Caimin comes in to set the Tone for young GAA players

CRATLOE hurler and footballer Caimin Deegan has been appointed as Games Promotion Officer and Athletic Development Officer of Wolfe Tones.

The 25-year-old studied Health & Leisure in Tralee for four years, while he has done a lot of coaching in the past.

“I was always involved with underage teams in Cratloe, my main one was the under 14 football team. Then I did a lot of Cúl camps as well with Clare GAA,” said Caimin.

“Podge Collins and Óige Murphy had their own camp in Cratloe and I’d have been helping out with that as well, so I’d always have had the interest in coaching. I always had interest in both hurling and football as well.”

Since his appointment he has been building up links with the town’s schools.

“I’ve been to all the national schools here in Shannon, basically doing PE with them, doing hurling and football, also covering their movement, running, jumping and throwing, we’re covering the PE curriculum as well as the hurling and football skills.

“When the Academy comes back in March I’ll be involved with all the coaches there.

“That’s the coaching side of it, then I’m also in charge of underage athletic development.

“Before Christmas I was inside in the gym two nights a week, anyone who is 18 can’t use the gym by themselves so I would oversee it, I’d put out plans and we’d do the workout together.

“From this week I’ll helping the minors in the gym, so I have a good connection with the gym side of it as well as the hurling and football skills side of it.”

Is it harder to get young people interested these days?

“It is tough, especially in a town like this where there are a lot of sports. I was talking to some girls this morning and they had six sports on the go.

“You have to show them how fun the GAA can be. We will have our camps, one at Easter and a couple over the summer and you can see how you can enjoy the GAA and have fun playing games, and also develop your skills.

“Firstly we’ll make the introduction at the schools and try to get them into camps and into the academy as well.”