on her award. a time when she was both Chairperson of mony and then a video was played featur- "Connacht LGFA would like to Congratu- Sligo also Captain. ing locals who praised the work of late Former Connacht President Kathleen "Following her retirement from the Kathleen. The first lady, Kathleen's sister Kane on being named in the LGFA Hall Of County she would become part of a Edel Healy, described Kathleen as selfless Fame tonight. County management that would claim a in everything she does and said she has "Friday, 12th February 2021, a date in Connacht Title in 2003, the following year given so much of her time over the years the History of Sligo LGFA, a day or rather as Manager she would lead Sligo all the and has made many sacrifices for ladies an evening when one of their own joins way to Croke Park and repeat it the follow- football. Susan Final, former Secretary of the National LGFA Hall of Fame. The ing year. Sadly on both occasions Sligo Sligo LGFA added that she is very loyal, reference of course is to one Kathleen would come up short. extremely supportive and very kind, Kane. "The Ballinacarrow Native has been "After a successful hosting of Congress always there for you. Marty Duffy, former involved with the Association since the in 2000, Kathleen stepped down as Chair- Chairperson of Sligo LGFA, described very beginning in Sligo back in 1993. Over person of Sligo but remained on the Co Kathleen as dedicated, busy, headstrong 27 Years, Kathleen has covered a lot of Executive in the role of Registrar while at times and very enthusiastic about what ground, From a player with St Nathy's & also being President of Connacht Council. she does. Marie Clancy, Chairperson, St Sligo to being a Manager of both Sligo and Towards the end of the decade she Michael's GAA Club said Kathleen is very St Nathy's along with being Chairperson of returned to her roots to take up a manage- dedicated at promoting the game and Club, County and Connacht President, not ment position first at underage and then trying to get kids involved. Angela Doohan, to mention the Assistant Secretary of with the Senior outfit leading them to a Co St Nathy's committee said she has been National and also on a National Appeals Senior Title in 2010. In the last decade with the club since day one and was Committee for over 10 years. Probably Kathleen's involvement with the Associa- always a very committed player and one of the highlights as an Officer would tion maybe more associated with brought younger players along. A role be to welcome Congress to Sligo not once Connacht, County and National than Club. model within the club. Edel added that as but twice as Chairperson 16 years apart in "A second term as President of Connacht the eldest of 4 girls, Kathleen is the one 2000 & 2016. Council, followed by a second coming as they all turn to and is fantastic with her "As a Player there is very little she Chairperson of Sligo LGFA and later as nieces and nephews and the extended hasn't won bar the All Ireland Champi- Children's Officer. In 2015 she became the family are so proud of her achievements. onship Medal with either Club or County. A Assistant Secretary. Liam McDonagh, former Connacht LGFA National League success with Sligo in President said ladies Gaelic football is part 1995 started the ball rolling, quickly "Well done Kathleen."

Kathleen Kane (front centre) pictured with the St Nathy’s team during the early ’90s. Photo: St Nathy’s LGFA Facebook.

• FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO INTO THE WEST – Page 35 St Nathy's only Sligo club in

The 2020 St Nathy’s Ladies senior team.

"They were meant to actually By EMMA GALLAGHER run the programme in early The Sligo Champion 2020, but then because of Covid it was postponed. "It started on Monday, March HERE might not be much 1st. They have a lot of training activity on the pitch at the webinars explaining the whole Tmoment, but that doesn't thing and it is a 10 week mean there isn't plenty of work programme, with five different happening behind the scenes. themes so it changes every two St Nathy's GAA players and weeks. Connect is the first members are busy taking part in theme and with covid it's taken Lidl Ireland's One Good Club initia- on a whole new meaning really." tive. Kathleen said it's about The South Sligo club are the making sure the whole club, first and only club from the county young and old, feel connected. to be chosen among 24 around the She said that Louise Kilbane, who runs the Lollipop Lane country to take part in the Members of the St Nathy’s LGFA club in Sligo programme, which is aimed at promoting creche, has also been showing are reaching out to the community as part of videos from the St Nathy's players with better mental health and well-being. the Lidl Ireland's One Good Club initiative. The initiative runs for ten weeks with a their pets or farm animals to the kids who different theme every two weeks. are also sending their own videos with the Kathleen Coleman, St Nathy's PRO, hashtag One Good Club. said everyone involved was really enjoying St Nathy's reached the semi-final stage She said that Lidl are following each the whole experience so far. of the All-Ireland Intermediate Champi- team's progress through their social media Kathleen told The Sligo Champion: onship in 2019 where they narrowly lost by pages. "How it came about was you submit you a point. Kathleen said the reaction and enthusi- write up and put your name forward and The One Good Club programme is asm from players, members and support- they go around and select who they would aimed at promoting positive mental health ers of the club has been phenomenal. bring in. and particularly during covid, at making "The senior players are all involved, it's "Looking at our team's success in the sure people feel connected. not the Club Executive itself that's running last two years off the back of the success What better theme to start off with then, it, we have our own committee of ten in 2019 and 2020, we got selected." than Connect as Kathleen explained. people, all senior players.

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sent them a postcard and they put it up on their Instagram page, we never would have done something like that only for this programme which is great. "There are only four clubs in Connacht involved, so it's great for St Nathy's and great for Sligo too." Kathleen was also extremely compli- mentary of the work that Lidl Ireland is doing at promoting Ladies Gaelic football. "Lidl are absolutely fantastic and with their whole initiative of raising money for your club when you shop with them is bril- liant too. "The whole points thing doesn't require that much at all." Kathleen said that now, more than ever, people realise how much sport means to people of all ages and to their local communities. "Kids are really starting to realise how much they depend on sport and this is really keeping everyone involved in the club in touch. "Each senior player has been given St Nathy’s captain Aine accepting the Sligo Senior club title. three underage players in the club to write to, keeping connected, which is what it's "It's about giving back to the commu- "The kids too are loving it and the all about," Kathleen added. nity, making sure we are reaching out to parents' groups too are all involved which For more information on the One Good people and the reaction has been really, is fantastic. We also connected with a club Club initiative, keep an eye on their Face- really good. Normally now in March, we we played in Féile 15 years ago too, Aher- book page "St Nathys LGFA" and Insta- would be back training and looking ahead low, which never would have happened gram "stnathyslgfa" for all information on to matches but having this is great. only for this One Good Club initiative. We their weekly events.

• FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO INTO THE WEST – Page 37 “Sligo’s a great county and I got everything I could from the players. I can’t speak highly enough of them”

chapter under the title 'Proof Positive'. Here, he picks out various plays and dissects them through a case study style format with a particular focus on an element of the game he believes is under- coached - footwork. It is a thought-provoking subject matter and is something Walsh has focused on during his time as a manager, while also drawing on his experiences as an elite basketballer in his younger years, which is also discussed over the course of the 260- odd pages. Reflecting on his time in the Yeats County, Walsh delves into the detail of his five years, which he says he remembers very fondly indeed. "I really enjoyed my time in Sligo. It was two or two and a half hours up and down, you wouldn't keep it going if I didn't. It was a group I really enjoyed working with and they gave everything and the Former Sligo and Galway manager, who has written his autobiography, The Invisible Game: lads we had, we worked hard together and Maths, Minutes and Movement. Photo: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE. when you're improving it's enjoyable. "Sligo had never beaten Galway in a replay, not sure if they had ever beaten as a superb defeat of his native county in Galway on Galway soil, never beaten By CATHAL MULLANEY in 2012. The Sligo Champion Galway and Mayo in the same champi- The final year of Walsh's stint ended in onship so there was a lot of stuff achieved. disappointing fashion. A shock loss to And we won the All-Ireland Junior too for PERIOD during which Sligo came London in the 2013 championship was the first time since 1935 so all of that so close to having the most followed by a qualifier defeat to Derry, drove up expectations." Asuccessful stint in the county's after which he stepped down. There are three days, in particular, that history forms a key part of a new book He would go on and enjoy success on stand out as during Walsh's time in written by former manager, Kevin Walsh. the provincial stage with Galway in later charge. The Galway legend has penned an years, spending five years at the helm and The first came in 2009 when Sligo autobiography titled The Invisible Game: guiding his charges to Connacht success came so close to sensationally knocking Maths, Minutes and Movement, alongside in 2016 and 2018. Kerry out of the championship in a quali- journalist Daragh Ó Conchúir, published The book provides a unique insight into fier game in . by Hero Books. his playing and managerial career, as well Leading at half-time, Sligo were in the A two-time All-Ireland winner with his as engaging comment on the methods of driving seat but failed to build on their native county, Walsh took his first job in coaching he employed and what he superiority and saw a late David Kelly inter-county management with Sligo in late believes should be coached in the modern penalty saved, with Kerry winning by a 2008. That year, having won the Connacht game. point and eventually going on to lift the title in 2007, Sligo slumped to a heavy "That's one of the reasons, to be Sam Maguire a couple of months later. defeat to Mayo before losing to London in honest, why I wrote the book," he told The In 2012, Sligo had the measure of a the Tommy Murphy Cup. Sligo Champion. Mayo side that would go on and contest However, the Kilannin club man helped "I would never write a book for stories that year's All-Ireland final - much of the turn the county's fortunes around and won or personal stuff, but I would love to see same Mayo team was there for the next National League titles in 2009 (Division the public and young and upcoming eight seasons - in the Connacht final at Dr Four) and 2010 (Division Three). coaches think outside the box, and maybe Hyde Park. The lingering regret of his tenure, some of the older coaches might open Unfortunately, James Horan's men put however, is that Sligo failed to win a their minds and look at it from a different in a late scoring burst to eventually Connacht Championship -they lost by a perspective." squeeze past Sligo by 0-12 to 0-10, and a point to Roscommon in the 2010 decider, The coaching element to the book will meek qualifier exit to Kildare followed at and to Mayo by two points two years later. be of particular interest to those involved the same venue shortly afterwards. That said, there were some unforget- with teams at present, as Walsh refers to The Connacht final of 2010, however, table days, including wins over Mayo and scenarios which he witnessed either as a was without doubt the most jarring defeat Galway on the run to the 2010 final as well manager or a viewer in an interesting of them all.

Page 38 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO even with all the Mayo stars that they in his analysis of Sligo's loss on the had. There was a lot of consistency programme, and it is something Walsh there, it's just a pity we didn't get one addresses in the book. or two Connacht titles." "I've dealt with some of it in the book in Perhaps an achievement of case anyone was in any doubt about the Walsh's that is overlooked is the All- story that is out there," he says. Ireland Junior success of 2010. In a "I think it was important that people county where Connacht titles are know the story. But it doesn't sour the usually the goal, at any level, to go on experience one bit. and win beyond the Province was a "To be honest, I still keep in contact major achievement, irrespective of the with people in Sligo, I've great memories grade. in Sligo and it's just the one or two maybe In that campaign, they overcame that fall by the wayside but you'll always some of the so-called stronger coun- have that and it doesn't sour the relation- ties en route to success including a ship, Sligo's a great county and I got final win over Kerry at Pearse everything I could from the players in Stadium. It was the county's second Sligo. That group, I can't speak highly success at All-Ireland level in that enough of them." grade, having previously annexed the Having departed the Sligo job, Walsh title in 1935. A number of the players took the Galway reins in 2014, and revi- involved in that campaign progressed talised their fortunes over the coming to play senior football for the county years, reaching a Division One league in subsequent years. final and All-Ireland semi-final as well as He says he and his management their two Nestor Cup successes. team placed a particular emphasis He would also go on to manage on the junior set-up in an effort to against Sligo twice in the Connacht Cham- develop and cultivate talent which pionship, in 2018 and 2019. would ultimately add to the senior team. He says his experiences in Sligo were "There's always talent in most places, invaluable to developing his managerial Having accounted for Mayo and but if you're low in numbers, the chances style, which he carried forward into the Galway after a replay in previous rounds, of finding talent in places with bigger Galway job. there was a huge sense of expectation in numbers is higher. Then you've got tradi- Indeed - and this is a point he refer- the county that they could win just a fourth tion to deal with, and that's another thing. ences in the book on many occasions - ever Connacht crown, but a second in four "But I did feel that really needed to be Walsh emphasises that in his various set- seasons, and establish the county as a pushed out, and it took a lot of time to get ups he always advocated for constant real force. it to a level where we were able to review and analysis of what they were Many supporters in , compete with the big boys. You look at the doing in terms of training, preparation and particularly after the Galway replay win in juniors, we took over them and we put a anywhere else they felt they could help the highly dramatic circumstances, will recall lot of effort into the juniors. players in either Sligo or Galway gain an the sense of elation on that wet Saturday "And it wasn't necessarily to win the All- edge. evening. Looking back now, almost 11 Ireland title but it was to develop players "I learned so much in Sligo, and any years on, did the hype have an impact and I knew I needed to develop some management team I've been involved in before the final? players to add to that senior team to try we always looked at ourselves and "Without a doubt it did, and it's very and make it more consistent. assessed ourselves, to see what worked hard to manage too," he remembers. "As well as that, I also wanted to show and didn't work. "There were three pitch invasions the county we were looking at everyone "I was lucky enough to get a chance in before that, a win against Mayo, a draw within the county regardless of where they Sligo, we fine-tuned different things, we against Galway, a win against Galway, were from, and that gave a lot of hope to were always doing that, and there's no having to deal with all of that. Roscommon young lads who saw that well, if my buddy doubt that I was far better equipped to were operating in Division Three or Four from over the road is getting a chance take on the Galway job after my five years at the time, we had beaten them by eight maybe I will too. in Sligo than if I was red raw. or nine points in the league. There's no "That was awful important, we really "I'd the likes of a Gerry Hussey, a top doubt about it, we were 0-10 to 0-4 down wanted to show the county we were look- Sports Psychologist, in behind me as well before we knew it but in fairness again to ing everywhere as well as developing the and I wanted this to continuously chal- the lads they showed massive character to players, getting them on the play. If you lenge methods, ask what that's about, so get it back to 0-13 apiece, but definitely it look at Eugene Mullen, David Rooney, we could sit down the next day away from was one of the big regrets that we didn't Shane McManus, fellas like those that the football field and analyse what we're at pull it off because they deserved it, after may have not come along only for the and where we could be better as a all the work that had been done before junior." management. that. Sligo found themselves in the media "That's something we always did with "2012 was a massive regret. I remem- spotlight after their surprise reversal to Sligo and Galway. It was a challenge me ber it well, one massive decision in that London in the 2013 Connacht Champi- environment that I always worked from, game that turned it upside down. The onship. and I'd expect the players to always handpass from David Maye called for a The defeat coincided with Eamonn understand why they were being chal- throw, Cormac Reilly blowing it up and it O'Hara's appearance as an analyst on lenged as well." took away a bit of momentum as well . because we were away, Brendan Egan Having played under Walsh for four was off his shoulder. years, O'Hara was not involved in the "We were well in that game, the one or 2013 campaign and announced his retire- The Invisible Game: Maths, Minute and two decisions that day are still on my ment from inter-county football in May of Movement by Kevin Walsh with Daragh Ó mind. I don't like losing. that year. Conchúir is available in all good book- "That game was there for the taking, He was critical of Walsh's management shops now as well as online.

• FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO INTO THE WEST – Page 39 Fais Faisal co-founder Sean Dunnion, Gerry O’Connor Tomás Meehan, John Horan, Uachtarán and CEO of The Irish GAA ITC Chair Company Secretary to ITS GAA’s Chief Information Cumann Luthchleas Gael Tech Society Officer Comortas na Hacatonaí

WO members from the Province had an in-depth knowledge of technology and was a direct result of the restrictions on significant roles in this year’s inaugu- its application in AIB, PWC, Government movement but the former Donegal Chair- Tral International Hackathon; a collab- and the GAA. Tomás explained that while person felt that streaming was here to stay oration between the GAA and the Irish the focus may be on the inter-County and any Tech challenges would have to be Tech Society. Tomás Meehan, the GAA’s player: administrators, spectators, the overcome. Chief Information Officer and Gerry non-elite player (the junior b), sponsors, Ian Fitzpatrick, rugby 7s, gave exam- O’Connor former Rúnaí CLG (Sligeach) broadcasters and other media were ples of tech in use as in GoPros, drones and presently Company Secretary to ITS. equally in need of Tech solutions. He and even virtual reality. The advantages The event was powered by Microsoft pointed out that stats gathered on players provided by Tech are especially relevant in and had the support of the Guinness now accompanied a player rather than a the area of injury prevention. GPS devices Enterprise Centre as well as Sports-Tech. coach. A player with many different train- collect DATA that make professionals CEO and co-founder Fais Faisal ers even in different codes has a greater aware of their threshold before the onset opened proceedings by acknowledging chance of having his or her status under- of injury. He suggested that players who the importance of the GAA to his new stood and his or her current mentors use gaming consoles in their down-time home ‘’this beautiful island’’ and the signifi- would have the necessary information to are assisting their mental wellbeing. cance of having such a community based provide appropriate training regimes while Another professional rugby player, James organisation to partner with on this project. preventing injury. The use of Tech and Tracy, agreed that tech was now enabling He introduced the Minister for sport Jack issues around child protection were the management of a player’s load. Tech Chambers TD who explained that ‘diver- constantly being monitored by the GAA. he suggested had enabled every player in sity and inclusion’ were central to the Sean Dunnion, GAA ITC Chair, every sport to be the best version of them- ethos of the GAA, Microsoft Ireland and explained his committee’s involvement in selves and explained that he as a profes- the Irish Tech Society. the GIS survey which highlighted the sional player he had ownership of his urban-rural divide that has been created medical records but that other data Gerald O’Connor presented John by a population shift resulting in a scarcity became the property of the union by Horan Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas of facilities in urban areas and their under- agreement. Ownership of data provoked Gael, to the on-line audience by paying utilisation in rural Ireland. Streaming of quite a bit of discussion throughout the tribute to the way the President had led games and the challenges this provided debate. during unprecedented challenges while overseeing the completion of the fixtures plan even if ‘All-Ireland’s had to be played on unusual dates.’ For his part Sean Ó Horáin emphasised the willingness of the GAA to embrace change and use technol- ogy to improve everyone’s experience. Every speaker paid tribute to key play- ers who worked on the project for six months including Sean Dunnion, Chair of the National IT Committee, Paul Reardon, ITS; the project organiser, Leah Cullen co- founder ITS, Pierrick Picard; Microsoft Ireland and Eamonn Sayers of GEC. Ntsoaki Phakoe-McDevitt, moderated a discussion on day one that evaluated every angle where Tech meets sport and both embrace entrepreneurship. Tomás Meehan GAA was well qualified to tackle some of these issues having as he does

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Eamonn Sayers, GEC, spoke of the The Minister and Chief Whip alluded to the Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas special moments in sport including the difficulties experienced by sporting bodies Gael, John Horan spoke of the Ireland England rugby international and since March 2020, the support of Govern- the playing of the UK national anthem that ment to this important sector and the willingness and need for the day in Croke Park. There was much example shown by the organisers in host- involvement of sports people in start-up ing such a large technological competition GAA to embrace technology in ecosystems that include food tech, mind- a continuous drive to promote fulness and stadia as entertainment virtually. He acknowledged the commit- venues. LEO and Enterprise Ireland ment of all parties involved to ‘’diversity and preserve the provide supports and the Guinness Enter- and inclusion’’ and pointed out that it was ancient games and prise Centre is there to help entrepreneurs no surprise that the GAA was involved to become investor ready. Angle investors given the Association’s commitments in An pastimes and international investment syndicates Fís Soléir. are also an option for start-ups. Uachtarán Cumann Luthchleas Gael, Ronan Donagher (Hackathon judge) John Horan spoke of the willingness and was of the opinion that all sports have need for the GAA to embrace technology similar challenges. He speculated as to the effect of the role out of 5G would have in a continuous drive to promote and on the experience for players, administra- preserve the ancient games and pastimes. Jonathan Eustace, Microsoft, gave his tors and volunteers. An tUas Ó Horáin thanked the organisers audience a better understanding of the Abdulla Thakur (INTURN Solutions), Fais Faisal, Leah Cullen, Gerald O’Connor convergence of tech and sport. Many solu- agreed with this sentiment by pointing out and Paul Reardon of the Irish Tech Soci- tions have been built on Microsoft plat- that there are plenty of studies on the ety; Sean Dunnion and Tomás Meehan of forms and as Microsoft had” been the first effects of concussion and what was to embrace GDPR when creating their the GAA and Pierrick Picard of Microsoft needed was a sharing of the information Ireland. He acknowledged the support systems this should be of some comfort to among all codes. Abdulla reasoned that also of the Guinness Enterprise Centre users. Security of data is another consid- the player was too often a secondary eration when considering a platform. consideration and deserved more support and Eamonn Sayers. He speculated that ‘’Tech is a disruptor’’ he declared forcing especially after their playing days. Sports- the GAA might be challenged by the ideas organisations to build out capabilities. The people make good entrepreneurs as they coming from this competition in a positive future will feature the Internet of Things are used to preparation and how to cope way. It would be useful to have ‘’new (IOT) being used to enhance fan experi- with failure. He suggested those interested eyes’’ on the Association for the next few ence and safety. in business should consider investing a days. The GAA wished to deliver sport to small amount in an existing entity before Society in a safe and caring manner and is contemplating going it alone. always open to change. The Irish Tech Society’s Michael Start-ups got a ‘’heads up’’ in terms of McCarthy and Greg Deane had the final say as Michael alluded to the fact that what they should be considering as their Henry Ford had opened a factory in Cork ideas are transformed into viable busi- in 1917 and that were creative nesses. The ‘’Business Model Canvass’’ and forward looking. Greg Deane assured concept where a visual framework is used the attendees that the Irish Tech Society to track progress was explained. These intended to be at the forefront of education thought provoking discussions focused on and entrepreneurship for the inevitable decisions such as who is best to head up advancement in technology and its use in these new enterprises; creators of the idea Ireland. or someone more skilled in management? Jack Chambers TD declared that ‘’there will definitely be better days ahead It was suggested that the targets set by for sport’’ at the official launch of the GAA- new companies were generally too opti- Irish Tech Society inaugural International mistic in the case of one year time-lines Hackathon (powered by MICROSOFT) but more realistic when a 3 year period which concluded on Sunday 8th February. was considered.

• FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO INTO THE WEST – Page 41 Hurlers in big drive for fundraising HE Sligo hurling panel are putting den to Sligo GAA, in New in a tremendous effort to prepare York, 'Sligo2Sligo'. Tfor the season ahead during the From Coney Island to Coney Island, current covid restrictions. This includes the Metal Man to Statue of Liberty, IT strength & conditioning, nutrition, Sligo to Setton Hall University, Clayton running sessions, Hurling skills and Hotel to Gerry's Place the starting gun Wall Ball challenges; all of which has been fired! require a daily focus. On-line donations towards the This work would normally be done in mileage covered by the hurlers will be group sessions but with current restric- provided by Friends of Sligo Hurling tions, the players are working on their and anyone who wishes to support this skills individually while juggling family worthy cause. Each player will walk, and work commitments. run and crawl to accumulate the Sligo Senior hurling has had an required 5,000 miles. amazing run; winning three National They are asking everyone to get titles (Allianz League 2020, Nicky onboard, get out and about to improve Rackard 2019 & Lory Meagher 2018) mental & physical health. while the younger players have Get your mother, father, brother, excelled in Celtic challenge competi- sister, neighbours and friends up and tions (2018 winners). Sligo hurling is a out. While doing so, they are asking great success story and is a 'super everyone to support in whatever way brand' which has a lot more potential in they can, big or small, all is appreci- the coming years as they continue to ated. build on their accomplishments. Those who participate in this iSup- Despite the tremendous support of port Sligo Hurling Challenge will also the County Board, Croke Park and the get to enhance their own mental and Clayton Hotel, whose logo will be physical health by getting out and about proudly displayed on team jerseys once in support of a great bunch of ambas- again, financing all aspects of the code sadors for the County. remains a challenge. Along with helping Sligo hurlers of Sligo hurlers have in recent years, all ages in their preparation to be the contributed to the cause by supporting best they can be, with funds raised Breakfast mornings and last-man- going towards hurling facilities and standing fundraisers, but such initia- equipment, organisers will also be tives are impossible at this time. making donations to both North West This year they plan to build on the STOP and Sligo Cancer Support good-will and enthusiasm that already Centre. exists around hurling throughout the "Sligo hurling has gone from County and to that effect they are strength to strength in recent years and establishing 'Friends of Sligo Hurling'. we are committed to ensuring that the This is an initiative that you can be part County remains in the upper tiers at of and proud of. National Level for many years to come. On March 1st Friends of Sligo Hurl- "Maintaining and then exceeding ing & the Sligo Senior Hurling Panel Christy Ring level of competition is part launched 'iSupport Sligo Hurling', which of our vision and strategy for the future involves the hurlers embarking on a and we look forward to your help and virtual journey from Sligo GAA in Scar- support on this journey. "You can track the progress of the players' journey to New York and get all Sligo captain Niall Feehily lifts the trophy the information about this event, includ- following the Allianz Hurling League Division ing how to donate and roll in behind 3B Final victory over Leitrim at the Connacht iSupport Sligo hurling, on Centre of Excellence. www.idonate.ie/Sligo2Sligo," organisers Photo: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile. added.

Page 42 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO • FOCUS ON SLIGO Moyles not looking back in anger

“Of course, I’d love to have been cameo appearances with Enniscrone/ By MIKE FINNERTY involved in 2006 when Mayo got to the All- Kilglass Gaels in Sligo. Ireland Final, it was a very hard decision “After a few years, I felt that I needed to walk away from that. I found closure to go back and dabble in football again, to very difficult. do a few bits and pieces,” he explained. HE recent spate of Mayo football “There’s no doubt it can be a very dark “I love the team environment. I love the retirements got Michael Moyles place. dressing-room, the camaraderie, the Tthinking about his own departure “I remember 2006 very vividly. I was quizzes, the few drinks, the social aspect from the inter-county scene 15 years ago. very hurt at the time because I felt I could of it. I love being around that sort of envi- Social media was still in its infancy, have done a job, I felt I could have ronment. Twitter was only being developed, and contributed. But I had to think of my health “I love the coaching too, thinking about players often retired without so much as a and my family. the game, watching the game, and getting ‘ or leave’. “It was before Twitter and social media, feedback from players and working with That’s how it was for Moyles too. and players announcing they had retired them to get better.” In his own words he ‘ended up sort of really, so you just ended up sort of floating Just as his 13-year management and floating away’ in 2006 after he was away. coaching career would suggest. advised to stop playing contact sports by “That’s where the GAA falls down a doctors and medical specialists in Ireland, bit, I think. When players finish up with the UK and the US after an MRI scan inter-county, something that’s been showed that a bone in his back had such a huge part of their lives for so moved dangerously close to his spinal long, there’s a huge void. cord. “I have filled that void with The injury was attributed to years of coaching and managing teams taking heavy blows on playing fields all for the last 13 years. across the country, not to mention being “Of course you’d prefer to be involved in a car crash on his way to Mayo playing, you want to play for as training a few years earlier. long as you can.” Moyles was told that if he continued to That was one of the reasons play Gaelic football – or any contact sport why Michael Moyles ended his – another heavy blow to his back could self-imposed retirement and leave him paralysed. returned to play club football “Getting the news was obviously very with Crossmolina some two upsetting but you just have to remember years later, in 2008. that there’s more to life,” the All-Ireland Having reviewed the medical club winner told The Mayo News in Octo- advice and weighed up the risks, the ber of 2006. pull of ‘dabbling’ with the Deel Rovers “If I’d found out later and kept playing proved too strong to resist. on there was a chance I’d end up in a In recent years he has also felt confi- wheelchair. dent enough to wear the Green and “As far as the doctors and specialists Red of the Mayo Masters and are concerned, if I was in contact again only last season made a few there’s a chance that a bone in my back could sever my spinal cord.” So he was left with no option but to draw a line under playing with Cross- molina and Mayo. He admits such a dramatic and trau- matic end to his inter-county career took its toll. “My last game with Mayo was the 2005 All-Ireland quarter-final [which they lost to Kerry],” he recalled last week. “I had to go for some tests and scans on my neck at the start of 2006 and I remember Liam Moffatt [current Mayo GAA chairman], who I played with all through my career in Crossmolina, and was a physio, was very good to me at the time. “The initial shock at having to retire made me step back a bit from football for a while. “I was 29 when I made the decision, and there was more than me at risk. I had Mayo Junior manager Michael Moyles patrols to think about my immediate family and the sidelines during the 2013 Connacht Junior the strain and the worry that me playing on Final against Sligo at Pearse Stadium. would have put on them. Photo: Diarmuid Greene / SPORTSFILE.

• FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO INTO THE WEST – Page 43 Long road back for injur

An innocuous twist of his knee during By MIKE FINNERTY the very first club match back after lock- The Mayo News down restrictions were lifted last summer — in the Michael Walsh League against Knockmore — turned out to be a lot more UT of sight and out of mind. serious than Harrison thought at the time. And nobody knows that As he walked off the field that evening, better than the lads them- before driving himself home and organis- O ing to get the knee examined, little did he selves. Everyone’s plan is to be flying fit, playing well and in the team. But know that he wouldn’t lace up a pair of then an injury hits, you’re out of boots for a game again in 2020. action, out of the picture, and part He was also set to miss most, if not all, of a different group altogether. of Mayo’s National League campaign this It’s the same in every spring, had the competition started last team sport and the Mayo month as was originally planned. senior football squad is no However, with no start date confirmed for different. either club or county football yet this ‘The walking wounded’ season, he now looks set to be ready to who spend more time talk- go — barring any setbacks. ing to and dealing with doctors, specialists, and team physios like Mark Gallagher and Brendan Butler than they do with Davitts. Age: 34 management and team- mates. Last played for Mayo: January 28, Players for whom train- 2020 ing sessions have been

replaced by rehab’ RARELY (if ever) has a Mayo footballer programmes and for ‘not’ sending a message via his social whom match days last media account (@ColmBoyle is his Twitter season were spent at handle in case you didn’t know already) home on their couches, been a cause for such great celebration due to the GAA’s Covid-19 among Mayo supporters. regulations. After the synchronised retirements of Ironically, the only excep- six players in the space of 20 days in tion to that rule was the All- January, there was a genuine sense of Ireland Final last December, dread that ‘Boyler’ would also leave the meaning that injured players Mayo stage. who were outside the magic However, it now seems that barring the number of ‘26’ were so near, inter-county season not going ahead this and yet so far, from the action at year, the Davitts dynamo will be back for Croke Park. at least one more shot at a few titles (and This week we focus on three Mayo maybe a few cocky forwards too!). players who missed all the drama of last It’s 13 months since Boyle suffered season, but will be hoping to be back in what was described some weeks later as the thick of it again when the 2021 ‘a serious knee injury’ by James Horan. campaign begins. We now understand it to have been a badly damaged cruciate ligament that ended his inter-county season there and Brendan Harrison then against Dublin on January 28. Aghamore. Age: 28 Typical of the man, he did battle back to line out for Davitts in the club champi- Last played for Mayo: February 2, 2020 onship in late July, just six months after getting injured, but he was unable to THE sight of Brendan Harrison on convince Horan and company that he was crutches on the field at Croke Park after ready to play any Mayo minutes when the last December’s All-Ireland Final defeat season restarted in October. was a poignant reminder of another man In fact, he didn’t make the match-day that Mayo missed badly against Dublin. squads for the Galway, Tipperary and The All-Star defender had a procedure Dublin matches. on his injured knee the week leading up to The Westport-based Garda will be 35 the final and didn’t kick a ball for either this July so it will be fascinating to see Aghamore or Mayo from mid-July onwards what role the manager has in mind for the last year. four-time All Star.

Page 44 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO ed players nears the end

Jason Doherty against Donegal in in early August in 2019. Doherty had put himself through a gruelling rehabilitation programme to get back in action for Burrishoole last July and was back in the frame to line out with Burrishoole. Age: 31 Mayo when the inter-county season Last played for Mayo: August 3, 2019 restarted last autumn. However, instead he was resigned to THERE was a huge amount of sympathy watching on from the sidelines with the and genuine disappointment for Doherty rest of us. when news emerged last October that the We can only imagine what the last five talented forward had torn the Anterior months have been like for him, especially Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in his right knee considering that he had been edging close during a training session with Mayo. to a Mayo return last spring when Covid- After all, that unfortunate setback had 19 brought everything to a halt. occurred just 14 months after he had torn All going well, the hope is that Jason the ACL in his left knee during the course will be back in action again with club and Colm Boyle of the All-Ireland SFC ‘Super 8s’ game county later this summer.

• FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO INTO THE WEST – Page 45 Freeman: Higgins is good enough to play for Galway hurlers

Henry and Jackie Coyne, have done a By DECLAN ROONEY powerful amount of work putting together Media West (Ireland) a ten-year strategic plan for Mayo hurling. “New underage clubs have been set up in Claremorris and Cashel Gaels, and AYO hurling stalwart Cathal Free- Cashel have an adult team too. That’s a man thinks that having Keith big step forward; that’s what we need. The MHiggins’ on board full time with the more people you have playing any given county hurlers in 2021 will be a priceless sport the more opportunity you have for addition for the team. the top end of that group to progress.” Higgins retired from inter-county foot- After first studying in NUI Galway, ball in January, but signalled his intent to Freeman returned to study medicine in give his full focus to the Mayo hurlers this Limerick in 2018, and after his time as a season after trying to play both codes on footballer, this year in his and off over the years. seventh academic season, he became Freeman (30) was part of the Mayo ineligible to play . side that lost last year’s Nickey Rackard As part of his third year in Cup final to Donegal, while they were medicine he has been working as a also relegated from an ultra competi- GP in Roscommon, and helping in tion Division 2A in the national league, the vaccination of some of the but the Tooreen club man thinks vulnerable in society has given having Higgins’ experience to call on him a real lift. will be huge. “It has been a great experi- “It’s massive for us. Not only is he ence so far, but there has been a fantastic athlete in the physical difficult parts to the job too. As sense, he is also a fantastic hurler,” annoying as it might seem that said Freeman, a third year medical the vaccinations programme is student at . not going as fast as it might “People would often say he would have hoped, in the GP practice get into the Galway team here, we gave out the vaccines on the basis of his to the over 85 group last week. athleticism and his The excitement amongst the group speed alone. But he was just unreal. I can’t describe it. would also get in the Galway team on the basis of his hurling abil- ity alone also. He is a wonderful stickman; he has the perfect package put together. “Even all of us that were helping giving “And even aside from that, the experi- Mayo hurler Cathal Freeman pictured with the new Mayo GAA jersey, which will be available it out, the excitement from everyone, to ence that he will bring to the group at just finally have it in our hands and to be training sessions in meetings, the insight from Intersport Elverys from 5th May. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie. able to give people that have been cooped he will bring from his experience of playing up in their own homes, cocooning for high level sport for 15 years, is going to be months on end, to give them some hope is title to in the autumn – Higgins massive for us. something that will stay with us for a long scored nine points – before Donegal “He’d be one of the elder statesmen time. within the group and a lot of the team denied the county team in the Croke Park would have grown up idolising him, look- decider. “Often times when you ask how people ing up to him. The words he speaks will Despite that defeat and their relega- feel about needles the usual answer is carry real weight. I’m sure as a group we tion, he thinks there is plenty to be positive they’re not too fond of them, but last week will benefit from that hugely.” about in Mayo hurling. there was no complaints. ‘Give it to me, Last year turned out to be a time of “Looking in from the outside, it is diffi- the biggest needle you have, just put it in’. mixed emotions for Freeman. In January cult to understand where Mayo hurling is. That will stay with us for a while.” he helped Tooreen reach the All-Ireland Last year’s league didn’t go as well as intermediate club semi-finals, only for a we’d have hoped and we lost out to Done- Intersport Elverys, together with O’Neills, hamstring injury picked up the following gal, but there are some green shoots Mayo GAA, and Mayo LGFA, have unveiled the week to rob him of his dream of playing appearing. new home jersey which will be worn by all Fitzgibbon Cup hurling. “Adrian Hession the GPO in Mayo has Mayo inter-county footballers and hurlers for He went on to raise more than €62,000 done incredible work. I shake my head the 2021 season. The new jersey will incorpo- for the Irish Cancer Society and for protec- when I think what he has done in order to rate the Intersport Elverys brand for the 24th tive equipment for HSE staff, when he get hurling into 44 national schools in the year and will be available from 5th May exclu- soloed a a marathon distance in his county. That has never happened before. sively through www.Elverys.ie until stores garden. Tooreen then lost their Mayo club “Two great club mates of mine, Austin across the country re-open.

Page 46 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO more this year too, so there will be places lievable and to see the joy that it brings to By DECLAN ROONEY up for grabs. The competition in the squad Mayo people is huge. Media West (Ireland) will be huge. It’s great though; it’s exciting “Especially last year, anyone that I times for Mayo.” have been talking have all been saying AYO forward Diarmuid O’Connor A few weeks on from their loss to how great it was. For them to have some- believes the defending Connacht Dublin, the Mayo panel kicked off their thing to look forward to watching the game Mchampions have the depth of 2021 preparation again, albeit through was a huge thing. talent in the squad to thrive, despite the online fitness sessions. Having his older “And it was the same for us to be able retirement of some of their most experi- brother Cillian at home has given Diarmuid to play. It will be more of the same this enced players in the off-season. an equally driven training partner, but after year I think, but I just can’t wait to get O’Connor was part of the Mayo team going through lockdown preparation last back, meet the lads and have a bit of that fell to Dublin in December’s All-Ireland year, he says he has learned to take it a craic. We’ll just see how we can improve.” senior final at Croke Park, his third All- little bit easier on himself. Ireland final defeat in a seven-year inter- “At this stage we have moved on from county career, but after putting that last season, I kind of moved on a week Mayo footballer Diarmuid O’Connor (below) setback behind him, the Ballintubber man after the final, thinking towards this year, hopes to improve again in 2021. looking at how I can improve on a pictured with the new Mayo GAA jersey, which A significant amount of talent and personal level and how the team can will be available from Intersport Elverys from experience left in January when Keith improve. 5th May. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie. Higgins, Chris Barrett, Seamie O’Shea, , and David Clarke called an end to their time in the green and red shirt, but O’Connor thinks the Mayo panel has the ability to evolve. “The six lads will be massive losses, and not just on the field,” said O’Connor, O’Connor who was named young player of the year in 2015 and 2016. “Obviously they are all top players and positive are still playing at the top of their game. They will be big losses on the pitch and at training. But off the pitch as well and around the dressing room. They were for the massive leaders and great friends. Just not having them around they’ll be missed. “But luckily enough in Mayo we have a huge array of talent coming through. I future of think that was shown last year and there was a lot of debutants. The average age of the team was way down on previous years. Mayo “A lot of lads came in and there could have been more of them too. We have a lot of talent coming through but those lads will be missed both on and off the pitch.” When Mayo launched their Connacht “The hunger is championship campaign against Leitrim alway there, but what last November, manager James Horan is happening in the handed out seven debuts, with three of world at the moment, those new faces – Mullin, Eoghan to be able to play McLaughlin and Tommy Conroy – all and go out and nominated for All Stars. Mullin was named express yourself, at corner back on that team of the year. it’s unbelievable to At 26 years old, whether he likes it or have that opportu- not, O’Connor is one of the elder states- nity. We got that men in the panel now, as the ‘young lads’ last year after the are letting him know. break and it was “It’s scary how the years are going by great. so quickly,” said O’Connor, a Maths and “Before the break PE teacher at St Gerald’s College in I felt things had got a Castlebar. bit heavy. We were being a “It’s gas, talking to a couple of the so bit hard on ourselves and maybe called younger lads...I’m still a young lad over thinking things. For me anyway, in my eyes, but they had a great laugh after the break, it was nearly the sheer telling me I wasn’t anymore. enjoyment of being back, it made me “It’s great that the lads that have come ask myself: Why am I over thinking through have pushed everyone on and things? Just go out and try to express kept everyone on their toes. You could see myself and enjoy the battle. the talent that was there last year and the “To have the opportunity to go and impact the new players made. There’ll be be able to play for your county is unbe-

• FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO INTO THE WEST – Page 47 Sullivan eager to get back to action with Moyles’ Mayo

and try and get that extra bit further this By DECLAN ROONEY time.” Media West (Ireland) With the country in lockdown, gym instructor Sullivan could have ended up twiddling her thumbs, but working with ’s ‘The Movement’ in Castle- HERE is plenty to be excited about bar, she has been kept busy. in Mayo Ladies football circles as the In recent weeks the Castlebar Mitchels T2021 season approaches, and one player ran a series of online training of the county’s longest serving players, session in association with the LGFA, Kathryn Sullivan, says she is determined which culminated in a ferocious battle for to help her team reach the next level. workout supremacy with Moran. She is A new manager in Michael Moyles, the delighted to have been able to keep work- return of some former players and the ing behind closed doors. arrival of eager, fresh talent means Mayo “I’m two years working at The Move- turn towards the new season with vigour. ment this April. Andy is unbelievable. He is While their 2020 championship ended like the most positive person in the world. at the group stages, 2019’s All-Ireland The whole team here are the same. You semi-final appearance suggests there is a bounce off that kind of energy. Even talented group of players in the county. with these Ladies football videos he Add in some experienced faces like has had some great ideas. Carnacon’s Fiona McHale and some of “Unfortunately, our members could- her clubmates, and Sullivan (30) thinks n’t come in to the classes, but we have the team can make significant a nice media set-up in Lough Lannagh progress. in the leisure complex. We have two “When Michael came in, at big screens and proper lighting so we the start the door was open can see all the members. to anyone if they wanted to “The class lay-out and routine is play for Mayo, which was the same as it always has been for completely right,” said them. The class is still full even to this Sullivan, who has been day, which is crazy. People have kept playing for Mayo since with us and that has kept us going her debut in 2007. too, which is great.” “There are players Moyles has assembled an who have come back, impressive backroom team featuring some younger players, Aidan McLoughlin, Tom Carney, some more experi- Marita McDonald, Terry Kennedy, enced players. The likes Conor Finn and Austin O’Malley. And of Fiona McHale, it’s unreal with the continued support of Elverys to have her back. Eight or nine – “they have been so good to us and players were added to the training squad so generous” – Sullivan says the and they are all happy out. transition has been a very smooth “We are starting with a fresh slate. I’m process. sure there was nerves there at the very “Michael has been brilliant so far. first Zoom call we had, just introducing I have dealt with Michael before the new management and seeing faces when he was in as a coach in 2015. that we haven’t seen in a while. Every- The team he has brought in now, one is there for the same reason though, everyone has a specific job and every- to be ready when we get back up and thing is delegated off to the right person. running. “He is so professional and so “We had three years along with Peter approachable too. We have all noticed (Leahy) and they were brilliant. We came that. If there is any issue or anything it is so close. There was that semi-final loss by no problem to pick up the phone and give a point in 2019 against Galway. That was him a call. very, very disappointing. “He hasn’t seen us in person at all, and “But this new, fresh approach might Mayo Ladies footballer Kathryn Sullivan that must be a hard part of it all as he gets maybe add that tiny percentage that we pictured with the new Mayo GAA jersey, which to know all the players. At the minute it is have been looking for. Everyone has their will be available from Intersport Elverys from going really well. It is exciting and we are own set of skills in the new management 5th May. Photo: INPHO/James Crombie. looking forward to getting back whenever and already you can see that it’s working that may be. Hopefully it’s sooner rather wonders. Hopefully we can push on now than later.”

Page 48 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO The playing pitch at Elverys MacHale Park in Castlebar will undergo re-surfacing. Photo: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.

options being explored in relation to devel- this pitch as good as it can be to support By MIKE FINNERTY oping infrastructure and facilities for the our club and inter-county players. We’re at The Mayo News county’s football and hurling teams. the point now where we’ll be bringing it to These included developing three the next County Board meeting and will HE pitch re-surfacing project at pitches and dressing-rooms at Lough hopefully get the approval for that.” MacHale Park in Castlebar may be Lannagh in Castlebar to create a state-of- Moffatt said that, when completed, the Tthe primary infrastructure project the-art Mayo GAA Training Centre (at a MacHale Park pitch should have a playing being planned by Mayo GAA chiefs at the projected cost of over €4m); enhancing surface ‘comparable to Markievicz Park’ in moment, but they haven’t ruled out devel- Mulvey Park in Castlebar; developing Sligo and believes that the works will add oping a ‘Training Centre’ in the future. pitches in both the South Mayo and North to the ‘existing facilities’ in Castlebar. The County Board are rolling out the Mayo regions; and resurfacing MacHale He also set out the background to the ‘Laochra Mhaigh Eo’ fundraising project Park. project. over the next two months in an effort to “At the start of 2020 I commissioned “The facilities and the dressing-rooms raise money to pay for the re-development Michael Diskin to look at our infrastructure at MacHale Park are great, but there of the MacHale Park pitch. The planned demands,” explained Liam Moffatt. “He did hasn’t been a significant investment in the works are expected to cost in the region of a very thorough review and he looked at pitch for over 20 years, there has been €300,000. five potential projects, one of which was maintenance every year, but no dedicated However, Mayo GAA Board chairman, the condition of the MacHale Park pitch project. Liam Moffatt, has told The Mayo News and what was needed. “When we set up the Cairde Mhaigh Eo that officials are ‘not ruling out any project “If you talk to some of our coaches and sub-committee last year, one of the goals in the future’ but that, ‘right here, right players, they’re very proud of the pitch, but was that they became a think-tank for now, going on a County Board meeting we nobody would object to having a better sustainable fund-raising ideas. A number had last November, it was felt that this playing surface. As we’ve stated a number of projects were put forward, and one of would be a prudent approach, given the of times, we’re not ruling out any project in them was the Laochra Mhaigh Eo project. times we’re living in. the future. “One of the goals of it is to revitalise “It’s not a cost on clubs. It will be paid “But right here, right now, going on a the playing surface in MacHale Park.” for by the Laochra Mhaigh Eo initiative,” County Board meeting we had last Moffatt also confirmed that the pitch re- he added. November, it was felt that this would be a surfacing works will begin after Mayo Twelve months ago, shortly before prudent approach, given the times we’re conclude their inter-county programme of Covid-19 arrived in the country, Michael living in. matches in Castlebar this year. Diskin, the assistant treasurer of the “But I’ll stress, it doesn’t rule out any He also admitted that it was ‘difficult to County Board (who also heads up their previously mentioned projects happening give a definitive start date for the work due infrastructure and facilities sub-committee) in the future. to the current uncertainty over fixtures due told club delegates that there were five “Right now though, we just want to get to Covid-19’.

• FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO INTO THE WEST – Page 49 Making the Mayo panel

By MIKE FINNERTY Goalkeeper The Mayo News Byrne Castlebar Mitchels

IME and again last season we heard about HE may have spent all of last year (both pre-Covid and after the the fierce competition for places in the Mayo season restarted) inside the Mayo squad, but the 28 year-old senior football panel. Everyone from James T goalkeeper from the Mitchels didn’t get a single minute of game- Horan to to Aidan O’Shea spoke time. Them’s the breaks when you’re third in line behind Messrs about the battle to make it into the match-day Clarke and Hennelly. squads of 26, never mind the starting team. Byrne would probably have expected to get a run-out at some This was borne out over the course of Mayo’s stage in the National League, especially early in the year, but five championship matches as there were some instead James Horan kept faith with the tried and trusted duo. days when household names like Rob Hennelly, Colm Boyle and failed to make the The nearest Byrne got to action was sitting on the bench for cut to get a jersey. the Connacht SFC quarter-final win over Leitrim. His last compet- It was a similar story for the likes of Fergal itive outing for Mayo was in the 2017 FBD League. Boland, Fionn McDonagh and James Carr, players Theres’s no doubt that Mitchels not getting out of their group with plenty of big-game experience who found in the championship last autumn denied Byrne a chance to show themselves sitting at home watching some cham- the Mayo management what he could do. pionship matches on television due to Covid-19 But with David Clarke now retired, he must be closer to a restrictions around the number of team personnel long-awaited league debut. allowed into venues. As most inter-county players discover at some Defender stage, being invited into a county panel is only half the battle. Staying there, and nailing down a place in the match-day squad or first XV is the Rory Brickenden hard part. Westport We look at four players who joined James Horan’s panel in 2020 and will be hoping to not THE tall defender was one of six members of last year’s Mayo just make the grade again this year, but kick on Under-20 squad that James Horan called into the senior panel and get some minutes under the belts. last spring.

RORY BYRNE RORY BRICKENDEN

Page 50 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO is only half the battle

Horan had seen the teenage Brickenden up close during his the National League in October, lining out at full-back. season coaching Westport in 2018 and obviously rates him He didn’t feature for Mayo for the remainder of the season, highly; the 21 year-old was fast-tracked to sit on the bench for but he would have gained a lot of valuable experience from last autumn’s National League match against Galway on the marking the likes of Cillian O’Connor and Aidan O’Shea on the weekend the season restarted. training ground. And Brickenden made his senior debut just a few weeks later McBrien is very highly-rated in Ballagh’ and Andy Moran, who when he came on against Leitrim in the opening championship plays with him and has coached him with the Mayo Under-20s, is game while he was also introduced against the Rossies. a big fan. In fact, he was in the match-day squad for all of Mayo’s five championship matches, including the All-Ireland Final. Brickenden wore number six for the Under-20s against Forward Galway last year and also operated at centre-back a bit during last season’s senior club championship. Darren McHale However, if he’s going to get his chance with Mayo in 2021 it’s Knockmore more likely to be in a full-back line that has lost Chris Barrett and Keith Higgins to retirement, while Brendan Harrison is still on the A STRING of impressive performances in the Mayo club champi- road to recovery from injury. onship last season, including a man of the match display in the County Final, saw the talented Knockmore attacker called into the Mayo squad last autumn. Defender His first and only appearance came as a substitute late in the day against Leitrim in the Connacht championship but he will David McBrien have learned a lot from three months spent training with Cillian Ballaghaderreen O’Connor and company. The 26 year-old is a typical Knockmore forward; skilful, two- VERSATILITY is probably one of the 21 year-old’s biggest footed, accurate, and at his best when his confidence is high. assets. Anybody who saw McHale score his brilliant goals against He has played with the Mayo Under-20s for the last two Ballintubber and Breaffy at MacHale Park last season will testify seasons and operated in both the full-back and half-back lines, to his ability. while he has done a lot of his best work for Ballagh’ as a The half-forward line is his natural habitat so he will be dynamic wing-back. competing for places with a plethora of others in the months He was another of the 2020 Under-20s called up by James ahead; but his first aim will have to be to nail down a regular Horan last season and made his senior debut against Galway in place in the match-day squad.

DAVID McBRIEN DAVID McHALE

• FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO • FOCUS ON MAYO INTO THE WEST – Page 51 Interested in winning a New Camper Van worth over €70,000?

OSCOMMON’S Éire Óg GAA Club are running a fundraising draw at Rwww.winanewcampervan.ie to give you the chance to win a new Peugeot Boxer Compass Avantgarde 196 6 Berth campervan. Éire Óg GAA Club was founded in 1984 and from our first days right up to today we are to the fore in our parish community of Loughglynn, Lisacul and Gorthaganny here in West Roscommon. Our club grounds were opened in 1991 and are dedicated to the memory of James Timothy a footballer with our club who was tragically taken from us in a traf- fic accident in 1985. We need to complete a total renova- tion of our existing playing pitch and we hope to include an enhanced all weather playing surface to ensure that the club can continue to provide our youth and adult players We have further Óg GAA club continues to deliver an with games throughout plans for improve- enjoyable, safe experience to our the year. ments to the club members, players, spectators and to the In addition, we grounds, including wider community, into the future. intend to add a lighted the parking and The draw is scheduled to take place on walking/jogging track training areas, hope- Bank Holiday Monday August 2nd 2021. If around the perimeter of fully we will be in a posi- all tickets are sold earlier we may hold the the grounds to provide the tion to raise sufficient funds draw at an earlier date. greater community with a to help us achieve this goal. Tickets cost €25 each, 3 for €65, and badly needed safe area to use With these improve- 5 for €100 and can be purchased from at for exercise and recreation. ments we can ensure Éire www.winanewcampervan.ie. Herald journalist named LGFA Volunteer of the Year

ONGRATULATIONS to Roscommon Herald GAA reporter Ian Cooney, who was recently named as CLocal Journalist of the Year at the LGFA Volunteer of the Year Awards, in association with currentaccount.ie. Roscommon LGFA paid tribute to Cooney after he was announced as the winner. “Congratulations to Ian Cooney on achieving his LGFA Volunteer of the Year Award. Fantastic achievement and we at Roscommon LGFA are delighted for you and your family. Ian Cooney a Roscom- mon living loud legend, and a true gentleman well done Ian.”

Page 52 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON Former Roscommon minor footballer impressing with oval ball By JOHN FALLON Media West (Ireland) pictured during his time as a Roscommon underage star. ORMER Roscommon minor foot- Photo: Roscommon GAA. baller and promising Fplayer Niall Murray could well be Inset: Connacht Academy. planning a season with Anthony Cunning- ham’s side instead of a rugby off-season as the 21-year-old only took rugby when he started throwing a ball around with his brothers during half-time in a match. Murray, from Brideswell in South Roscommon, only took up rugby when he was 16 but with a frame heading 6’7” and over 16 stone, he revelled from the outset and just four years later helped Ireland win the U-20 Six Nations grand slam. It was some rise for a versatile young fella whose talent pointed him in the direc- tion of Roscommon gaelic footballers, Town FC and even the possibility of a professional career in Aussie Rules after he was approached by and impressed in trials. But he fell in love with rugby after his That professional dream almost came though I was doing three running sessions mum took him into Buccaneers RFC one from an unexpected source when he was a week, but I was doing a lot more gym Saturday morning and he never looked asked to put himself forward for Aussie than I usually did. back after that first day in . Rules trials. “My body never felt as good as it did in “I was just watching the Six Nations as “I was in school one day and Tadhg that first lockdown. I had a weighing a young fella, myself and my two brothers Kennelly rang me and asked me to go to scales at home but obviously it was faulty. went out at half-time and we started throw- the AFL Combine in Dublin. It was a two or It was reading I was 105kg but I came ing around the rugby ball and then one three-day Combine and I got picked to go back in here to the Sportsground and day when I was about 16 my mother to a kind of a preseason in Florida but I suddenly I was 110 or 113kg.” brought me in to Buccaneers one Satur- turned it down because we had the U-18 Younger brother Darragh, also a lock, day and I gave it a go. To be honest, I or U-19 rugby inter-pros at the same time, is in the academy in Connacht, while older haven’t looked back since.” and I wasn’t going to risk it all not getting brother Conor is studying in DCU, and all By then he was on the radar of the picked for that preseason or getting Murray wants now is game-time but he Roscommon footballers. He went to St dropped and having nothing at the end of has Irish locks Quinn Roux and Ultan Aloysius College in Athlone where GAA the day so I stayed at home,” said Murray, Dillane ahead of him in the queue. dominated and there was no rugby. He who turned 21 last October. “All I can do is try my best and hope I enjoyed success with the progressive St He made rapid progression with get selected but if not I’ll keep a good spirit Brigid’s GAA club in Kiltoom where Connacht, starting at the top by making and help the boys out in whatever role Roscommon senior Senan Kilbride was his debut in the Champions Cup against needs to be done. among his managers and success there Gloucester in December 2019 and has “I can’t be too fussy. I’m sitting behind led to the county minors, following in the since added a dozen appearances. two Irish internationals and Gavin Thorn- footsteps of current Connacht out-half He used lockdown last year to bulk up, bury is playing out of his skin this season, . but faulty weighing scales at home led to a but we are learning a lot of the three boys “I played my young year at 17 playing shock that he had added over a stone to ahead of us. It’s a great learning curve for minor. I loved it. We got to the Connacht his frame and was topping 17 stone by the us. The three boys and Jimmy (Duffy, semi-final, lost to Galway. I was asked the time they came back to the Sportsground. forwards coach) are great at teaching us year after to play but I put all my eggs in “I’m 113kg (17’8”) at the moment and I younger lads. It’s a great position we are one basket at that stage into rugby. It was would like to keep it on and the preseason in, it’s a tough environment in the second a love of the game that I wanted to play I will try to bulk up again to 115 or 116kg. row but, then again, you are only one but at the end of the day I wanted to be a I changed a lot of my diet but the load injury away from the starting position, so professional sportsman.” was still a lot less in lockdown even we need to be ready,” he added.

• FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON INTO THE WEST – Page 53 St Brigid’s captains Darragh Donnelly, left, and Cathal McHugh lift the trophy following their side's victory in the Roscommon County final of 2016 against Padraig Pearses. Photo: Seb Daly/Sportsfile. The sky’s the limit for McHugh house in Easter and possibly By IAN COONEY Punchestown. We might even send her to Roscommon Herald race in France. I had a little nibble at her at 50/1 back in November. “I wouldn’t be putting anyone off back- ing her,” revealed a confident Cathal. HE sky will be the limit for Cathal “She’s been carrying top weight McHugh from Curraghboy should his because she’s won in listed company. Tsix-year-old “Skyace” triumph in the Over two miles, she’ll go on anything apart Mares Novice Hurdle in Cheltenham over from good to firm. She appreciates a cut in two miles, one furlong. Like others, he’ll be the ground. watching from afar, though in his case, trained by John ‘Shark’ Hanlon and ridden “Skyace has won four times and Jody’s Victor’s Bar in Abu Dhabi in the United by Jody McGarvey. The horse is not with- ridden her in six of her eight races. Arab Emirates, where he lives with his out its chances in what is likely to be a two Shark’s yard has done an excellent job. wife Aoife from Lanesboro. mile, one furlong cavalry charge. We’ve also been greatly supported by A teacher of Social Studies and Busi- Cathal and his friend Kevin Quaine Brian Keenan, who has given us invalu- ness at the Westshells Academy in the from Wexford picked up Skyace for the able advice. Some of the threats in the United Arab Emirates for the past three bargain fee of €600 in November 2019 field come from Rosie’s Hollow and years, the former St. Brigid’s corner- after being told the horse would make Gauloise. There’s a lot of money on The forward, an All-Ireland medallist in 2013, is €10,000 at sale. He had been placed in Glens of Antrim. on a career break from Roscommon three bumpers and when buying, Cathal “I’ve never been to Cheltenham. Three Community College where he is also a thought there was a typo in the price! of the guys have been there before. Three teacher. “Our first race last June, we weren’t of us are here in Abu Dhabi and we’ll set it The son of Peter and Bridgetta expecting much. It was felt we’d get her a live. I go to Meyden racetrack quite regu- McHugh (nee Phelan), Cathal also has handicap mark first. We first ran in a three- larly, it’s a fantastic course. There’s great two sisters Aisling and Cliodhna who live mile maiden hurdle in Tipperary. We didn’t access to racing people. in Sydney and Dublin respectively. His think she’d get three miles. When she “It’s funny, but my late grandad in grandparents ran the popular McHugh’s won, we knew we had a good horse,” Glenamaddy, Eamon Phelan, would have shop in Curraghboy. recalled Cathal before Skyace next won in been celebrating his birthday the day Cathal is one of the six-strong Gowran Park. Skyace is running. He liked the old horses, ‘Birdinthehand’ syndicate who owns the “If she comes out well of Cheltenham, and wouldn’t it be nice to win that day?” six-year-old, sired by Westerner, which is the plan is to for a Grade One in Fairy- concluded Cathal.

Page 54 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON Roscommon’s Rachel Fitzmaurice in action against Sligo during the 2019 TG4 Ladies Foot- Dual star ball Connacht IFC final against Sligo. Her camogie exploits have caught the eye from Fitzmaurice 2020. Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile. makes Sportsdaz Team of the Year

As usual, the Roscom- By IAN COONEY mon GAA community didn’t Roscommon Herald disappoint as they rowed in behind Rachel, who also won a county title with ACHEL Fitzmaurice’s reputation as her club Athleague in one of the country’s top camogie 2020, to make sure Rplayers has been further embel- she deservedly made the team. lished by the Athleague star making the

SportsDaz Camogie Team of the Year. While there was ultimately disappoint- ment for Roscommon in the All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship 2020 SportsDaz Camogie semi-final in November, Fitzmaurice’s Team of the Year performance in the face of adversity Áine Slattery (Tipperary) against Cavan was a highlight, as she Meabh Cahalane (Cork) almost singlehandedly dragged her side Dearbhla Magee (Down) back into contention against the Breffni Danielle Harrison (Down) County. Hannah Looney (Cork) Now she has followed in Jenny Higgins Sarah O’Connor (Wexford) and Aimee O’Connor’s footsteps (who Grace Walsh (Kilkenny) made the SportsDaz Ladies’ Football Niamh Hegarty (Kildare) Team of the Year) by taking one of the two RACHEL FITZMAURICE (Roscommon) slots at midfield on the 2020 camogie Sorcha McCartan (Down) team following five days of polls, shocks Emer Reilly (Kildare) and thrilling results. Katrina Mackey (Cork) There were 52 contests and 32,189 Lauren Clarke (Down) votes to bring 120 starters down to the Joanne Dillon (Wexford) final 15 where there are seven counties, Amy O’Connor (Cork) including Roscommon, represented.

Nugent takes charge of Roscommon U-17s

OSCOMMON GAA is delighted to announce that Enda Nugent has been ratified as the manger of the Roscommon RU17 team for 2021. Enda has previously managed this group of players at U14, U15 and U16. As a result he has an extensive knowledge of the panel. Enda has also been involved with the coaching and develop- ment of St Brigid’s underage teams since his move from Garrycas- tle. We would like to wish Enda and his back room team all the very best in the months ahead. Emmet Durney will continue as manager of the 2020 U17 U-17 manager Enda Nugent team. As Connacht Champions they will play Kerry in the All Ireland minor semi-final on a date to be confirmed.

• FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON • FOCUS ON ROSCOMMON INTO THE WEST – Page 55 Galway GAA legends ‘On Call’ during Covid-19 crisis NUMBER of Galway GAA Cyril, Joe, John and Noel all on board legends are once again making for this project. They are all legends of Athemselves available to talk to the game and are very kindly giving up those living alone or most in need at their time to help," said Paul. this very difficult time. The GAA chat If you would like to receive a call initiative was first introduced last April from one of our legends or would like to and proved hugely successful, particu- arrange a call on behalf of a family larly with those cocooning. Brendan member or friend just contact Brendan Mulry of Irish Rural Link is managing on 087 2194243 or brendan@irishru- the initiative again in association with rallink.ie who will arrange the calls over Galway GAA, Paul Byrnes Media and the coming weeks. Mr Mulry said; support from the ‘Keep Well’ Resilience "While there aren't any firm rules, the Campaign. focus is really on those fans who Throughout this latest lockdown a maybe need this most. Think of a number of Galway football and hurling parent or grandparent who is at home legends have all very kindly made alone and would love to chat all things themselves available to talk to GAA GAA with one of our legends." fans on the phone. They include: 3-time Pat Kearney, Chairperson of Galway All-Ireland winning manager Cyril GAA said: “This initiative proved to be a Farrell, 3-time All-Ireland winner Noel great success last year and helped Lane and Joe Connolly who captained many stuck at home cocooning. It’s still Galway to All-Ireland success in 1980 a very difficult time for everybody so as well as All-Star footballer John Tobin. projects like this really help in these "We are very lucky to have the likes of uncertain times.” Your county, your colours, your support

VER the last 11 months our frontline workers have worked tirelessly to keep us safe and Owell. In these unprecedented times they have certainly made the ultimate sacrifice to help save other people. Tommy Devane, GAA commentator with Galway Bay FM and former inter-county player has come up with a wonderful initiative to acknowledge their incredible work. He has asked all 32 counties to supply one county jersey accompanied by a short message of thanks. The jersey along with their message will then be framed here in Galway and sent to the hospital or care setting of the county’s choice. “We’ve already received a huge reaction from the GAA community to the project which is in conjunction with Paul Byrnes Media, our main spon- sors Merit Medical and Langan Couriers who have kindly agreed to sponsor the delivery of all 32 jerseys. I am in awe of the magnificent work our amazing frontline workers are doing to protect us every day and they certainly deserve huge recogni- tion. They are the true heroes in this pandemic,” said Tommy. Galway GAA were the first county to support the initiative thanking all the frontline workers in the county for their continuing hard work and dedica- tion. “This is a wonderful idea and we are delighted to be supporting it. We have a great relationship Galway Bay FM commentator with all the hospitals and care settings in Galway Tommy Devane. and we would like to thank all the frontline staff who continue to do an amazing job every day,” said Pat Kearney, Chairman, Galway GAA.

Page 56 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY ALWAY GAA have announced a gaa.ie. You can also post all your pictures Maroon’ enable us to continue to provide hugely exciting fundraiser which and videos on #MARCHFORMAROON. vital supports to cancer patients and their Gwill take place all this month called “In these challenging times we are families in the West,” said Richard ‘March for Maroon.’ delighted to be putting on an event like Flaherty, CEO, Cancer Care West. The event is a virtual 10K run, walk or this with all four Galway teams involved Sean Greene, Search Co-ordinator cycle with all proceeds going to the including hurling, football, camogie and with the Oranmore-Maree Coastal Search Galway GAA Training Fund, Cancer Care ladies football. They need your support in Unit said “we are delighted and grateful to West and the Oranmore-Maree Coastal these difficult times. We hope all our Galway GAA for choosing Oranmore- Search Unit. All-Ireland winning captains supporters will join us from every part of Maree Coastal Search Unit as one of their David Burke and Sarah Dervan are both the globe be it Ahascragh or Australia. We charity partners for ‘March for Maroon.’ taking on the challenge along with many are also delighted to be supporting two We as an organisation bring hope to fami- others including Joe Canning, Padraig great charities who both do so much for so lies at times of crises and there is no Mannion, Shane Walsh, Johnny , many every day,” said Pat Kearney, Chair- doubt that during these unprecedented Louise Ward and Paul Conroy. Everybody man, Galway GAA. times we are looking to the GAA to provide is welcome including all those living and “Cancer Care West are delighted to be a distraction and hope for so many working abroad. involved in the ‘March for Maroon’ people.” ‘March for Maroon’ will also include fundraising campaign. Our charity has had Galway GAA is asking everybody who weekly competitions for best times, best a very successful partnership with Galway takes part to adhere to the current govern- locations and best colours as well as your GAA in the past and we are look forward ment guidelines. greatest GAA moments. Everybody that to working with their members on this takes part will also be entered into a draw event. Our charity does not charge for any for a very special VIP matchday experi- of our services and the pandemic has had For further information please contact ence prize for two. For more information a very detrimental affect on our fundrais- Mark Gottsche on 085 2562422 and to donate just log onto www.galway- ing revenue. Events such as ‘March for or Paul Byrnes Media on 087 2500051.

SO, WHO’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE?

QUICKEST TIMES ICONIC LANDSCAPES BEST LOCATIONS NEW/OLD SUNRISE/SUNSET GALWAY JERSEYS

• FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY INTO THE WEST – Page 57 Treasure trove of Galway photographs

in a full-forward line which won the junior Ten years later he won the first of two All- By JOHN FALLON hurling title for in 1982. That got Ireland senior medals alongside clubman Media West (Ireland) them promoted to intermediate which they Gary Fahy. won a decade later and that, in turn, got Current Galway selector John Concan- them into senior where they went on to non was on a Milltown team which win four All-Ireland and six Galway SHC captured the 1992 U-21 football title, with ALWAY PRO Seamus Finnerty has titles. Galway Bay FM head of sport Ollie Turner used the Covid-19 lockdown to A lot of that Portumna success was the goalkeeper on that team. Ggreat effect over the past few down to successful underage sides and Roscommon football manager and months updating the history section on the John Muldoon, who captained Connacht former Galway hurler Anthony Cunning- county’s GAA website, throwing up a trea- to win the Pro12 title in 2016 and who is ham was a key player for St Thomas as sure trove of old photographs and records. currently forwards coach with Bristol they captured the 1996 intermediate hurl- The Annaghdown clubman has added Bears, was a key member of the side ing title before going to become a force at almost 300 photographs covering the which won the 1988 county minor B title in senior, winning the All-Ireland club title and 1980 period to the current day, featuring a side which also included future All-Star recently won their fifth Galway title. John all the county champions in the various and his late brother Keith. Burke, another key figure in that ’96 inter- grades. Over 6,000 names are included in Another long-serving Galway hurler, mediate success, had six sons on the St the captions, often featuring players who Tony Og Regan, was the mascot for the Thomas team which won their first senior went on to make a mark further down the Salthill team which won the Galway SFC title in 2012, including David who went on line. title for the first time in 1990. The team, to skipper Galway to the 2017 All-Ireland Eric Elwood, the former Ireland rugby which included future Galway senior title. out-half and Connacht coach, is featured manager Alan Mulholland, was trained by Former Galway chairman and Central as part of a Mervue football side which his father Tony Regan, himself a former Council delegate Gerry Larkin captained won the 1988 county intermediate title, a Roscommon player. Abbey-Duniry to win the county junior C team captained by future Galway United Another future Galway manager Kevin hurling title in 1990. striker Donnie Farragher. Walsh is photographed in a Killanninn side And the late Joe McDonagh, who was Joe and Ollie Canning’s dad Sean was which won the county U-21 B title in 1988. GAA president from 1997-2000, features

Mervue Intermediate Football Champions 1988 – Back row: Tony O’Donovan, Eric Elwood, John Carr, Garry O’Connor, Colin McHugh, Dermot McSweeney, Brian O’Donovan, Mick Lundy. Centre row: Albert Hardiman, Ger Cahill, Michael O’Neill, Fitzgerald, James Healy, Ray Kelly, Pio Long, Frank Kinneen. Front row: Simon Warde, Pat Burgoyne, Martin Crowley, Donnie Farragher, Pat Grealish, Gabriel Higgins, Niall Beatty. Mascot: Joseph O’Connor

Page 58 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY now available after records updated

St Thomas’ Intermediate Hurling Champions 1996 – Back row: Mattie Forde, John Burke, Vincent Burke, Kevin Cunningham, Noel Burke, , Enda Burke, Brian Burke. Front row: Dermot Smyth, Maurice Headd, Tony Headd, Adrian Burke, Alan Linnane, Sean Forde, Sean Fahy.

in a poignant photograph as he helped his also a key member of the side, along with The archive is available on the history native win the county junior Noel Lane, who scored the goals which section of www.galwaygaa.ie and also B hurling title in 1996. He was president- clinched the 1987 and ’88 All-Ireland titles features a full list of county board officers elect at that stage and his son Eoin was for Galway. from 1887 to this year.

Portumna Minor ‘B’ Hurling Champions 1998 – Back row: Cormac , John Muldoon, Tony Monaghan, Ivan Canning, Ivan Muldoon, Stephen Madden, , Michael Dolphin. Front row: Keith Hayes, Damien Hayes, Eoin Lynch, Aidan O’Donnell, Johnny Keane, Ciarán Ryan, David O’Rourke.

• FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY INTO THE WEST – Page 59 Treasure trove of Galway photographs

Abbey Duniry Junior ‘C’ Hurling Champions 1990 – Back row: Frank Conroy (Selector), (Selector), , Liam Power, Thomas Kavanagh, Noel Reilly, Brendan Kelly, Paul Hodgins, Bertie Roche, Sean Flynn (Selector). Front row: Kevin Larkin, Michael Murphy, Sean Holohan, Gerry Larkin (captain), John Quirke, Pat McDonagh, Raymond Finnerty, Pat Kelly. Mascot: Colm Larkin.

Abbey Duniry Junior ‘C’ Hurling Champions 1990 – Back row: Frank Conroy (Selector), John Hodgins (Selector), Ger Power, Liam Power, Thomas Kavanagh, Noel Reilly, Brendan Kelly, Paul Hodgins, Bertie Roche, Sean Flynn (Selector). Front row: Kevin Larkin, Michael Murphy, Sean Holohan, Gerry Larkin (captain), John Quirke, Pat McDon- agh, Raymond Finnerty, Pat Kelly. Mascot: Colm Larkin.

Portumna Junior Hurling Champions 1982 Back row: Tim Walsh, John Harte, Tom Quinn, Pat Treacy, Dave Burke, Frank O’Brien, Christy Hogan, Sean Grady, Tom Burke, Donie Moran, Sean Canning, John Joe O’Rourke. Front row: Cyril Lowry, Sean Treacy, Paul Durack, John Cormican, Larry Durack, Pat Dillon, Mike Monaghan, Gerry Campbell, Martin Foley, John O’Rourke, Dan Lynch, Raymond Durack.

Page 60 – INTO THE WEST • FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY now available after records updated

Killanninn U-21 ‘B’ Champions 1988 – Back row: Stephen Kelly, Johnny Kelly, Declan Casey, Tommy Walsh, Frank Osborne, Brian O’Reilly, Tony Mahon, Edward Conlon, Kevin Walsh, Declan Faherty, Kieran Flynn, George Osborne. Front row: Donal O’Connell, Tony Halloran, Michael Feeney, Bosco Walsh, Michael Walsh, Paddy Lee, Tommy Kinnevey, Finbar Thomas, Halloran, Gary Fahy.

Ballinderreen County Junior ‘B’ Hurling Champions 1996 – Back row: Fintan Fordham, Austin Connolly, Sean Lane, John Costello, John Hughes, Aidan Mannion, Gerry Fahy, Kevin Quinn, Dermot Lane, John Meehan, Michael Gallagher, Peter Ward, Mark Ganly, Eoin McDonagh, Noel Lane, Terrance Hynes, Joe Connolly. Front row: , Cathal Flaherty, J P Bermingham, John Costello, Colin Forde, Ollie Lyons, Joe McDonagh, Paddy Moran, Liam Corcoran, Colm Meehan, Robert Hynes, Kieran Herbert, Thomas Fawle, Michael Coen. Mascots: Sean Costello, Patrick Lane.

Milltown U-21 Football Champions 1992 – Back row: T J Molloy, Enda O’ Connor, Seamus, Boyle, Ollie Turner, John Cunning- ham, Eoin Godwin, Bernard Brennan, Brian Forde. Front row: Niall McWalters, Fintan Burke, Alan Feerick, Kevin Carney, Proinsisas Glynn, Niall Forde, John Concannon. Trainers: Miko Feerrick and Peter McGuin- ness.

• FOCUS ON GALWAY • FOCUS ON GALWAY INTO THE WEST – Page 61 A year of lockdown has not dam

PATRICIA KEENAN Senior Consultant 2into3

N December 2021, the eagerly awaited

sports capital and equipment Iprogramme opened for applications with As the programme an estimated budget of €40milion, this is designed to also coincided with increased restrictions increase participa- and the cancellation of all organised sport. tion in sport, it is Speaking at the launch of the programme important for us to The Minister of State with responsibility for look at what Sport, Jack Chambers stated "The sports are apply- COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised how ing for grants in important sport is to our society….. critical 2021? for our physical and mental wellbeing. The new programme will again prioritise appli- Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, , Sport and Media, 2into3 analysis cations from disadvantaged areas,… which will increase participation including female participation and disabled users Per Capita amount Number % and those which share facilities with other 2018 2020 % change users and the wider community” Sports Club 320 69.11% Galway €45.34 €46.88 3% However what was the impact of Community Group* 71 15.33% Leitrim €54.34 €44.01 -19% COVID to grant applications and how did Local Authority 27 5.83% Mayo €43.06 €49.46 15% clubs and the wider community respond to School* 17 3.67% Roscommon €42.93 €48.79 14% the uncertainty? Sligo €49.89 €44.53 -11% Sports Centre * 9 1.94% The programme received a total of Provincial Average 0.4% Scout Group* 4 0.86% 3106 applications, which represents a Sports Stadium 3 0.65% 32.5% increase from 2018 and in mone- Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Local Sports Partnership 2 0.43% tary terms an increase of approximately Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, 2into3 analysis €38.4 million or 23.6%, which indicates Disability Group* 2 0.43% that there is still a demand locally and Special Interest Group* 2 0.43% regionally. This optimism was evident Applicant type National Governing Body 2 0.43% through the level of interest in the Education & Training Board* 1 0.22% This diversity in sport is reflected in the programme through organised webinars Diocesan Trust* 1 0.22% groups who are applying to the offered by NGBs and the Local Sports Youth Club* 1 0.22% Partnerships to assist in explaining the programme for finance. The type of appli- Outdoor Education Centre* 1 0.22% application process, some of which cant tells us about the involvement of the attracted attendance of over 300 clubs in wider community in submitting applica- Grand Total 463 100% one session.

Number of applications County 2018 2020 % change Galway 160 194 21%

Leitrim 24 28 17% Mayo 84 113 35% Roscommon 49 53 8% Sligo 49 57 16% Provincial Average 19.4%

Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, In comparison to Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, 2into3 analysis the national picture of the Top 10 sports In Connacht, the picture was similar Gaelic Games is with a 19.4% increase in the number of still the dominant application across the province sport in the Province and However although there is an increase indeed across each in the number of application and the county in Ireland, amount sought what was the overall but it is more impor- picture when we look at the amount tant to look at the sought per capita? This change was mini- rise of multi sports mal as counties Roscommon and Mayo which are applying did show increases but this was far for funding. outweighed by the decreases in applica- tions in Leitrim and Sligo Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, 2into3 analysis

Page 62 – INTO THE WEST • AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE pened Sports Club Ambitions

But its important to look beyond the Top 10 and see what the breakdown of sporting interests are in the Province and who is seeking to develop their facilities

Source: Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, 2into3 analysis

tions and not just as a licensee but as a community wide initiative to increase participation in sport. Nationally 75.3% of applications are received by Sports Clubs and the remainder is a cross section of the nonprofit sector. In Connacht the picture is similar with again the highest proportion from Sports clubs but there is a strong input from other community interests which accounted for 23% combined (*) of the rest of the appli- cants.

In conclusion

There is no decline in ambition for

sports clubs to continue to grow and

develop their facilities and they are looking to the future on how they can meet the current and future needs of their members. The Department are currently processing both local and regional appli- Patricia Keenan is a Senior Consultant with cations and there is no indication on when 2into3 and leads the Grants Practice on behalf the allocations will be announced, of the company. She has delivered numerous however given the level of interest in the webinars assisting clubs in eth Sports Capital programme and club engagement there is Application process as well as managing indi- a will for sports club to survive through vidual capital grant applications for regional these challenges and continue to grow and local funding on behalf of clubs and NGBs. post lockdown. Email [email protected]

• AROUND THE PROVINCE • AROUND THE PROVINCE INTO THE WEST – Page 63 CONNACHT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

THE DOME FITNESS TESTING Connacht GAA are continuing to offer our We offer a full squad report including The Dome contains: established service of fitness testing and normative values that will allow players Fullsize indoor GAA Field programming for clubs, schools and individ- assess their individual needs compared Running Track uals of all levels and age groups at the players playing at the same level. If required Fully Equipped Gym capable Connacht GAA Centre in Bekan. we can implement a bespoke Strength and of accommodating 30 Using our fully equipped state of the art Conditioning program for your team based people at once gym our experienced Strength and Condi- on results gained from our testing at no Portable Stand tioning team offer a vast array of tests extra cost. In addition, the Dome, within designed to help get the best indicators of This cost-effective service provides clubs strength and weaknesses in your group. and players with a platform of knowledge 72 hours, can be trans- formed into fully functional, and information, along with providing a adaptable conference arena Testing days include: system to implement a program to help unique on the island of Body Composition tests develop and improve the conditioning of players. Ireland. Flexibility Tests

On-Site Dome Capacity: Full Body Movement Analysis To book your teams fitness assessment 2,000+ for games Power Testing 10,000-20,000 (seated and day or for more information contact standing) for concerts/ Aerobic Capacity [email protected] or call 094-9630335. events Speed Testing

Page 64 – INTO THE WEST ALL BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES MADE THROUGH At the Connacht GAA Centre we have a main building with: VIDEO ANALYSIS GYM HIRE Games Based Facilities: Analysis Suite We also provide comprehensive video The Connacht GAA gym is available to hire to all Two Physio Rooms analysis of games using our in-house teams. This fully equipped area allows teams to Six Dressing/Referees Rooms software. This service applies to games work on all aspects of their physical preparation. either recorded at the Connacht GAA Storage facilities The gym area includes: Centre or elsewhere. Led by our highly Administrative and Community- trained staff this service can provide: 8 squat racks complete with weights Orientated Amenities: • A vast array of dumbbells/kettlebells Administrative Headquarters • Breakdown game play into • Six offices short managable clips • Benches Three meeting rooms Multi-purpose cable machine Lecture Theatre • Provides feedback to players Battle ropes Board Room • • and coaches Assault bike Dining Hall, Full Catering Kitchen • Outdoor • Grouping of different aspects • Rower Six pitches – five full size Prunty of performance e.g.: Kickouts, Ski Machine pitches and one 3G Pitch – of • shots, turnovers Jump Boxes which five are floodlit • A perimeter walking/running Screening area PRICING: €100 for 1 game • track measuring 2.2 kms The option is also available to have a super- Parking for up to 400 cars and €250 for 3 games vised gym session conducted by Connacht GAA 20 buses €350 for 5 games strength and conditioning staff.

EMAILING – [email protected] INTO THE WEST – Page 65 CONNACHT CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

Cloonacurry, Bekan, Claremorris, Co. Mayo. EirCode F12 WF21 E-mail: [email protected]. • Phone: (094) 9630335