Blarney/Rathpeacon GAA is booming right now with Chairman, Dave McCarthy and Director of Games, Humphrey Hogan to the fore while being aided by all our qualified coaches. Club Beag and Club Na NÓg are rocking with unprecedented numbers coming through the doors every week. The Buzz and positive ambiance is palpable every time you pass the pitch especially on Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings when our players up to the age of under 11 are in full flow.
We have wonderful facilities in our main campus including the main pitch, two ball walls, our 4G Astro and pavilion and it has often been remarked upon how every inch of it is being utilised when our feeder clubs are in action. What is evident in every breath while in around Club Na NÓg and Club Beag is the enjoyment and fun element of the whole experience. Blarney /Rathpeacon GAA are blessed with fantastic volunteers who are qualified coaches with more coaches qualifying every year both in coaching and Children First.
All our coaches are Garda vetted. The ethos in Club Na NÓg is games based were we allow every child to get a huge amount of touches on the ball every week during games and also fundamental movements are improved hugely through fun games. Fun, Fun, Fun is what is thought and encouraged. This is brought to the fore through weekly training, Go Games, Parish Leagues, Regular trips and the upcoming and now famed visit of Santa to our club. Below is just a little sample of reports and photos over the last few months of some of the activities.
June:
A busy month with our under 6’s played in their first football blitz in Rathpeacon against Rathpeacon and Ballyphehane. They gave an excellent account of themselves in both games. Very well organized by the hosts. A great event enjoyed by all.
Well done to the u7s that played very competitive hurling matches against Whitechurch in Rathpeacon GAA on a Saturday morning. Thanks again to the coaches and parents for their support.
The under 9s played some great hurling against competitive Bandon teams down in Bandon on Saturday, 1st June and were also pictured enjoying themselves in the sun playing football games against Killavullen in Blarney on Saturday, 8th June.
Blarney/Rathpeacon U10s & U9s played against lismore ( Waterford ) & Ballyhea on a Saturday before going on the bus to see Cork triumph over Waterford, great day had by everyone.
Blarney/Rathpeacon U10s played Fermoy in hurling, well done to all the players and thank you to Fermoy for travelling up on a Thursday evening.
July:
The Under 9s had a wonderful day out at the hurling blitz in Charleville on Saturday, the 6th July. After a slow start, the boys starting to play some great hurling leading to victory in the Shield Final against Bruff of Limerick. Well done to all the players and many thanks to the parents who made the long trip and gave up so much of their time.
The Under 9s took part in the Summer Hurling League during the month of July. On the 10th July, Cloughduv and Inniscarra were hosted in Blarney. In wet conditions and with altered rules where no handling of the sliothar was permitted, all teams tried valiantly and put in good performances.
On 17th July, the Under 9s were hosted by Whitechurch along with Tracton. Blarney/Rathpeacon put out two strong sides who played some great hurling.
The final series of the Summer League took place on the astro pitch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on the 27th July. Blarney/Rathpeacon were pitted against Inniscarra and Cloughduv again together with a game against Eire Og. Once again, the boys adapted to the altered rules and different surface in admirable fashion and put in some sterling performances. Well done all.
September:
The u7s enjoyed a Rebel Og hurling blitz in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday 7th September. We had 30 boys playing in 12 very competitive games. Thanks to the coaches and parents for their continued support and we can look forward to parish leagues and 2 more blitzes in Pairc Ui Chaoimh before the end of the year.
The U10s went on a road trip to play Clondrohid in football, well done to all the players, some fantastic football on show by our lads. The lads were also pictured in a team talk before the killeagh hurling game, some lovely hurling on display from Blarney/Rathpeacon U10s who ran out comfortable winners on the night.
October:
The u7s had a busy weekend on 28th and 29th September. They headed to Cuskinny Court activity centre on Saturday with the u8s and enjoyed a great day of fun filled activities and team building exercises. Huge thanks to Liam O’Riordan for organising a wonderful day. The lads played hurling and football matches v Inniscarra on Sunday morning. All games were competitive and played in great spirits. Thanks again to all the coaches and parents for their support.
U10s played a blitz in Ballyhea on a Sunday morning, well done to all the players who played some great hurling and did their club proud.
November:
On Saturday, the 9th November, the Under 9s went on a social outing to the Hurlgolf Experience near Kinsale. There was a great turnout from players and parents alike which resulted in some exciting father/son team pairings! In the bright November sunshine, the teams battled the strong winds to post some impressive scores. This was followed up by lashings of pizza and chips to replenish the tired bodies! All in all, a fun-filled outing was enjoyed immensely by all the participants. A special mention goes to coach, Dara Delea, for organising the outing.
More recently there was a fun day out for the U10s in West Cork Secrets were a great day was had by all the kids and the adults as well, thank you to all the parents and kids who have put in a huge effort all year. The u11s also had a well deserved end of year outing to enjoy recently at the foot/hurl golf outing. See galleries below for pics.
