O’Neills awards presented to deserving winners

Three deserving clubs were awarded with Coaching & Games Development Equipment Awards recently courtesy of O’Neills and Ulster Ladies Gaelic. The initiative which was open to all clubs in the province with a Ladies Gaelic Football section aimed to encourage clubs to focus on their coaching and games development side by showing the judging panel how they have developed their coaches and players and how they plan to develop in the future.

The application process began in February when all clubs were notified of the opportunity to apply. They then had until the start of April to get their portfolios into the council for consideration and after long deliberation, the judging panel selected their winners. Sheena Kelly, Ladies Gaelic Development Officer for Ulster GAA who was the instigator of the initiative said “We received some fantastic applications for the awards from clubs all across the province so picking winners was very difficult, but we are confident that those who have been selected are more than deserving.

Applications ranged from clubs who have been playing Ladies Gaelic for twenty years to clubs who are not long established and are working really hard to get things off the ground. The encouraging thing about them all was hearing how, no matter what their size or success they still had aspirations to develop. That’s what this was all about – striving to be better and showing us how they planned to do it.”

Newly re-established club Aghaloo O’Neills were awarded the first prize of a £500 O’Neills voucher to spend on coaching equipment. Although they folded previously in the mid 90’s due to lack of players they now have a band of enthusiastic parents and coaches who are determined to make it work second time around. Their enthusiasm was evident throughout their application and their want to develop and grow was backed up by a plan of how they were going to do it.

The second placed club was Aodh Ruadh Dun Geanainn who have been up and running for 19years. A town club with great structures in place, they showed how they provide coaching for all ages from 4year olds in their nursery section to mums in the Gaelic4Mothers & Others programme. A standalone Ladies Gaelic club they have worked hard to ensure that they provide football for girls in the town even though they have to rely on the good nature of the mens football and hurling clubs in the town for facilities.

And finally the third award went to Sperrin Og Ladies GFC. Although this club had great success in 2011 in capturing the Junior All Ireland Club title they are not prepared to sit back and admire their results. They work very closely with the mens section of the club and have developed a joint coaching plan to focus on things like volunteering, school/club links and coaching.

Speaking at the presentation of the awards Hugh Devenney, President of Ulster Ladies Gaelic thanked all the clubs who took the time to apply. He congratulated the winning clubs and encouraged them to continue to put development of players and coaches high on their list of priorities moving forward. Pictured at the presentations are representatives from Aghaloo, Aodh Ruadh and Sperrin Og with Hugh and Sheena.