New National Centre for Hurling and Camogie
A new National Hurling and Camogie Development Centre is to be opened at the Waterford Institute of Technology.   It will undertake research and development in hurling-related areas such as sports science, coach and referee education and player development.
A mobile unit will make the knowledge and expertise of the NHCDC staff available to players and coaches across the country as well as providing assistance to hurling mentors.
The announcement was made as part of the launch of the National Hurling Development Plan.
Other initiatives include the establishment of a panel of 23 senior mentors to assist in counties where hurling is presently weak.  These include Tipperary All Ireland winning manager Liam Sheedy who will assist with the development of the sport in County Tyrone.
A new adult club hurling tournament called the Táin League will enable 59 clubs from developing counties to play at a higher level and raise skills.
The main objective of the plan is to develop the skills and standard of hurling across the country.
The Hurling Development Committee was chaired by incoming GAA President Liam O’Neill who said “This is about games, getting hurling played, because if you don’t play games you can’t develop hurling.  This is a people-based plan and it is about games first.”
Camogie president Joan O’Flynn welcomed the plan as “providing a platform to enable Camogie and Hurling to be promoted and developed together.”
Glanbia steps up for Munster Youths
Glanbia has extended its support of youth Rugby in Munster by announcing it will once more sponsor the Avonmore Milk U17 and U19 Cups.
The Avonmore Youth Cup finals will take place next month.  They give teams throughout the province the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Open to any club no matter what size, they give players the opportunity to compete with their home club for a provincial title.
At the launch Kieran O’Connor, Glanbia Sponsorship Manager, announced that Avonmore will be presenting the winners of both U17 and U19 cup competitions with a €500 voucher towards rugby equipment for their Clubs and also an Avonmore Milk Super Hero Man of the Match Award for each final.
This announcement follows on from the National Dairy Council launch of a sports based Milk promotion for schools and juvenile teams earlier in the week.
Boylesports sponsor greyhound for whole season
It happens of course in team sports but Greyhound Racing is to enter a new era with the sponsorship of this year’s likely champion, Milldean Panther for the whole campaign by betting company Boylesports.
Milldean Panther finished his puppy season unbeaten and is already favourite for the Ladbrokes sponsored Irish Greyhound Derby at Shelbourne Park.  He broke the track record at the Dublin venue in the course of last season’s run.
Three Rock Rovers make it to Turkey
Irish Indoor Hockey Champions Three Rock Rovers have arrived in Turkey to play in the Euro Hockey Club Champions Challenge.  The trip had been in doubt because of the high cost associated with the 3,700 kilometre journey, as well as the unavailability of international players so close to the Electric Ireland supported Olympic Qualifying tournament at UCD in March.
A fundraising drive within the club raised €6,000 to make the trip possible and avoid possible sanctions for the club and Irish Hockey.
The club will play against the national champions of Georgia, Norway, Finland, Bulgaria and Turkey.
American Football Festival for Dublin and Meath
Páirc Tailteann, Navan will be one of three host venues for a festival of American football to take place on the eve of the Emerald Isle Classic being played at the AVIVA Stadium in August between Notre Dame and Navy.
A total of 12 top high school teams from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and Wisconsin will compete in the games.
More than 20,000 fans are expected to travel with the teams.
 
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