Cian O'Toole eager to further develop hurling in Galway city

By Cian O'Connell

There is always something happening. Cian O'Toole knows, though, that is one of the joys in the job.

A multi faceted role, O'Toole is thoroughly enjoying working as Galway GAA's Hurling Games Development Co-Ordinator in the city.

Galway GAA's Coaching & Games Manager Dennis Carr has assembled a hard working team, who're carrying out important work throughout the county. The collaboration between staff is crucial. So, every day learning takes place. "The main thing is we've a great team led by Dennis, we all have our own sections, but we all work together too," O'Toole says.

"We're all over the county and try to row in behind everyone's initiatives. We've the CDOs in the schools, and we are line managing them when they're on between February and June. We'd link in with them every week, making sure about the school visits and trying to join up with the clubs.

"Early on in the year we'd be doing our Introduction to Coaching Gaelic Games (ICGGs) and the workshops. A big thing this year was the nursery workshops. We try to do that, and a lot of the city clubs took it up."

Undoubtedly challenges exist in the city. For much of the past few decades clubs have developed underage structures. More young hurlers are playing the game, but progress isn't always linear. Children have significant sporting options. "The thing that kids are playing more sports, every sport helps hurling," O'Toole says.

"Every other sport links into it which is a good thing, but it is busy in a city. You've a lot sports going on so it can be hard to find windows. It's good too that kids are playing sport and getting out."

Forging meaningful connections with Castlegar, Liam Mellows, Rahoon-Newcastle, and Salthill-Knockncarra is crucial for O'Toole. "The first thing I did when I came into the role, I met each club individually," O'Toole explains.

"They all have different needs and different wants. One of them might want a nursery workshop going on, while someone else might want a support programme.

"You've different challenges for different clubs, you're just trying to help them as best you can. In the Coaching & Games, everyone helps. We try to work together."

Last week a 'Have A Go' session was organised at Pearse Stadium. "The clubs have been brilliant," O'Toole adds.

"Any initiative I'm going with, you don't have to be pulling them along. They want things happening which is great. The four main city clubs I deal with have been so good to me since I joined.

"They're very proactive and they're doing Trojan work in the clubs. Even the 'Have A Go' hurling event - an initiative from Karen Togher in Croke Park. We said we'd do it in Galway, we targeted anyone who hadn't played hurling before in the city.

"We'd Tom Monaghan, who gave up his time, a player like Tom Monaghan being there made the evening for the kids."

Castlegar's Darragh Neary delivered in style for Micheál Donoghue's Galway senior outfit in the Leinster and All-Ireland SHC. Developing talent isn't the only brief for O'Toole. "Different players come along at different times - you can't base anything on just that, you're just trying to provide initiatives and events for kids in the city to encourage them to keep playing hurling," he says about the relevance of affording opportunities to emerging players.

"You've a lot of good players in the city - Mellows and Castlegar are two good senior teams, Rahoon are a really competitive intermediate team, and Salthill are trying to do things right - they're really improving.

"Providing events is vital. Even things like when Galway are playing League games, we rotate the U11 teams to play at half-time."

O'Toole initially graduated with a Business degree, but a career in sport was something he wanted to pursue completing a Diploma in Physical Education. Connacht GAA's innovative Club Development Officer initiative provided O'Toole with an opportunity.

A rewarding stint was spent with St Mary's, Athenry before taking a position with Mayo GAA. "I started as a CDO in Athenry, I loved it, I met really good people out there," O'Toole reflects.

"I learned a lot. I learned a lot about myself and what goes on. I was always heavily involved in the GAA, but some of the stuff you see going on, you don't realise the small little details. It means a lot to people.

"I got a job in Mayo as a GDC for hurling, I loved it, I'd a really good time. When Galway came up, it's my own county, and I love hurling in Galway. You're just trying to drive it on more."

Last week an education day was held for U13 players in the city at Pearse Stadium. "I came into the role around February, and we thought it'd be a nice way to try to build a culture in the city," O'Toole says.

"So, we invited all the U14 players at Easter to come into Pearse Stadium. It was great from the County Board to allow us into Pearse Stadium. We'd an education day.

"Mark Flanagan came in to do a nutrition talk with us. It was a brilliant nutrition talk. Cian Breathnach, who works with our Coaching & Games team, he did an S&C session. Then, Cian Ryan, Liam Gordon, and myself did a pitch session. It was a small initiative to get city players in. Everyone was invited, you didn't have to be in with the Academy teams, it was just to try to train them up like Academy players.

"That went well. So, just before they went back to school, after the Cúl Camps, we asked the U13 lads in. Áine O'Neill, a nutritionist came in, she did a great job with the nutrition talk. That was a big initiative for us, and it's something we hope to continue on. We'd like to target more areas too."

Being involved in the Galway U15 coaching set-up meant further experience was gleaned. "We'd have the Academy on a Saturday morning going from March until we finished up a few weeks ago with the Finals Day," O'Toole says.

"You'd be immersed in it, and that's great. You'd be very busy, but it's great. No day is the same, you're always at something different.

"I was in with the U15s - Cian Ryan managed it, we'd be linked in the whole time. You'd have U14s, 15s, and 16s going, Liam Gordon does a lot with the three teams. We'd be trying to help each other out and have good structures in place for the Academy teams to make sure everything is looked after."

A collaborative approach is serving Galway well. Hurling and football coaching staff work together. "For example, we ran the U13 skills competitions, and the staff were there both nights and that makes it run very smoothly," O'Toole says.

"We ran them in Loughgeorge where you've great facilities. Aoife (O'Connell Burke) had everything organised for us there, it's a great team effort.

"As soon as I joined, the lads were so welcoming, they're all jumping onboard with the initiatives. The football lads jump in with the hurling initiatives and vice versa."

The coming weeks and months will be hectic, but that schedule is to be embraced. "When you love it, then it really doesn't feel like a job," he remarks.

Helping the next generation of Galway hurlers matters deeply to O'Toole.