Recreational Football Tournament
The Ulster Council GAA recently ran a recreational Gaelic Football tournament as part of the hugely successful North Armagh Gaelic Week. Organised by Ulster Council Development Officer Diarmaid Marsden, and supported by the North Armagh Divisional Board, 7 local GAA clubs fielded teams in what was a unique Gaelic Football event.
Social or Recreational games are aimed at those club members who don’t feature for the senior or reserve teams. More than likely this group consists of over 35s but basically anyone (male or female) who wants to play for a bit of fun and enjoyment and wants to keep fit can participate.
Two major rules govern the playing of social football.
- Only incidental contact is permitted (basically no tackling) and
- Players are restricted to two touches (solo and a bounce)
As Diarmaid Marsden points out “Through the small pilot we ran in North Armagh it was staggering to see the level of interest in this format of gaelic football. Evidently the demand is there for dozens of members within clubs to play social games. It is a chance for non-active members to meet up with old friends in a fun and enjoyable environment and from a club point of view this can only be good. All it takes is a bit of organisation and in this regard we are grateful to the North Armagh Board for supplying referees for the games.”
Overall 135 players contributed to this most successful event. There was also a fair sprinkling of talent on show in the form of ex county players Damian Horsik and Gerald Reid (Eire Og), Jim McKerr (Clan na Gael) and Shane McConville and Kieran McNally (St Paul’s).
It is the intention of the Ulster Council to promote this type of recreational or social GAA throughout the province.
If you require any more information just contact
Diarmaid Marsden (07920 528 792) dmarsden@ulster.gaa.ie
