Positive reaction to Wexford GAA initiative

By Cian O'Connell

An U10 Urban Astro League is the latest initiative being rolled out by Wexford GAA.

The approach is focusing on four Gaelic Football clubs in Wexford town, affording further playing opportunities for young players.

Lloyd Colfer, Games Development Co-Ordinator for Football with Wexford GAA, is encouraged by the initial response. "We're trying initiatives with the younger age groups, the U10s, U12s, and U13s, to give a grá for football, and hopefully then they'll move up through the age groups," Colfer explains.

"The idea behind it was to give extra games opportunities to sole football clubs in Wexford. There is also an U10 Astro League for all the hurling clubs in Wexford.

"You've four football only clubs in Wexford town - St John's Volunteers, St Mary's Maudlintown, St Joseph's from Whiterock Hill, and Sarsfields.

"There is an opportunity we spotted, to give them extra games opportunities at the end of the season when the county games programme was completed. That was the idea behind it. We've had a really positive reaction, all four clubs jumped at the opportunity when we mentioned it to them."

It will be a busy month, but improving football skills and fun are on the chief items on the agenda for Colfer. "Last Friday was the first one," he says.

"It is on for four Fridays in October. They all come together, they play three matches meaning they'll get 12 matches over the four weeks. We've little rules, three up, three back, solo and go, just to get them into it.

"They can kick for goals, handpass points because we don't want to lose the balls on to the railway track, stuff like that. Last Friday it was great. Loads of scores, loads of kids, and everyone that comes has to play at least a half of every match so they're interchanging, which is important too."

Ensuring Wexford town clubs are supported is vital according to Colfer, who also represented London at senior level, during his own playing career. "You've six GAA clubs in Wexford town, four football, two hurling," Colfer says.

"You've Faythe Harriers as the senior hurling club and Sarsfields as the senior football club. St Mary's are Intermediate, Vols are Intermediate A, and Joseph's are Junior A, and you've a Junior B hurling club, Na Fianna. Soccer is big in Wexford, there is no point saying it isn't, and rugby with Wexford Wanderers. So, there is a constant tug of war for talented players.

"This is why we run initiatives. We've the primary school coaching programme and the secondary schools coaching programme. We're going into the schools and coaching the players, getting them involved in GAA, and keeping them involved in GAA."

Building for the future is hugely important with Colfer delighted with these recent developments. "We run things like the U10 Astro League, an U11 initiative called Peil Istigh, which is essentially a six week training programme for any kid from any club, who wants to get involved playing Gaelic Football," he adds.

"Whether they're in the town or the countryside, we're just trying to get as much Gaelic Football opportunities for the kids in Wexford.

"We want to instil positive experiences in Gaelic Football so they think positively about it and they see things can happen if you play football. Hopefully they can go on to play for Wexford in Croke Park and be successful in the future."

John Hegarty's impressive work with the Wexford senior footballers augurs well and the next generation are being given chances to flourish. "John has got the seniors out of Division Four, last year the U20s had a really good year, they ran Meath very close," Colfer says.

"In recent years, the minors have won six matches which is very good for us. We feel there is definite purple and gold shoots, we've a lot of things to be positive about in Wexford football.

"These initiatives sow the seed with younger age groups that Wexford football is something worth being involved in, you can go on to have a really good inter-county career and be successful."