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