Round One of the M. Donnelly National Wheelchair Hurling Camogie Interprovincial League took place in Clarin College, Athenry on Saturday.
By Cian O'Connell
Connacht GAA hosted Round One of the M. Donnelly National Wheelchair Hurling Camogie Interprovincial League on Saturday.
Clarin College, Athenry was a perfect venue for the event which proved to be a real success story in the west.
Tommy Kelly, Connacht GAA Vice-President, launched the event
Denis O'Boyle, Connacht GAA For ALL Chairperson, acknowledged the contribution made by those involved on the day. "Mattie Kilroy, Connacht GAA For ALL Secretary, he did a fabulous job in getting sponsorship and helping to organise along with Peter Lyons, the Galway GAA For All representative did massive work," O'Boyle says.
"Peter had a team of volunteers there, helping with parking and supervising. The school, and school authorities, and caretaker Pat Connolly were extremely helpful, too."
O'Boyle is encouraged that there is a decent games programme being organised in recent years. "Each province hosts an event which is the league, everyone plays everyone else in the venue," he explains. "We were the first venue this year, you've four rounds.
"You get five points for a win, three for a draw, and one for a loss. That is how the scoring system works, and on the day, Munster were the leading team, Ulster were second, we were third, and Leinster were fourth.
"It was the second time for us being in Athenry, our third time being in county Galway with the Galway County Board acting as hosts. In Connacht we rotate the counties. It is up to each GAA Board, and we've people on the GAA For ALL committees, they do the organising, and co-ordinating."
The fact that a community has been established is another source of encouragement for O'Boyle. The game is six a side, but he is hopeful that more players will get involved in the future. "In Connacht we've two training venues at the moment," O'Boyle says.
"One is in Barnacarroll near Claremorris, and the other is in the Sports Complex in Charlestown. We're trying to get a hub in Galway too, that will come in its own time. They're the two venues at the moment.
"Before every league game we'd try to meet on four occasions, we'd normally train on Saturday, but in recent times we've trained on a Tuesday and on a Saturday. The players are generally 16 years upwards, Munster have a junior section too.
"Anyone that is interested being involved, we're trying to cater for."
Developing the sport is key. "I think we need more people to be aware that it exists, I was told afterwards that two people from Galway came to see it, and now they're very interested because they've seen it first hand," he adds.
"The hardest day is the first day, like anything you ever get involved in. The first day you go in, you don't know anyone. Everyone is made feel at ease and everyone is welcome to try it out. It is a group of like minded people, who come together, to do the best they can for the province.
"It is providing an opportunity for people who maybe have an interest in GAA, that otherwise may not be included. We use the logo 'Where We All Belong' and this is a true example of that."
O'Boyle, though, stresses that the matches are highly competitive and hard fought. "When they compete and take part, the competition is intense," he says.
"The clash of the ash exists here as well as Semple Stadium, it is very much everyone giving their best. This means a lot to the players, a lot of them put in an awful lot of work and time into it.
"It is amazing how the camaraderie has developed over the years. The coaches, players, and supporters have got to know each other. It is important that we go to see other places too."
Friendships have been forged and important connections made. "There is a lovely sense of community, I got an email from Joanne Sheehy, thanking us for the event, the way it was organised and run," O'Boyle says.
"The location was fabulous, and she said a special word of thanks to the referee. The referee was Eadhmonn Mac Suibhne, he is living in Kiltimagh, he was such a help to us on the day. It was lovely to hear positive feedback from another positive and it indicates some of the work that we do.
Captain Pat Carthy, Tim Hynes, David Cunningham, David Blake, and Damien Coleman were all involved in coaching the Connacht team for the tournament.
The next event will be in Omagh in May.