By Cian O’Connell

A busy fortnight beckons at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore.

Every young footballer and hurler at U11 and U12 level will participate in matches at the venue throughout the next two weeks.

The end of the Shane Lowry U12 leagues take place with a comprehensive games programme provided at that level.

Offaly GAA coaching officer Carina Carroll explains why they recently have altered the format for underage Go Games in the county. “We have matches at U8, U10, and U12,” she says.

“The clubs fielding U13 Championship teams would mostly field 13 year olds.

“So at least the U12s now get this league. Clubs play every Friday at 6.15pm, they can enter one team of 11 year olds and one team of 12 year olds.

“If they don't have enough for both they enter a mixed team. You have 10 teams in each group in hurling and football, so they have about nine matches each. Everybody gets another game then based on their placings at the end of the year.”

That every U11 and U12 player in Offaly will perform at Glenisk O’Connor Park is a source of pride. “The U11s will come in on a Saturday for more of a blitz day, with the U12 football matches all on this week in Tullamore,” Carroll says.

“What is also happening on Saturday is that all of the 12 year olds, who played during the week, it will be the finish of their U12 football. So they will all get to go to the Faithful Fields, everyone of them is invited for an Academy morning for two hours.

“Then the same the following week with the hurling, the Shane Lowry U12 finals in O'Connor Park, the U11 blitz, and the hurling Academy go to the Faithful Fields. It is a really big couple of weeks for every 11 and 12 year old.”

Affording emerging young players opportunities is critical according to Carroll. “They will play a match at O'Connor Park and they will get Academy training at the Faithful Fields,” she adds.

“There is a big buy in, all their pictures are in the programme, they have sent in their names. Everybody has to play a half, the national anthem will be played before every game and a photo. It is an experience for them and it is another experience to go off to play at Faithful Fields on Saturday.

“They all will be tested - every child born in 2011 - in football one week and hurling the following week.

“When that is over their last six weeks of the year starts with the Jack Wyer U12 tournament in hurling and the Gerry Conway which is the football equivalent under lights. That all finishes up at Halloween weekend, so they go from March to Halloween.”

Offaly GAA Games Promotion Officers will be involved in the U12 training days at the Faithful Fields. “We have 193 entries in total,” Carroll says. “This Saturday is your dual players and football players. The following weekend is dual players and hurling players.

“This Saturday we'd have 130 players with six GPOs to work with them between pitch work, testing initial athletic development, a session on the Astro, and a wall ball session. Everybody born in 2011 is welcome, people were so happy when we said that.

“Unfortunately, that always won't be the way when they will be selecting panels in the future, but we are showing them what it is about. It will be a boost before the start of the winter tournaments.

“There is a great buzz about the games at O'Connor Park. To have everyone getting a chance is brilliant.”