St Joseph’s footballers take part in Games for All
THE Martin Donnelly GAA Football for All Interprovincials saw many Sligo participants taking part in the event in Croke Park last month.
The tournament, now in its 3rd year, is a 9-a-side competition and caters for children with mild –general learning disabilities. The players represented the regions of Connacht, Dublin, Munster, North Leinster, South Leinster and Ulster and are drawn from 15 different special schools. Each squad comprises 12 Boys and 12 Girls who have been selected from regional trials to play on the hallowed turf of Croke Park. John Horan, President of the GAA said: “Our support for the Martin Donnelly GAA Football for All Interprovincial Finals illustrates our unwavering commitment to inclusiveness. By participating in our games, we believe that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and develop their full potential.”
St Joseph’s School Ballytivnan had eight players on the Connacht teams (Boys & Girls) who played in Croke Park. The Connacht teams included players from St Anthony’s School Castlebar, St Dympna’s Ballina, St Bernadette’s Letterkenny, and St Joseph’s Sligo. Connacht played in a group with South Leinster and Ulster. The Boys lost the first game against South Leinster, and played Ulster in the next game and put in a tremendous performance of superior forward play and tigerish defending and came out on top by two points. The next game was a play-off with Ulster and they came at the Connacht Boys with pace, slick passing and put a few scores on the board. But the Connacht team began to settle and with a few turn-overs and accurate passes notched up a number of scores and pulled back the lead to one point and then edged ahead and won by the narrowest of margins. The Connacht Girls played South Leinster where they competed bravely and passionately and were narrowly beaten. They played the Ulster Girls next and this was a ding-dong battle with both teams trading scores, and the teams were level on a number of occasions, but in the final minutes Ulster moved ahead and carved out a narrow win in what was a pulsating game of football. They qualified for the Shield final where they came up against Ulster again and in another titanic struggle the Ulster Girls just had enough stamina to finish ahead at the final whistle.
The players savoured their time in the stunning GAA grounds and made new friends with players from Connacht and other Provinces. The GAA President John Horan was there to meet and greet the players, mentors and supporters, and complimented all who helped out, for their time and commitment. All players were presented with a special medal and Certificate for playing in Croke Park. This is truly an inclusive and a reaching out to people of any ability to play Gaelic football, share the same thrill, and play the same game.
The National GAA Games for All organisers Brian Armitage, Tony Watene and Richie Doran from ISSSC (Irish Special Schools Sports Council) were praised for helping out along with school principals and teachers who have taken this great game on board as part of their sporting calendar, in particular Carmel Wynne St Joseph’s Sligo. The coaches who helped out on the coaching preparation day in Scarden and also in Croke Park include Liam Óg Gormley, Padraig Clancy and Gerry Tuohy. Tim Hynes, chairman of Sligo GAA Games or All said: “Thanks to the Connacht GAA Games for All chairperson Denis O’Boyle, and also the Connacht Council for presenting the Connacht players with shorts and socks and supporting these games, especially Gerry McGovern, President and John Prenty, Secretary. The sun shone down on Croke Park and the memories and new friends the players met will live long with them, and the honour of playing in Croke Park and representing their Communities, Schools, County and Province will be treasured.” LIST of Connacht players: St Joseph’s Ballytivnan; Scott Dunbar, Trevor Gallagher, Stephen Ward, Amy Ward, Edel Weston, Annaleigh Middleton, Gabrielle McGinley, Breena McMorrow. St Bernadette’s Letterkenny: Holly McDaid, Melissa Matthews, Kylan Dean, Gordon Wilson, Dean Whoriskey Coyle, Anna Mikolakek, Chantelle Quigley. St Anthony’s Castlebar; Dylan Tighe, Ian Burke, Henry Mannion, Tina Browne, Rachel Davitt. St Dympna’s Ballina; Peter Healy, Aidan Larkin, Orlaith Gallagher, Ruairí McNamara.