Offaly GAA Coaching Corner
In association with Condron Concrete
Compiled by Carina on behalf of Offaly GAA
If you would like to submit information (Player or Club) for this weekly underage promotion, please email administrator.offaly@gaa.ie.
Development Squad Player Profiles
Pupil name: Aaron Coady β Offaly U14 Hurling
SchoolΒ name: ColΓ‘iste Naomh Cormac
Club: Kilcormac/Killoughey
What do you play: hurling
Your favourite player: Aidan o Connor
What is your favourite meal: Sunday roast
What are your GAA ambitions: To play for Offaly
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly development squads: I really like training with Offaly and hurling with lads from different clubs.
Aaron Mooney β Offaly U14 Football
School: ColΓ‘iste Choilm
Club: Shamrocks
What do you play: Football U14
What is your favourite part of GAA: Playing matches
Who is your favourite player: David Clifford/Jack Bryant
What is your favourite meal: Carbonara
What are your GAA ambitions: To win titles with Shamrocks & play for Offaly seniors
Few words on involvement with Offaly development squads: I am part of Offaly U14 football development squad. I really enjoy it – I particularly enjoy the gym work and all the football drills which help improve my skills
Pupil Name: Luke Fitzgerald β Offaly U14 Hurling
School Name: Banagher college
Club: St Rynaghs
What do you play: Hurling
Who is your favourite player: Ben Conneely
What are your GAA ambitions: To win county with Rynaghs and play senior for Offaly.
Favourite part of the GAA: Meeting my mates and the competitiveness of games
What is your favourite meal: Lasagne
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly squads: To win county with Rynaghs and play senior for Offaly.
Pupil Name: Harry Watkins β Offaly U14 Hurling
School Name: St Brendan’s community school
Club: Birr
What do you play: Hurling
Favourite part of the GAA: Being part of a team, friends that you make along the way
Who is your favourite player: Charlie Mitchell
What is your favourite meal: Chicken curry
What are your GAA ambitions: To play in Croke park for Offaly seniors
Get to Know our County Committee
Padraig OβMeara β Offaly County Secretary
My name is Padraig OβMeara, and this is my first year as Offaly County Secretary. Over the years, I have held a number of positions on both adult and underage committees, and I am very proud to now have the opportunity to serve the county in this role.
I am a proud Offaly and Clara man, and my aim is to do the best possible job I can to help Offaly continue to improve, develop and operate as efficiently as possible.
I have a particular passion for underage development. During the spring, I met with representatives from our underage committees across the county. Since then, I have been working through the various requests and issues raised and will continue to assist our underage committees in every way I can, while also supporting our adult clubs as part of my role.
I hope to continue the good work being done with our academies and underage structures. Shortly, I will also meet with representatives from our national schools who submitted surveys before the schools closed for the summer. Their feedback will be important as we plan for the year ahead following the return to school.
Athletic development and basic coaching are among the key areas we hope to improve. We look forward to working with clubs, coaches, schools and volunteers right across the county to make progress in these areas.
Coaching is a demanding job, and so too is underage administration. The people who give their time to these roles make an enormous contribution to Offaly, and our message to them is simple: we are here to help.
Games Programme
Games Programme Update
Our championship team group stage are almost complete at Y14 & U16 levels in which the knockouts take place in September when schools are back β This is voted unanimously by the clubs to ensure all players get a chance to play in knockouts. The Dates below here are the essential dates for the end of the season.
Johnny Flaherty Cup – SF & Finals
Β· Semi Finals 21stΒ August
Β· Semi Finals 23rdΒ August – Shield
Β· Finals 4thΒ September – Cup & Shield – (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
Ollie Daly Cup – SF & Finals
Β· Semi Finals 28thΒ August
Β· Finals 11thΒ September – (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
U14 Football Championships –Β (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
Β· QF – B – Monday 7thΒ September
Β· All SF – Monday 21stΒ September
Β· All Finals –Β Β Monday 5th
U14 Hurling Championships –Β (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
Β· QF – A/B/C – Monday 14thΒ September
Β· All SF – Monday 28thΒ September
Β· All Finals – Monday 2ndΒ October
U16 Football Championships –Β (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
Β· A & B SF – Wed 23rdΒ September
Β· All Finals – Wed 7thΒ October
U16 Hurling Championships –Β (May be moved to a weekend fixture for daylight)
Β· A & B SF – Wed 30thΒ September
Β· All Finals – Wed 14thΒ October
Minor HurlingΒ –Β (Weekend will remain same – Games may be Saturday or Sunday depending on other age groups)
Β· Hurling QF – Sunday 27thΒ September
Β· Hurling SF – Sunday 11thΒ October
Β· Hurling Finals – Sunday 25thΒ October
Minor Football –Β (Games may be Saturday or Sunday depending on other age groups)
Β· Football QF – Sunday 20thΒ September
Β· Football SF – Sunday 4thΒ October
Β· Football Finals – Sunday 18thΒ October
Underage Spotlight β Coolderry
In 2026Β CoolderryΒ Underage section is busy each week with training and games for all ages. We have a nursery group that train every FridayΒ evening,Β and this is where the coaches welcome the kids to hurling through fun games, introducing the kids to the world of hurling.
We also have our U8, U10, U11 , and U12 levels where through the years you can see the kids develop their skills, progress in levels and see them build confidence in themselves. They also build friendships and learn what teamwork is and this can stay with them for years. It is something that we hope they will continue to bring to other levels in the Club and maybe someday hopefully in the county for some.
We are fortunate to have a lot of volunteers and coaches that give up their time to help develop these skills, help progress the kids and build confidence in our kids in the club and instil in them a love of the game of Hurling and pride of their club.
By Offaly Secretary Mon 14th Sep
