Down underage hurling league gets underway

Ulster GAA coaches are currently running a very successful hurling league for U12 in venues across Counties Antrim and Down including the Eddie Irvine Centre in Bangor, St John’s Belfast, De La Salle School Downpatrick, An Riocht hall, and Banbridge Leisure Centre.

Over 30 teams are taking part in the 6 week programme which will be followed by a similar event for U10s.

Ulster GAA Coach Mickey McCullough explains: “The first skills young children are often taught are how to pick and how to strike from their hand. We believe these basic skills should be embraced and encouraged

“In doing so the league is an extremely fast paced event with all the skills to the fore in every game. The idea came about to challenge the children as much as possible so that they are pushing themselves to learn as opposed to being happy with where they are at.

“It was a necessity for a county with the Hurling tradition of Down to get something like this up and going. It was very much a Down initiative though it quickly grew to taking in clubs from Armagh, Derry, Tyrone and Antrim.

“We would like to thank Niall Kearney and the lads in North Antrim who helped us put the logistics together and hopefully in coming years we could look at somehow marrying their competition also.”

Any clubs interested in taking part in the U10 version which is due to commence in 2 weeks time should contact Mickey McCullough by emailing michael.mccullough.ulster@gaa.ie