Na SeamrÓigí and Registration time again ...

On Saturday 29 February registration for Na SeamrÓigí takes place between 10.30am and 1.00 pm. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT  ACTIVITY ORGANISED BY THE CLUB.  This initiative was first trialled towards the end of the 2018 season and was formally introduced in February 2019 in order to  introduce young children to healthy exercise in a fun and family centred setting.

The most recent results (January 2020) of The Children's Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study provides evidence of the IMPORTANCE of what Mullingar Shamrocks are attempting to achieve. Included in the results were the following frightening facts: (a) Only 1 in 5 primary and 1 in 8 of post-primary school children met the Department of Health and Children physical activity recommendations – at least 60 minutes daily of moderate to vigorous physical activity. (b) Girls were less likely than boys to meet the physical activity recommendations. (c)The  likelihood of meeting the physical activity recommendations decreased with increasing age and perhaps the most shocking of all statistics (d) One in four children were unfit, overweight or obese and had elevated blood pressure.

The SeamrÓigí concept is designed to introduce the habit of fun and games filled exercise to children at an early age and hopefully for the majority this will lead to a life- long interest in exercise and fitness.

When the initiative was launched last year, Mullingar Shamrocks under-age committee chairman Barry Kelly stated that  'It doesn't really matter if the children never play football. If they get into the habit of enjoying sport in a friendly non-competitive setting, we will have done them a great favour for later life'.

Even the most cursory glance in to the Astroturf on a Saturday morning last year would convince any doubters (and we don't know of any!) of the wonderful success of the Na SeamrÓigí initiative. The Astroturf was packed with  boys and girls under six years of age engaged in healthy exercise supported by an army of volunteer coaches.

There is no doubt that this is one of the finest initiatives rolled out in the club's history and if any Mammy or Daddy is reading this and would like their young boy or girl (3-6 year old) to engage in the fun and games they are welcome to come along. You will be doing your children a great favour. We will find the space.

Registration for all other age groups also take place on Saturday 29 February 10.30 to 1.00 pm.

Coaching Conference

Mullingar Shamrocks held their second Coaching Conference on Saturday last in Springfield. A fantastic turnout of 45 Shamrocks’ club coaches braved the cold conditions and were treated to three hours of coaching theory and practice under the expert tutelage of Offaly Games Development Officer,

Liam O’Reilly and Kilmacud Crokes’ highly rated Coaching Officer, Pádraic McDonald. Liam’s session began at 9.00 am on the Astro and was followed by Q and A session in the clubhouse hosted by Pádraic. Finally, Pádraic held a second coaching session on the Astro. This was a hugely beneficial morning for the club and its young players and even the weather Gods played ball as the rain held off for the duration of the coaching sessions. Pat Collins provided the welcome cuppa and a few treats at the interval and a cold but enthused group of coaches left Springfield shortly after midday brimming with new drills, coaching methods and fun ways of promoting Gaelic games. Our thanks to Liam and Pádraic for their time, expertise and enthusiasm. Thanks too to our club coaches for their participation.

Last Man Standing

Club PRO Tom Hunt may have been eliminated in the early stages of our Last Man Standing competition but his native Waterford played a crucial role on Saturday evening with their surprise victory away to Sligo in Markievicz Park with his nephew Paudie keeping his net intact for the duration.

Five punters had chosen the Yeats county to emerge victorious over the Decies men but a two point win for the visitors meant the end of the road for Killucan’s Noel Croash, Laois man David Chester, Tang’s Denis Bannon, Joe Corroon from The Downs and Shamrocks’ youngster Austin Keaveney. This leaves only twenty contenders for the top prize of €300. The Westmeath-Armagh draw ended Ross Brady's hopes. The victory of Laois over Clare ended the run of  Paul Keating and Aidan O’ Donoghue while Paddy Colleary’s choice of  Offaly and Limerick proved to wise. Jason McCabe’s tactic of banking on home victories is standing the test of time  with Dublin and Galway doing the business.  Former Mullingar Shamrocks team manager Ritchie O'Donoghue's football knowledge is still apparent and after four rounds he is up there with the leaders despite the poor form of his native Kildare.

The trip to Dingle

Our  senior footballers made the  long trip to Dingle at the weekend to take part in the Páidi Ó Sé Comortas. Mullingar Shamrocks were  draw against An Ghaeltacht in the opening round and were beaten 2-3 to 0-2.

This was not be the first time a Mullingar Shamrocks man made the trip to Dingle on GAA related business. Back in 2003 Des Maguire made the fateful phone call to Páidi and suggested that managing Westmeath might be a good idea for the legendary P Sé. Páidi wasn't impressed but Des made the trip to Ard a' Bhóthair, Ventry  and discussed the matter further with the great one. The rest is history and after an initial period of uncertainty  Páidi proved to be the Messiah that in 2004  led Westmeath out of the barren desert of never having won a Leinster senior football title. The Mullingar Shamrocks travelling party on this occasion included Dónal O'Donoghue and Shane Colleary two of the warriors of the Leinster championship winning campaign in 2004 who met up Padraig Óg Ó Sé.   

Sympathy

Mullingar Shamrocks extends its deepest sympathy to the family and friends  of  the late Murty Hanly, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath and late of Corofin, Tuam, Co. Galway, Murty was a proud Corofin and Galway man and it goes without saying that he took particular joy in seeing his native place win its  third successive All-Ireland club title recently. Murty was a former treasurer of the Galway GAA football board.

Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

Fixtures

ACL Div. 1: Mullingar Shamrocks v Garrycastle  in Garrycastle, Saturday 29 February 2020, at 2.00 pm

ACL Div.5: Ballynacargy v Mullingar Shamrocks in Ballynacargy, Saturday 29 February at 2.00 pm.  

ACL Div.3: Ballynacargy v Mullingar Shamrocks in Ballynacargy, Sunday 1 March 2020 at 11.30 pm. 

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