The 20th annual O’Neill’s Ulster GAA Coaching and Games Development Conference will take place on Saturday 18th January 2025 at the Ulster University, Jordanstown.

The theme of this year’s conference will focus on ‘Effective Coaching Practice’. The conference will feature a host of theoretical and practical workshops delivered by coaches from across the family of Gaelic Games with lots of interesting takeaways for all involved. 

With Thomas Niblock (BBC NI Sport) as MC, the event will commence with a keynote address by Ireland’s most famous ladies’ footballer, Cora Staunton.  Cora has not only been a huge success in Ireland, but crossed the world to successfully compete for Greater Western Sydney Giants.  An accomplished soccer and rugby player, Cora is also a coach and has been involved with the Ballina men’s senior footballers.  With four All Ireland and three National League titles to accompany her nine All Star Awards and a place on the TG4 Team of the Decade, Cora certainly has a unique story to tell.

Other guests will include:

Anthony Daly (former Clare All-Ireland winning captain) and the new National Head of Hurling (TBC)

Colm Nally (Inter-county coach) – Practical Session on ‘Coaching and The New Rules’

Philip Kerr (GAA Coach, tutor & author) – Practical Session on ‘The Three Friends of Attack’

Michael McShane (Former Slaughtneil & Tyrone hurling coach) – Practical Session – ‘Developing Intensity in your Coaching Session’

Jack Cooney (GAA National Player Development Lead) – Practical Session on ‘Systems of Play’

Brendan Murphy (Antrim Head of Athletic Performance) – Athletic Development for Club Players

Terence O’Hara (Former performance analyst with Leicester City FC) – Linking Analysis to the Club Coaching Session Plans

Chat with the Swim Ireland Olympic High Performance Team members from a GAA background – Sharon Madigan (Science Lead Team Ireland, Head of Performance Nutrition at Sport Ireland Institute), Kevin McGuigan (Head of Performance Analysis) & Paul Talty (Associate Head of Performance Services)

Check out the 2025 O’Neill’s Ulster GAA Coaching and Games Development Conference itinerary below:

8.30amRegistration – Tea/Coffee (3G Indoor Hall)

9.15pmWelcome (Main Hall)

9.30amKeynote Address 1 (Main Hall)

Cora Staunton

10.15amPractical 1 (3G Indoor Hall)

Colm Nally – Coaching The New Football Rules

11amFootball Practical (3G Sports Hall)Workshop (Commercial Block 1)Workshop (Commercial Block 2)

Philip Kerr – Three Friends In Attack’Terrence O’Hara – Linking Analysis to Coaching Session PlansBrendan Murphy – Athletic Development for Club Players

11.45amHurling Practical (3G Sports Hall)Workshop (repeat) (Commercial Block 1)Workshop (repeat) (Commercial Block 2)

 Michael McShane – ‘Developing Intensity in your Coaching Session’ Terrence O’Hara – Linking Analysis to Coaching Session PlansBrendan Murphy – Athletic Development for Club Players

12.30pmLunch (Students Union)

1.15pm Practical 2 (3G Sports Hall)

Jack Cooney – Systems of Play

 2pm  Celebrating Olympic Success (Main Hall)

Thomas Niblock chats with Sharon Madigan, Kevin McGuigan & Paul Talty

2.45pmI nterview Session (Main Hall)

Anthony Daly & National GAA Head of Hurling Willie Maher

 3.30pmC onference closing remarks (Main Hall)

Michael Geoghegan, Ulster GAA President

Registration will commence at 8.30am and first speakers will be on stage from 9.15am. The event will conclude at 3.30pm

Tickets will be priced @ £30 or a club discount rate of 5 for £120

*** Register for the Conference here ***

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