Eight Wicklow clubs embracing Hurling Nua initiative

By Cian O'Connell

Timing is everything in sport. The Hurling Nua initiative is capturing the imagination in Wicklow with eight clubs active participants.

Hurling has always been on the agenda for Liam MacCuirc. Having occupied a central role in the Cumann Báire Setanta story in Dublin, MacCuirc commenced working a Games Development Co-Ordinator with Wicklow earlier this year.

Collaborating with Wicklow GAA colleague Conor Daly, several clubs throughout the county are now offering hurling as an option in their nurseries.

Recent blitzes and sessions have been proven to be a real success story. "It was brilliant to organise them," MacCuirc says.

"The first one we did on July 24, we organised it in Aughrim, in Echelon Park. We invited the clubs down, Conor Daly, another Games Development Co-Ordinator for hurling in the county, and Gavin Weir, who is the Head of the Academies in the county were with me, we invited them down to Echelon Park. That night, I think we'd five clubs.

"It was just something to invite them to the county ground, we had 70 or 80 kids from nursery up to U9s."

For MacCuirc it was a reflection of the work being carried out in Wicklow. Focusing on the basic skills is key. "We'd a station based approach," MacCuirc says.

"I took a station where we played a game with coaches around. As I was interacting with the boys and girls, I was pulling the coaches aside saying, here is what we're looking for, to be doing this. We were working on the basic skills. It was a simple game, robbing the nest.

"You've a nest in the middle with all of the sliotars, you split them up and they've to get the sliotars. You condition it for hurling, saying you can only dribble the ball back. They're picking up some of the basic skills.

"As far as the kids are concerned they're just playing a game, but from a coaching point of view, we're getting them working on dribbling the ball or striking the ball. It was great."

Valleymount, Kilbride, Fergal Ógs, Enniskerry, and Knockanana were represented at the event. "With the older groups, the seven to nine year olds, we set up matches, they played small sided games," MacCuirc explains.

"It was a great night with the parents, kids, coaches, all getting to interact with other clubs. We didn't bring them around the stations with the individual clubs, we actually mixed them all up. You probably had 10 to 12 kids from a mixture of the five clubs all interacting together."

Another open evening was hosted in Valleymount on August 26. "It was a great night with nearly 70 kids," MacCuirc says.

"We did a station model, but what we did this time as opposed to us doing everything, Conor Daly and myself were there, we set up a station each, and we brought in the coaches said you've two areas each, there is all the gear, off you go.

"We'd small sided games in one, I did a dribbling drill with them, Conor had an obstacle course set up, and the coaches set up another one doing basic striking in groups.

"It was a huge experience, that night we'd seven of the clubs attending. It started to rain, but it didn't seem to dampen the kids. Although, I was setting it up, it wasn't led by me. You're putting the initiative back on the coaches. It gave them that little bit of initiative."

Ultimately, MacCuirc senses that something is stirring in Wicklow and is relishing being part of the adventure. "I started last March having worked as GPO in Dublin for seven years," he explains.

"So, for me to see eight clubs start an initiative to introduce hurling, it gives me a chance to get to know the clubs. You're also promoting hurling with clubs that of the eight, none of them have really hurled before.

"You'd have four of the clubs who'd amalgamate under Western Gaels for hurling from U11 upwards. From memory, I think 45 clubs have signed up for the initiative, when you're looking at eight from Wicklow, it makes my job an awful lot easier."

Improving and developing the game is MacCuirc's brief. "To have eight new clubs starting hurling nurseries, it is where you want to be getting them," MacCuirc remarks.

"It makes it more interesting for me, I've eight clubs I can go to, saying how is hurling going? I work with all of the eight clubs, see how they've set up the nursery, what the numbers are like, what they're working on, coach the coaches, as such, which is part of my remit anyway.

"To have eight brand new clubs going into is huge, and the appetite for hurling in Wicklow is huge. If you look at Western Gaels, four of the clubs on the west side of the county which the demographics say there is a huge influx and explosion of population all along the east coast. To get hurling going there is a huge in an area that is traditionally football.

"The appetite across the county in the eight clubs, it is phenomenal. It is a joy to be able to go down. It is brilliant to see, the enthusiasm from the coaches has been exceptional, the willingness to learn."

MacCuirc accepts and understands that challenges exist. "Looking at Western Gaels as an example, somebody said to me 'how is this going to work in the future?'", he explains.

"I said it isn't, you're just driving numbers at nursery level, it isn't a case that Valleymount will have their own club or Blessington, they can all filter into Western Gaels. So, you're building your numbers.

"They're not reliant on kids being interested in hurling in schools and come in when they're U11. You're getting them at four years of age. They will amalgamate. You're building the numbers.

"What I'm hoping to see down the line is you'll have large numbers within all of the clubs, particularly the four clubs affiliated to Western Gaels. They could have two or three teams at younger ages as opposed to having four kids from one, three from another, and two."

Ensuring young players are given an opportunity to hurl is vital. "Years ago in Dublin, St Pat's Donabate, when I was growing up they were football only," MacCuirc cites as an example.

"Nine years ago, they started introducing hurling in their nursery with an U8s team. Those U8s are now minor, they're fielding two minor teams and have an adult hurling team, which they hadn't before, and they're quite successful.

"Any time I'd go out with my young fella out to play against Pat's, Donabate, it was all football. You want to create that generation thing.

"By starting the initiative at nursery, the idea of Hurling Nua is putting a hurl in their hand."

MacCuirc is optimistic about the future of Wicklow hurling. "I'm walking into an environment with eight brand new clubs that are saying we want kids to hurl, we want to give them the option of both games," he says.

"They've structured the nursery that they are doing half an hour football and half an hour hurling. Then, they're skipping out the gate.

"They will attract more kids because you're starting to see a generation coming through that they're getting the option and they're being coached both codes.

"This is a brilliant initiative run by GAA HQ. The uptake in Wicklow has been amazing. It makes my job an awful lot easier. There is a great buzz."

It is a story worth monitoring.