Coaching & Games Development

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Name : Eugene Young
Position : Director of Coaching and Games Development
E-Mail : eugene.young.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Eugene is a member of the Henry Joy Mac Cracken’s club in Moneymore. He has represented Derry and Ulster in Gaelic Football, played Provincial and International basketball for Ulster and Ireland at Commonwealth, European and Pre Olympic tournaments.
Professional Role : Eugene commenced his employment with the Ulster Council in November 2001 and as high performance director at the Sports Institute Northern Ireland. He is currently Director of Coaching and Games development at the Ulster Council where his current role includes:

  • Setting Strategic direction for Coaching and Games and Development Projects
  • Management and development of Coaching and Games Programmes and Staff
  • Marketing and Promotion of Coaching and Games Programmes
  • Development, implementation and monitoring of Systems and Procedures to support coaching, administration and development of coaching and games programmes
  • Implementing innovation and research to support development in coaching and games
  • Cooperation with Referees to further develop officials in Ulster
  • Working with National Committees in the development of coaching and games
  • Implementation of programmes in health, disability and special needs, foreign nationals and to new players and coaches.
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Name : Terence McWilliams
Position : Games Development Manager
E-Mail : terence.mcwilliams.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Terence is a member of the Padraig Mhic Phiarsis club in Kilrea, Co. Derry where he has played, coached and managed for over forty years. He has represented his county in hurling and football. He has numerous juvenile medals playing along side Kilrea’s most famous player Martin O’Neill.His greatest personal achievements were winning an All Ireland Vocational school’s medal with Antrim and an All Ireland runners up minor medal with Derry.
Professional Role : Terence’s main role is to implement the GAA Grassroots to National Programme (GNP) with it’s aim to maximise participation and optimise playing standards in Gaelic games through out Ulster. This involves coordinating the Core Underage Stragetic Plan (CUSP) from Primary/National, Post Primary/National, Juvenile Clubs, Development Squads to coach education.Terence is also the line manager for the 20 new Primary Schools Coaches. This role involves tutoring the coaches the new Primary School curriculum at Foundation and Key Stage 1.
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Name : Jimmy Darragh
Position : Hurling Development Manager
E-Mail : jimmy.darragh.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Jimmy is a member of the St John’s club from Belfast, where he won Senior, Junior and Minor Gaelic Football and Minor Hurling Championship titles. Jimmy has represented Antrim at all levels in Hurling and at Under 21 Gaelic Football. He also represented Ulster in the Railway Cup in the 80’s and was a member of Ulster’s Railway Shield winning team in 1987.
Professional Role : In the role of Hurling Development Manager Jimmy will:

  • Lead the development and implementation of a Hurling Strategy for Ulster.
  • Assist the Director of Coaching and Games Development in the administration of the development of hurling as a key priority through the Ulster Council GAA strategic plan.
  • Assist in the delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the Hurling elements of the Ulster Council GAA Strategic Plan.
  • Co-ordinate the work of the Provincial, Regional and County Hurling Development Officers in the implementation of the Core Underage Strategic Plan.
  • Assist in the development of support measures that will improve and make more effective existing and future Coaching Structures and the advancement of Hurling in Ulster.
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Name : Bernie McGlinchey
Position : Coaching Administrator
E-Mail : bernie.mcglinchey.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Bernie is an active playing member with her local ladies club Badoney Ladies, in Tyrone. Despite a lot of hard work and effort, they were unable to win any silverware until 2007 when they won the Junior Championship and were promoted to Intermediate level for 2008.
Professional Role : As Coaching Administrator for the Ulster Council Bernie assists the Director of Coaching and Games and the Coaching staff in the administration of Coaching and Games within Ulster. She is generally responsible for Events management, Database management, and general office administration.
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Name : Tony Scullion
Position : Football Development Officer
E-Mail : tony.scullion.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Tony played football for Ballinascreen, Derry, Ulster and Ireland and has won 4 All Stars, 6 consecutive Railway Cup Medals, 3 National League Medals and an All Ireland SFC with Derry in 1993. He has captained Derry and Ulster to National League and Railway Cup success. He has also played inter county hurling for Derry from 1983-1991.
Professional Role : Tony’s responsibility as Football Development Officer is to assist the development of Gaelic Football in Ulster via schools, colleges, 3rd level, clubs and county teams.
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Name : Kevin Kelly
Position : Hurling Programme Officer
E-Mail : kevin.kelly.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Kevin has played Football for Ballinascreen mainly at an underage level. He has represented St Patrick’s College Maghera, St Colms Ballinascreen and County Derry at every level in Hurling. Kevin continues to play for the club hurlers and has coached a number of teams from U8 to Senior Inter-County across the province.
Professional Role : Kevin’s responsibility as Hurling Programme Officer is to assist the development of Hurling in Ulster via schools, colleges, 3rd level, clubs and county teams.
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Name : Paul Callaghan
Position : Regional Development Officer (Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone)
E-Mail : paul.callaghan.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : From the Burt club in Donegal, Paul has been goalkeeper for club Senior club team for the last 20yrs. He managed Letterkenny I.T. to Trench cup success and Donegal minor hurlers to a Minor C All-Ireland championship. He has also managed the Ireland under 17 compromise rules team including a successful tour of Australia in 2004. Paul played senior football for Donegal for 10 years winning a Senior Ulster and All-Ireland medal in 1992.
Professional Role : Paul is employed as Regional Development Officer covering Derry, Donegal, Fermanagh and Tyrone, This post includes organising regional primary and secondry school iniatives, co-ordinating with the development squads. Coach and teacher education. Also driving the health and awareness programmes as well as linking in with the ethnic minority and disabled groups and club mark programmes on a regional basis.
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Name : Diarmaid Marsden
Position : Regional Development Officer (Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan)
E-Mail : diarmaid.marsden.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Diarmaid is currently still coaching and playing for home club Clan na Gael, Lurgan having won 3 minor and 2 senior championships in the 1990s. He played colleges football for St. Colmans Newry, winning MacRory and Hogan cups and university football for QUB captaining them to Sigerson success in 2000. Diarmaid lined out for Armagh for 12 years winning 4 Ulster Senior championships and All Ireland title in 2002. He also received an allstar in 1999. He represented Ulster for 6 years winning 3 Railway cups and was capped for Ireland in the 1998 International Rules.
Professional Role : Diarmaid’s role as Regional Development Officer for Armagh, Cavan and Monaghan is to develop and implement coaching and games initiatives with primary schools, secondary schools, and development squads on a regional basis. He also assists in developing special projects in Health and Wellness, Special Needs, Ethnic Minorities and Youth Justice.
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Name : Paul Rouse
Position : Third Level Development Officer (University of Ulster)
E-Mail : paul.rouse.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Paul is a past student of the University of Ulster where while playing for Jordanstown he won a Sigerson and freshers sevens medal in 2001 as well as a Ryan cup medal in 2002. After leaving the University of Ulster with a higher national diploma in sports studies, Paul continued his studies in England at St Mary’s Strawberry Hill where he graduated with an Honors degree in Sport Science. While at Strawberry Hill Paul also continued to play Gaelic football where he won two British University Gaelic Football championships in 2003 and 2004 and also won an All Ireland Trench Cup in 2003. He also had the privilege to be named captain of the British University All Stars in 2004. Paul continues to play and coach at his club Brackaville Owen Roes in Tyrone with whom he won a Tyrone and Ulster Intermediate Championship medal in 1999. He has represented Tyrone at minor level in 1999, at Under 21 level in 2002 when he won an Ulster Championship medal and more recently at senior level in 2007 when he won a Mc Kenna Cup and Ulster Senior Championship medal.
Professional Role : It is Paul’s responsibility to promote and develop all aspects of Gaelic games within the University of Ulster where his goals include:

  • Expanding the base – ensuring that every student at the university of Ulster has the opportunity to participate in Gaelic Games at the level of there choice or ability.
  • Lifestyle – to provide students with performance lifestyle advice which can assist them to develop coping strategies to deal with the challenges, transitions, negotiations and decisions that emerge from life both in and out of the sporting arena.
  • Organisation and Club Infrastructure – To develop and maintain robust, sustainable club structures that will provide administrators, referees and coaches for the Universities.
  • Culture and Heritage – To ensure that all appropriate culture elements are seamlessly incorporated into all the clubs Gaelic activity.
  • Beyond Third level – To develop strong and tangible links with the wider community including schools, governing bodies, industry, volunteers, minorities, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups.
  • Alumni – develop a strong alumni association of past members who can advise and aid the club in its development.
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Name : Ryan Mellon
Position : Third Level Development Officer (Queens, St Mary’s. BMC, North Down)
E-Mail : ryan.mellon.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Ryan is a current playing member of the Moy Tir na nOg club. He obtained an Ulster Colleges All Star with St Patrick’s Grammar School Armagh in 1999. Ryan has represented Tyrone at minor, u21 and senior levels and won Ulster and All Irelands in each of these levels. He also represented Ulster in the Railway Cup in 2005. Ryan is also involved in Coaching various teams in his club.
Professional Role : Ryan commenced his employment with the Ulster Council in March 2007. His responsibility is to promote and develop all aspects of Gaelic Games in St Mary’s, Queens, Belfast Metropolitan Collage and North Down. Ryan is also involved in delivering workshops to referees in Ulster.
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Name : Gary Mallon
Position : Third Level Development Officer (Further Education & I.T.’s)
E-Mail : gary.mallon.ulster@gaa.ie
Playing Background : Gary has been involved in Gaelic football since 1973 playing at every level for his club Tir na nOg GFC Portadown. He has also held various positions on the committee in the past, and has been involved in coaching for the past 16 years. During his time as a coach he has been in charge of players from underage through to senior level. In 2001 he was manager of the senior team that won the Intermediate Championship and gained promotion to Division One. Gary has coached at all levels with development squads in Armagh from regional U14, U15, School of Excellence, U16, U17 and U21.
Professional Role : Gary worked as North Armagh Gaelic Football Development Officer for 2 years before taking up his current post with the Ulster Council in March 2006. His main area of responsibility is to promote and develop all aspects of Gaelic games within FE Colleges and Institutes.
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Name : Aoife Lennon
Position : Primary School Coach (Newry, Co Armagh)
E-Mail : aoife.lennon.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Ben McGuckin
Position : Primary School Coach (Coleraine, Co Derry)
E-Mail : ben.mcguckin.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Ciaran Murtagh
Position : Primary School Coach (Kilkeel, Co Down)
E-Mail : ciaran.murtagh.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Claire Devlin
Position : Primary School Coach (Limavady, Co Derry)
E-Mail : clare.devlin.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Conor Daly
Position : Primary School Coach (Belfast, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : conor.daly.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Conor McGoldrick
Position : Primary School Coach (Belfast, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : conor.mcgoldrick.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Conor O’Toole
Position : Primary School Coach (Holywood, Co Down)
E-Mail : cotoole@ulster.gaa.ie
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Name : Eoghan Gribbin
Position : Primary School Coach (Antrim, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : eoghan.gribbin.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Fiontann O Dowd
Position : Primary School Coach (Banbridge, Co Down)
E-Mail : fiontann.odowd.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Garreth Thornton
Position : Primary School Coach (Warrenpoint, Co Down)
E-Mail : garreth.thornton.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Gavin Phillips
Position : Primary School Coach (Belfast, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : gavin.phillips.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Janette McManus
Position : Primary School Coach (Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh)
E-Mail : janette.mcmanus.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Joe McMahon
Position : Primary School Coach (Strabane, Co Tyrone)
E-Mail : joe.mcmahon.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Karol McQuade
Position : Primary School Coach (Armagh, Co Armagh)
E-Mail : karol.mcquade.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Kathy Crangle
Position : Primary School Coach (Craigavon, Co Armagh)
E-Mail : kathy.crangle.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Kelly McRory
Position : Primary School Coach (Belfast, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : kelly.mcrory.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Macartan McKenna
Position : Primary School Coach (Newry, Co Down)
E-Mail : macartan.mckenna.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Mags McAlinden
Position : Primary School Coach (Lisburn, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : mags.mcalinden.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Maria Donnelly
Position : Primary School Coach (Newry, Co Armagh)
E-Mail : maria.donnelly.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Matt McNulty
Position : Primary School Coach (Belfast, Co Antrim)
E-Mail : matt.mcnulty.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Owen Mooney
Position : Primary School Coach (Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh)
E-Mail : owen.mooney.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Ronan Devlin
Position : Primary School Coach (Magherafelt, Co Derry)
E-Mail : ronan.devlin.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Ruairi Convery
Position : Primary School Coach (Maghera, Co Derry)
E-Mail : ruairi.convery.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Ryan Daly
Position : Primary School Coach (Omagh, Co Tyrone)
E-Mail : ryan.daly.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Simon Gillespie
Position : Primary School Coach (Derry, Co Derry)
E-Mail : simon.gillespie.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Sinead O’Neill
Position : Primary School Coach (Dungannon, Co Tyrone)
E-Mail : sinead.oneill.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Stephen Beattie
Position : Primary School Coach (Omagh, Co Tyrone)
E-Mail : stephen.beattie.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Stephen Quinn
Position : Primary School Coach (Armagh, Co Armagh)
E-Mail : stephen.quinn.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Teresa McGirr
Position : Primary School Coach (Derry, Co Derry)
E-Mail : teresa.mcgirr.ulster@gaa.ie
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Name : Roger Keenan
Position : High Performance Director – SINI
E-Mail : r.keenan@ulster.ac.uk
Playing Background : Roger studied at Queens University Belfast where he graduated with a BA (hons) Degree in Economic and Social History. While at Queens he played Freshers and Sigerson football winning a Ryan Cup medal in 1983 and managing the Seconds team to an All-Ireland final.
He captained his club Gortin to an historic Senior County final appearance in 1984 and later managed them to their second Intermediate Championship success and promotion to Division 1 in 2003.
Roger represented Tyrone Seniors at right half back from 1985-6.
Roger, who has lived in Killyclogher for the past 20 years also managed the local club in 1998 when they were promoted to Division 1A. More recently he plied his trade in Carrickmore where he helped the club achieve back to back county titles as well as the U-21 title and reserve league.
Professional Role : As Coaching Administration Officer for the Tyrone County Board between September 2003 and November 2005 Roger was responsible for putting in place the Core Underage Strategy and structures that have seen Tyrone continue to churn out quality players.
As High Performance Manager, Roger is responsible for overseeing the development of the GAA athletes in the Sports Institute.
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Name : Sheena Tally
Position : Ladies Football Development Officer
E-Mail : sheenatally@ladiesgaelic.ie
Playing Background : Sheena plays for her home club Galbally Oonagh Celts for where she won a Senior County Title and was Ulster Finalist in 1993. She also played with and captained the University of Ulster Jordanstown team in 1996 & 1997 where she received an Ulster Colleges All-Star. In an administrative role she was Chair of the Ulster Colleges Third Level Council during her time at college and she currently sits on the committee of Galbally Pearses GAC as well as chairing the ladies section of the club, Galbally Oonagh Celts. She is also involved in coaching at different levels.
Professional Role : Sheena commenced her employment with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in January 2007. Her main duties include developing and implementing an Ulster Strategic Plan, working with Croke Park to role out development initiatives on a provincial level, co-ordinating coach and referee development in Ulster, training volunteers and county board officers and developing funding opportunities.