Busy period ahead for Kilkenny GAA Development Squads
Before club fever hits the county over the next few weeks, we’ve taken a look at the progress of Kilkenny’s young players
In late January this year in a packed Hotel Kilkenny, the Kilkenny GAA Academy, Na Cait Óga, was launched.
It was also announced that CluneTech would be the sponsor of the Na Cait Óga Academy.
Speaking to attendees at the launch, Kilkenny GAA Performance Lead, Michael Fennelly, outlined the work to be undertaken by him and his team for the 2024 season and beyond.
The newly revamped Academy would provide a pathway for emerging young talent in Kilkenny.
The structure would consist of an ecosystem where players, parents/guardians, schools, clubs and coaches would be supported through educational resources and tools.
The vision of Na Cait Óga would to generate a healthy and broad cohort of players, providing them with an opportunity to advance in all aspects of their game.
At the heart of its mission, the Kilkenny academy would create an environment to support and develop emerging talent from a psychosocial (social, physical, psychological) position which would result in a setting where players can thrive in their personal development.
To achieve these goals, the following best practice objectives would be utilised:
Coaching the technical skills of hurling through game based scenarios and encouraging problem based learning.
Developing players for the physical demands of hurling with a focus on each individual state of maturation.
Providing tools on supporting players with the psychological challenges of life and sport.
Learning leadership qualities and encouraging independent decision making.
Offering guidance and support around lifestyle management in terms of school, sport and life balance for each of our players.
Michael Fennelly also spoke about culture, tradition and identity, all of which feed into the standards (attitude, accountability, honesty, battle ready, brotherhood, growth mindset) and values (work rate, spirit, humility, respect the jersey) that resonate across all Kilkenny players, teams and clubs.
Since the launch of Na Cait Óga in late January players from every club in the county have been part of the development programme from under-14 to under-16 levels.
The concluding stages of the competitions in which the players participated will be held over the coming weeks, with the Under 16 Football Squad finishing their programme with a game against Waterford in Walsh Park recently.
Some 195 players made the final selections across five hurling squads at u-14, u-15 and u-16 levels.
In addition, 40 players participated in the U16 football programme.
Supporting the players through their various programmes were 34 hurling coaches and five football coaches.
Kilkenny teams played four games last weekend and emerged victorious in all of them.
The u-16 1 squad travelled to Clarecastle in Clare and saw off the Banner on a score of 0-22 to 1-16, having trailed 1-8 to 0-7 at half time.
The 16 2 squad scored a comprehensive 6-27 to 1-7 win over Antrim in Dublin.
In Johnstown, the u-15 1 squad put in an impressive performance to see off the challenge of Cork 2-20 to 2-10, having led 1-10 to 1-5 at the interval.
Down the road in Urlingford the u-15 2 squad also defeated Cork on a score of 1-17 to 2-10.
Three of those teams will be in action this coming Saturday 27th July – U16 1; U15 1 and U15 2 – in All-Ireland Quarter-Finals.
Meanwhile, the U14 Kilkenny and U14 Cill Chainnigh Squads will also be in action on this coming Saturday looking to progress in the Tony Forristal (U14 Kilkenny) and Sonny Walsh (U14 Cill Chainnigh) tournaments which take place in Waterford.
All Kilkenny underage squads will be looking to continue their winning ways next Saturday and on to the concluding All-Ireland stages which are down for decision on Saturday 24th of August.
Meanwhile the U14 Emerging Squad have a game to play against Tipperary.