Waterford GAA ran a successful Super 10s Gaelic Football tournament last month. Photo by Gavin Whelan
By Cian O’Connell
At the end of last month, 300 U16 footballers in Waterford participated in the inaugural Comeragh Super 10s tournament.
It proved to be a hugely successful day with the action spread across two venues, Kilrossanty and Stradbally.
An ideal opportunity to launch the 2024 underage club campaign in the county, young players thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Gavin Whelan is immersed in all matters Waterford GAA. Part of the organising committee, Whelan, a Games Development Co-Ordinator in the county, also manages the Waterford U20 footballers.
This type of an event offered a profile to football and Whelan acknowledged the collaborative effort. “It was in the pipeline for a while, so getting it across on the ground was massive, we had great backing from Bord na n-Óg, Déise Óg, the County Board, everyone was really behind it,” Whelan explains.
“The coverage it gained on social media was phenomenal, everyone played their part on the day. We were lucky with the weather. Referees, Bord na n-Óg officers acted as co-ordinators, the Mansfield family were rotating between different venues. Everyone played a part, it was a huge community effort in terms of the GAA fraternity in Waterford.
“For football too, hurling is obviously number one here in Waterford, but we have really talented footballers. It is just about growing that game, making it attractive for young guys to come into.
“Just to sell that too and to push football within the county in terms of underage, getting these guys on to minor and U20 county squads. Tournaments and days like this will only help.”
James Mansfield offered significant assistance as footballers from across the county sampled action in four divisions. “It was a brilliant initiative and a great start to the year, in terms of getting guys back out there,” Whelan says.
“They would have been training away, and we have to say a massive thanks to James Mansfield, he was centrally behind it, getting clubs involved, sponsoring the trophies and the medals.
“We were working in collaboration with Bord na n-Óg Port Láirge, I'm on a hard working committee, the work people do is phenomenal. The whole day was superb, we were blessed with the weather. I know it was pushed back by a week, we ran it off in one day.
Clubs from across Waterford were involved in the U16 tournament last month.
“From 10 o'clock in the morning we had 300 U16 footballers, the first ever Comeragh Super 10s. There was just a brilliant atmosphere, in all four divisions, everyone enjoyed it - the referees and organisers.
“There was a real carnival atmosphere. Hopefully we can get this as an annual fixture in the calendar. The inaugural Super 10s will go down as a great moment.”
Whelan was encouraged about the standard of football too. “Division One was claimed by Tramore, who are doing massive work,” he adds.
“They had a great squad. It was just a different game, smaller goals, the pitch was tighter, things are moving quicker, it is up and down, a sort of off the cuff game. That is the way teams approached it, which was brilliant to see.
“Tramore won Division One, St Pat's my own club claimed Division Two, I was lucky enough to be involved with the lads, who had a great victory, we just edged out our neighbours, St Oliver's. It was a really good standard.
“Division Three was won by Portlaw-Ballyduff Lower, a great battle against Clashmore-Kinsalebeg. Then, Division Four was won by a very impressive Lismore team. So, overall it was very positive.
“We're really grateful to James Mansfield and the family for their continued promotion of football within the county. It is brilliant to see, it got great backing.”
Ensuring Waterford GAA teams prosper in the future is a key part of the brief so Whelan is delighted with the reaction to the tournament. “It is exciting that we have five Games Development Co-Ordinators out on the ground, engaging with clubs and schools in terms of both codes,” he says.
“We want to drive everything forward, clubs, post primary, all of those levels, we are fully behind that. We have great support from the various Boards, Adult Board and Bord na n-Óg.
“We just have to collectively drive it on. With the football we must aim collectively to work on it, that starts with clubs driving it, getting the coaches up to a reasonably good standard in terms of development.
“If you have guys prepared to buy into it, work hard, it can only lead to development in the future. The Super 10s was a superb day.”