250 Girls take part in 3rd/4th Class Blitz
Athenry held a hugely successful primary schools blitz in St Marys Athenry recently. Almost 250 girls from 6 local school took part. The girls were all in 3rd and 4th class and they really enjoyed the event played in sunny Athenry. This is the third year for this fun blitz to take place and it is increasing in popularity each year. Thanks to St Marys for hosting and to all the schools for taking part.
Roscommon Skills Day
Roscommon GAA held their annual skills day in the newly renovated Hyde Park on June 7th. In total 13 boys and 14 girls from all over the county of Roscommon took part in the event. With a high standard being set from the off it was a tight affair as players battled to gain the points needed to come out on top. Congratulations and well done to all involved. Thanks to Hyde Park for the use of the facilities and to Prionsious Keelen (Roscommon GAA) for running the event.
Ballinasloe Fun Day Blitz
Congratulations and well done to the Ballinasloe Camogie club for organising and running a very successful 3rd and 4th class blitz in Ballinasloe on June 14th. The event was held in the local GAA pitch with three schools from the local area taking part. The initiative was run with the assistance of the Galway Development officer Brian Griffen. 50 girls from the Ballinasloe primary schools got a chance to play small sided games and make some new friends along the way. Brian also presented each school with a signed Galway Senior Camogie team jersey. Both players and teachers were delighted with the event and it is hoped that it will become an annual event in the future. Well done to all in involved.
Mayo's Cuman na mBunscoil Finals
The curtain came down on the Mayo Cuman na mBunscoil year as the Camogie Blitz Day was held in Castlebar Mitchels. This year saw 10 schools and 150 girls partake in the camogie with Division1 (9-a-side) for big schools and Div2 (7-a-side) for smaller/beginner schools.
Division 1
Five schools went to post namely Gaelscoil Westport, Snugboro, Tooreen, Aghamore and Brackloon. In the end it was Brackloon who finished top in the round-robin event – winning all their games along the way – with Gaelscoil Westport in second spot.
Division2
Newcomers Quay (Westport) came out on top with three wins and a draw – while Knockanillo (Ballina) came in as runners-up. Carracastle, Straide and Cloonlyon also partook at the event.
After the event, Mayo Cuman na mBunscoil Camogie officer Maria Coyne presented the titles to the respective winning captains, with the assistance of Jimmy Connor (Mayo Hurling Chairman), Adrian Hession (Mayo GAA – Games Promotion Officer) and John Mullins (Connacht Camogie). Referees on the day were John Burke, Conal ODonnaill, Siobhan Mooney and Brian McLoughlin.
The winning Division1 side Brackloon NS.
Maria Coyne and Jimmy Connor present the Division1 Title to the Brackloon captain
Division1 runners-up Gaelscoil Westport
Division2 winners Quay NS (Westport)
Maria Coyne presents Division2 camogie Shield to the Quay captain
Division2 runners-up Knockanillo NS.
Coach Education courses finish up
The final coach education course was held in Sarsfields (Galway) on Tuesday May 29th and Tuesday June 5th with 20 participants completing the course. This brings the number of coach educations courses ran in Connacht to 8 since the start of the year. Over 120 coaches have now completed the foundation courses with a further 17 completing the Level One course. Plan are in place to run a foundation course in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon in the autumn together with a Connacht Level One course. Thanks to the tutors and to the venues for facilitating the courses throughout the year. Best wishes to all our new coaches.
Hurl with Me
The Hurl with Me programs are underway in many clubs. Special thanks to Galway Development officer Brian Griffen who is working with Mullagh/Kiltormer, Ardrahan and Eyrecourt camogie clubs for the four-week program and also to Michael Carroll in Roscommon who is working with the Boyle club.
Caman to Connacht
The annual Caman to Connacht U12 camogie blitz will take place in Pearse Stadium on Saturday June 23rd. 40 teams have signed up to take part. The event will start at 9am with 16 teams participating in 12 a side games. Another 16 teams are invited to play at 11.30 and the remaining 8 teams to start playing at 2pm. It promises to be a great day of Camogie and we are really looking forward to it.
