Offaly Coaching Zone

Primary School - Geashill NS, In the school, children of all ages can be seen playing football everyday of the week at lunch times. A school league is organised in the last term. Some of the older pupils referee these games. The final takes place on sports day in June. A coach comes once a week for 20 weeks of the school year. All the children benefit from this coaching and thanks to the County Board and local club Raheen for providing this service. The school has a proud history in the Cumann na mBunscoil competitions. The school takes part in mini-sevens, go-games, astro-turf blitzes and the spring and autumn U-13 competitions. The school has had unprecedented success in the last three years, winning U-13 competitions three times in a row. There have been great celebrations in the school, the highlight being presented with medals by Offaly legend, Matt Connor. The school hopes to see some of its pupils represent Offaly in the years ahead.  Minor Club - Na Fianna Na Fianna minor club was formed in January 2003, providing both hurling and football from under-8 to minor in the parish of Killeigh. With Killeigh parish being one of the biggest parishes in Ireland, taking in the villages of Killurin, Killeigh, Cloneygowan, Geashill and Ballinagar, success was in very short supply. All age groups were competing well and in 2005 and 2006 the club reached the Minor "B" hurling finals but lost to Seir Kieran on both occasions. Also in 2006 the under-12 "B" footballers lost in the final to DER Gaels. It wasn"t until October 2006 that silverware came to the club wining the under-16 football final against Ballinamere-Durrow. In 2007, the under-10 footballers lost to Birr in the Final while the under-14 "B" footballers had a good win against Ballycumber/Tubber in the Final. In 2008, the under-14 "B" footballers lost to Killcormac/Killoughey in the final. At present the club is catering for over 350 kids between football and hurling and the future looks very bright. Looking forward to this year all the club"s football teams will be competing in the "A" grade and, with the time and dedication being put in by coaches and mentors in football and hurling, it won"t be long before silverware reaches the club again. Club Player Profile Name: Stephen Pierce (Na Fianna) Age: 10. School: Cloneygowan NS. Favourite Position: Forward. Favourite Food: Taco Fries. Favourite Footballer: Conor Carroll (Raheen). # Favourite Hurler: Henry Shefflin. Favourite TV Programme: Zac and Cody. Favourite Coach: Daddy. Dreams: To play for Offaly on All-Ireland Day 2019 and Na Fianna to win the under-12 football final this year. County Player Profile Name: Paul McConway Age: 22. Club: Tullamore. Occupation: Insurance Claims Handler. Favourite Position: Centre Back. Favourite Food: Chicken. Favourite Film: The Departed. Toughest Opponent: Niall McNamee. Player you admire: Cathal Daly. Goal as an Offaly Player: To win an All-Ireland. Coaching & Games Diary Foundation Hurling Course - 21st February, O"Connor Park, Tullamore, 10am-2pm. National Schools GAA Photo Competition - National League Games. Club School Link: National School Coaching - Feb 09. Offaly Secondary Schools Camogie Project - Feb 09. Secondary Schools TY Work Experience - Feb/March 09. Contact Carina/John for further information. Indoor Hurling Winners Clara Boys NS, Durrow NS, Gaelscoil NS. Indoor Camogie Winners Carrig NS & Ballinamere NS. North Offaly National School GAA Photo Winners. Geashill NS, Gaelscoil NS, Rhode NS & Edenderry Girls. Foundation Football Certificates Forty participants representing Shamrocks, Walsh Island, Tullamore Ladies, Rhode, Clara, St Broughan"s, Edenderry, St Joseph"s NS, Edenderry Girls NS, Rhode NS & Clara Girls NS received their foundation football certificates.