By Cian O’Connell

The GAA All-Stars programme will be showcased at half-time during Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Final clash between Cork and Derry at Croke Park.

Teams from all four provinces will be involved including Midleton Magpies (Cork), Killannin All-Stars (Galway), Derry All-Stars (Derry), and St Anne’s Macra Superstars (Dublin).

Adam Doran, St Anne’s Games Promotion Officer, is encouraged about the response since the club decided to start the initiative. “We were inspired by the likes of Raheny All-Stars programme and from the work Ger McTavish did with all of the GPOs at Parnell Park in various workshops,” Doran says.

“Basically we realised that we were probably not offering to our members what we should be offering. So we had an idea that we would run this programme alongside all of our other participation themes - GAA for Das, GAA for Mas, our Camán n Chats, just to complement all of them we brought in our Additional Needs Macra.

“Our nursery is called Macra because it ties in with the folklore in the hills of Bohernabreena. So now we have our Macra Superstars.

“It has been hugely successful, we have 40 plus children registered which translates to 20 plus on any given Friday when we run it. We are absolutely delighted to be chosen to play at Croke Park on Sunday.”

That so many players and coaches have been involved in the venture adds to the feel good factor. “Like anything, when we put out the word looking for volunteers, I expected it to be slow and difficult, which is normally the case,” Doran replies.

“People are multi tasking in the club as it is, but we were overwhelmed with the amount of people that came back. We probably have about 25 coaches for the 40 kids, that could be 10, 15 or 20 coaches on any given Friday because life gets in the way at times too.

“Our age platform is five to 15, but we are never going to turn anyone away. We haven't had any substantial participants over that age, but we certainly wouldn't be turning anyone away. If they arrive down, we will take anyone, but that is the rough parameters.”

Some of the children have gained valuable experience and acquired sufficient confidence to make a further impact at St Anne’s. “A lot of the kids have done so well that they have got involved in the mainstream teams,” Doran adds.

“So a lot of our kids, particularly in the younger ages, they double up, they'd be in the additional needs on a Friday night and then they'd be in the mainstream on a Saturday.

“A couple of the older girls have started to play with the mainstream girls teams too. So it has been hugely rewarding and it has gone so well so far. Fingers crossed it stays on that trajectory.”

Doran embraced the new challenge too. “A lot of coaching can be rewarding, but also testing at times,” he acknowledges.

“There has been nothing testing about this, it has just been so rewarding from start to finish with the amount of support we have got from coaches.

“On the evenings it offers different things to different parents. Some parents will need a little bit of respite, and other parents might have been in an office all day, they just want to get out to play at the session. It really offers so many different things to so many different parents and children.”

A buzz has been generated and a real sense of positivity exists on Fridays when the St Anne’s Macra Superstars gather to train. “Not to sound cliched, but it has far exceeded any of our expectations,” Doran says.

“There is such a wonderful buzz about the place, the cherry on top is to be selected at the end of it all to represent themselves, the club, and county in the quarter-finals. It is really, really exciting, our only issue is that we couldn't bring them all.”

Doran is hopeful other clubs in Dublin and throughout the country will become involved in the future. “I didn't know what shape it was going to take, we had a bit of a template that Ger had given us, but we certainly didn't expect the numbers that we got,” he says.

“That is both coaches and players. We are no saints, we probably should have this set up a long time ago, we didn't, but now we do. We hope some of the surrounding GAA clubs will also do the same.

“It means people aren't driving by two or three GAA clubs to get to our programme, they'd be able to get to a programme on their doorstep. That is the ultimate goal.”

St Anne’s club executive backed the project and the approach adopted means possibilities exist. “There have been no obstacles whatsoever,” Doran says. “The executive signed off that all membership would be free for the additional needs. So they are all members in their own right, but the fee has been covered which is brilliant.”

A trip to GAA headquarters now beckons.