‘I OWE MY LIFE TO KERRY MOUNTAIN RESCUE’[
MONITORING and mentoring the stars of tomorrow is the core objective of the South Kerry Board Underage Academy which recently had training tops presented by its sponsor, Quinlan’s Fish Shops and Seafood Bars, at the Lá na gClub in Renard GAA Club.
The coaching academy for U13 to U17 players from the South Kerry area is up and running since October and, despite just a few months old, it has been widely hailed as a very positive initiative. The academies run every three to four weeks with their main window of opportunity during holidays such as Easter, Christmas and mid-term and they take place in the ‘Over the Water Sports Complex’ in Cahersiveen.
The academies serve as a springboard to U14 and U15 championship teams, as well as county development squads. All GAA clubs in the region, including the South Kerry Board, are in support of the initiative; the objective of which is to promote the game in areas where numbers are depleted due to a number of factors such as emigration. It also helps to establish an important database of players’ strengths and attributes.
PJ Reidy is a full-time Games Development Administrator (GDA) for the south and mid Kerry areas and he alternates his work between both regions, overseeing the footballing potential of youths in 33 national schools, four post-primary schools and 16 GAA clubs. PJ also works with development squads with the Kerry County Committee.
“We set this up in order to progress coaching through an academy and everyone is buying into it. Club is number one and the academy doesn’t come in the way of the club. But it does improve the standard of footballer and we hold an open session so coaches can come and see the level and standard of coaching I’ll be doing,” PJ said.
“We’re very lucky to be able to run this academy as it’s all about promoting the game and it’s thanks to sponsors like Quinlan’s Sea Food that we’re able to get up and running,” he added.