Future AFL stars pay a visit to St Nathy’s underage teams
ON Friday last, St Nathy’s LGFA welcomed The Wanderers Australia to Ballinalack Park for the latest stop on their tour of Ireland.
The group of girls, who play at Under 17 level, were from different parts of Australia and have been touring Ireland playing different LGFA club teams in challenge matches to experience LGFA rules.
St Nathy’s was their only stop in the west of Ireland so the pressure was on to show this group of athletes what Connacht had to offer.
The occasion began with “Get-to-know-Bingo” to break the ice between the groups of players.
All the players got to meet with each other and have some fun off the field before their games started.
As it is summer time in Australia the Wanderers had to get accustomed to Sligo’s January temperatures but thanks to some of the Senior players from
St Nathy’s the two teams had a combined warm up that had them ready to go.
They showed the visitors different Gaelic skills and partnered girls that would be against each other to show each other different skills of the game.
First up was the Under15s who played four 12-minute quarters.
The Under-17s took to the field next and again showed great display of skills for a game they had not been playing for long.
The visiting team were in for a treat when they were greeted with a visit from LGFA star Louise Ward of Kilkerrin-Clonberne and Galway ladies.
Louise brought the club All-Ireland trophy with her and held a question and answers session with the players, and of course took part in some photo opportunities.
The visit concluded with tea and refreshments.
While the clubs got to know each other the
Wanderers had some treats for their hosts. Rachel Frain and Sarah Kelly were presented with jerseys for winning best “On-Ground-Player” in each game.
They also presented St Nathy’s with an oval ball in case they ever decide to change sports.
This was a very unique experience for young players to have and to get to meet athletes of their own age from a different part of the world.