With the hurling season almost upon us five of our hurling coaches & managers attended the Ulster Hurling conference in Cookstown on Saturday. This was a very informative day with some very high profile speakers in attendance, among the guests giving talks were Donal O’Grady former winning player and manager and current TG4 analyst, who opened the days proceeding with a talk on the focusing on skills development and making the step up to the next level.
Proceedings were opened by Ulster GAA president Michael Hasson with an abundance of workshops on offer throughout the day, all given by top class speakers and coaches throughout Ireland, like Damien Young former Tipperary goalkeeper & video analyst with the Tipperary Senior Hurlers, Paudie Butler former National Hurling Co-ordinator, Kelley Fay sports Psychologist at SINI and Tyrone county player, Damien Curley Galway Senior Hurling selector and Paudie O’Neill chairman of the National Hurling Development committee. The main theme running throughout the day was the focus on the play to learn ethos were we can encourage our young players to learn the skills of the game through participation and games. Before proceeding were closed by the chairman of the Ulster coaching & development committee PJ McGowan, the large crowd in attendance listened intently to Kilkenny Legend DJ Carey give his views on the principles of good coaching.
