Kieran Donaghy’s first visit to a GAA Super Games Centre will be a central feature of tonight’s GAA Championship Review show on Sky Sports.
Colaiste Eoin in Carlow was the venue for the piece where Donaghy chats to Paul Broderick on the importance of both playing and coaching with a positive mindset.
He also speaks to Games Development Administrator Brendan Hayden on what Colaiste Eoin is doing as a Super Games Centre to keep fun at its core and ultimately keep teenagers playing GAA.
“What struck me most about my visit to Carlow was when I met this one lad in particular called Jack, who doesn’t play with a club at the moment but he has been drawn back to the game because of the fun element of the Super Games, and through just having fun he’s actually excelling as a player,” said Donaghy.
“It was proof to me, there and then, that the Super Games Centres are working.”
The GAA Super Games Centres are one of three initiatives that Sky is supporting as part of its continued investment of €3m in Grassroots GAA over five years.
As well as providing equipment and kits for the Centres, Sky also supports them nationwide with ambassador visits which have in the past included sessions with Conor McManus, TJ Reid, Con O’Callaghan, Jonny Cooper, Paul Geaney, Carla Rowe and Joe Canning.
Over the next few weeks in addition to Colaiste Eoin in Carlow, Donaghy will visit two other Super Games Centres at St Mary’s Grammar School in Belfast alongside Antrim hurling star Neil McManus, and De La Salle College in Waterford with former Waterford manager Derek McGrath and Waterford captain Noel Connors.
He will conclude his journey with a visit to Na Fianna in Dublin to see how, at club level, they are also trying to fight teen drop off and how the concept of the Super Games Centres and its values can be reflected at club level.
