PwC GPA Player of the Month for April in camogie, Mairéad Teehan of Offaly, with her award outside the PwC offices in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O’Connell
Mairead Teehan senses something is stirring in Offaly camogie.
Winning the Very National Camogie League Division 2A title offers further encouragement, and Teehan is adamant that the Faithful County can make further progress.
Securing silverware mattered deeply. “It was great, we had a good campaign all along, and it was great at the end, to get over the line,” Teehan says.
“We were conscious of that; we had some very good performances in some very tough matches. We had got over the line. It was important to us that we finished it up with some silverware.”
Potential exists and Teehan, who has made a welcome return following injury this year, believes Offaly can develop further. “Definitely, we were struggling there for a number of years with the relegations,” Teehan says.
“We were in relegation finals, we ended up dropping down. Last year, that bit of momentum with the girls getting to the All-Ireland semi-final. Then, building on that this year. I think the biggest thing for us is that we're keeping a consistent panel.
“We've added to the panel from last year, but there is a consistent core group of girls. That makes a huge difference, as well as having a consistent management team. We've got that Division Two title, but we want to push on now for the Championship.”
Retaining players is vital for long term sustainability. “Massively, with the girls getting to the All-Ireland semi-final last year, you're going back in November and December looking forward to the year ahead, looking forward to the potential of what could be,” Teehan replies.
“Being able to compete, being able to get those wins. It definitely is a big draw for girls, particularly in a county like Offaly. There isn't that many clubs.
PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month for April Cork hurler Brian Hayes, Meath footballer Mathew Costello, left, and PwC GPA Women Players of the Month for April, Kerry ladies footballer Síofra O’Shea, right, and Offaly camogie player Mairéad Teehan with their awards at PwC offices in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
“If people don't buy into what is going on, then it is a struggle. The bit of winning and the bit of silverware definitely helps to keep girls interested.”
Away from the pitch, Teehan has a significant interest in the importance of providing young children with valuable sporting opportunities. “I did a PhD on looking at having full-time PE teachers in primary schools,” Teehan explains.
“That area of physical activity amongst young people. Obviously, the statistics around it are really, really low, and it is just that there is a new PE Curriculum coming into primary schools, looking to see if there is a way that we can make PE as impactful as possible, to help teachers provide that new curriculum.
“The research is interesting; what teachers are saying about it. They need support with PE and that provision.
"I don't know if that is there at the moment for them, it is such a huge area now, trying to keep young children physically active, also giving them those skills, that they're able to be physically active as they continue throughout their lives.
“It ties in to the dropout, particularly after primary school, when they're going into secondary school. So, it is interesting. More support is needed for teachers.”
Ultimately, it is an area Teehan hopes to explore in the future. “I'm finished with the PhD, I'm hoping to publish some of the papers from it, to try to get a bit of momentum around it, if I could,” she adds.
“That would be ideal. What we found from it was that support is needed for teachers. Having somebody come in, to even support on a continuous professional development, that sort of a situation, would be welcomed by teachers.
“Now, we only did it on a smaller scale. So, the next step would be to scale it up if we could. That requires funding and time. It is something I'd love to pursue more in time, but at the moment I needed a break after doing it.”