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.
Player Profiles
5th Class Pupil Name: Niall Lawlorย
School: St Broughans NS Bracknagh
Club: Bracknagh/ St Broughans
What do you play: Football
Whatโs your favourite part of GAA: Going training and having Fun
Who is your favourite player: Peter Cunningham
What is your favourite meal: Bacon and Cabbage
What are your GAA ambitions: Win a county with Bracknagh and my Friends
Give us a few words about your club and what you like and maybe even dislike: I really like being able to go down training and talk to the adult club players and kick around with them.
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Sixth Class Pupil Name: Rรญan Geoghegan
School: St Broghan’s NS
Club: Bracknagh/St Broughans
What do you play: football (St Broughans)and hurling(gracefield)
Whatโs your favourite part of GAA: playing matches
Who is your favourite player: Charlie Keogh
What is your favourite meal: chicken dippers
What are your GAA ambitions: to play for Bracknagh
Give us a few words about your club and what you like and maybe even dislike: I like playing football with my friends and just playing sports.
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Pupil Name: Paddy O โ Connellย
School: Colaiste Choilm Tullamore
Club: Shamrocks GAA Club
What do you play: Gaelic Football & Hurling
Whatโs your favourite part of GAA: Making friends
Who is your favourite player: David Clifford – Kerry
What is your favourite meal: Chicken & Pasta
What are your GAA ambitions: To play Senior Football & Hurling with Offaly
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly Development Squads- I have found the Offaly Development squad program very challenging & rewarding in my development as a Gaelic Footballer.
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Pupil Name: Rocco Caffrey
School: St. Maryโs Edenderry
Club: Edenderry
What do you play: Gaa/soccer
Whatโs your favourite part of GAA: playing a match
Who is your favourite player: David Clifford
What is your favourite meal: pasta
What are your GAA ambitions:
Playing for Offaly
playing with new teammates
Making new friends
Enjoying training
Give us a few words about your involvement with the Offaly Development Squads
I look forward to playing with Offaly in the future
Iโve learned how to play against players ( and still be friends) from other clubs that now play for Offaly
Get to Know our volunteers
Elaine Kelly Dunne
Elaine returned to the Offaly GAA Management Committee in 2026 following a five-year break, having previously served as Childrenโs Officer.
In her new role as Offaly GAA Planning and Training Officer, Elaine is involved in a number of important areas across the county. She is currently contributing to the review of GAA support for both national and secondary schools, as well as the ongoing review of underage club structures and supports.
Over the coming months, Elaine will also have a detailed role in preparations for Coach Education Month and will assist with the planning, training and development of officers across the county.
Elaine, who is from Kilclonfert, is also assisting Padraig OโMeara and Keith Screney with the review of underage structures. Working together as a small group, they hope to support the development of an Underage Coordinators Course, which would provide practical training and guidance for underage committees throughout the county.
Elaineโs return brings valuable experience from her previous involvement as Childrenโs Officer, and her new role will have a strong focus on planning, education, training and supporting the continued development of underage GAA across Offaly.
Club School โ Link (National)
The Offaly GAA ClubโSchool Link Programme has officially kicked off across our schools and clubs this week, covering all schools and clubs that are not currently part of the GPO system.
Offaly GAAโs Nigel Dunne and Dean Bracken will manage the programme across 50 schools over the next 18 weeks, both before and after Christmas. They will support our 25 coaches working across the schools each week, ensuring that the new coaching plan is running smoothly and, most importantly, that there is a consistent focus on developing the basic skills of Gaelic games in every school.
A huge thank you to all of our school principals and GAA teachers who have taken the time to provide valuable feedback on their GAA experiences over recent years and who have committed to supporting this new programme. Your input has been hugely important in shaping how the programme will operate.
We also wish the very best to all of our new coaches. Some have been put forward by their local clubs, while others will work across a number of schools. We greatly appreciate everyone who has stepped forward to help make the programme a success.
The aim of the ClubโSchool Link is simple: consistent coaching, no gaps in provision and a regular timetable. This will give schools and teachers greater certainty when planning their GAA activities, while helping us build a stronger and more sustainable coaching structure for the years ahead.
Outside of this programme, Edenderry schools will continue to be covered by GPO Ciarรกn Breen, while our remaining GPOs will begin a similar timetable within secondary schools. We will share more details on the secondary-school programme next week.
Finally, a sincere thank you to all of the clubs that have joined and supported the scheme. We look forward to working closely with our clubs, schools, teachers and coaches and to a fantastic 2026/27 school year.
Nรญ neart go cur le chรฉile.
Underage Spotlight โ Johnny Flaherty Finals
Kinnitty GAA was a hive of activity on Saturday, 5th September, as the club hosted the first annual Johnny Flaherty Cup and Shield Finals.
Over 400 people gathered in sun-drenched Kinnitty to enjoy two very tight and exciting games. The clubโs two pitches were in perfect condition, while Kinnitty GAA personnel were out in force with plenty of stewards on hand. The organisation throughout the day was excellent and helped make the occasion a fitting celebration of underage hurling.
Tom Parlon, Chairperson of Offaly GAA, welcomed everyone to Kinnitty before Ger Coughlan spoke about Johnny Flaherty, underage hurling in Kinnitty and across the county, and the tremendous skill and speed displayed in both games.
Shaun Flaherty, Johnnyโs son, spoke admirably at both games about Johnnyโs great love of hurling. He recalled how Johnny loved showing children how to grip the hurley properly and helping them to get their striking right. He also spoke about how the U15 age group was the ideal age for a competition bearing Johnnyโs name.
On the field, the action certainly lived up to the occasion.
Ben Halligan lifted the Shield on behalf of Ferbane/Belmont after a great battle with DSK, while Joe Haverty lifted the Johnny Flaherty Cup following a very tight contest with Tullamore GAA.
It was a fantastic day for underage hurling and a fitting conclusion to a competition that featured nearly 50 games, culminating in two excellent knockout finals.
The success of the inaugural competition provides a great platform to ensure that both the Johnny Flaherty Cup and Shield continue to grow in the years ahead.
Well done to all the players, mentors, officials, organisers, volunteers, families and supporters involved in making the day such a memorable occasion.
