Southall Shamrocks visited the Connacht GAA Centre this morning for a Coaching session with Provincial Games Manager, John Tobin as part of their three day trip to Ireland. The team are based in Featherstone High School in Southall, London and have been to Croke Park, played against Galway opposition in Pearse Stadium, wrapping up their trip with the Coaching and Games based session in the Centre as part of their visit. This is their second trip to Ireland, having visited in April 2014. The man centrally involved in the trip is Curry native Brendan Doherty who has introduced Gaelic Football to the school. Brendan initially introduced the game through Gaelic Football workshops and such was the reception he got, he set up a team in the school. This is the second set of students that Brendan has got involved, and he has been amazed at how they have taken to the game. All the players involved had never experienced Gaelic Football before last September and in the ten months it is a testimony to Brendan and the players to see how they have taken to the game. Lately a piece on the school featured on BBC Sport- https://youtu.be/HWfjOn8Webk

Through Dvd’s and Youtube the players got an appreciation of the game however it wasn’t until they walked the pitch in Croke park, and played the Galway team that they fully grasped the game. The speed and physical nature of the game has appealed to the players, with some players referring to how the game makes you think about being tactically aware.

For Brendan this has been a labour of love and he has been immensely proud of the players and was fulsome in his praise of the School and the staff who have been hugely encouraging in his initiative.

For more information on the team follow them on @SShamrocks