Creggan create unique dual blitz

By Shaun Casey

THIS weekend, Creggan Kingham’s are hosting a unique underage blitz ran specifically for dual players, with the codes of hurling and Gaelic football being played throughout the day.

Six clubs, including Creggan of course, will take part in the tournament with games switching between the two sports. Fellow Antrim clubs Dunloy and St John’s have been invited to take part along with Cuchulainn’s (Armagh), Sleacht Néill (Derry) and Strabane (Tyrone).

Colleen Kelly, along with her husband Tony, coach the P5P6 hurling team in Creggan and they’ve held separate hurling and football events before, but this weekend they decided to put both sports together for one action-packed day filled with fun.

“We came up with this initiative earlier in the year,” Kelly explained. “We held a tournament for various clubs last year, but it was only hurling, and we thought that we’d try doing a dual tournament this year.

“Me and my husband take the P5P6 hurling team in Creggan and we have various clubs around us, the likes of Cargin and Moneyglass, that would send some players to us (Creggan) to play hurling.

“Our club supports all four codes, so we like to celebrate the dual player. Really that’s where the idea came out of, so we have six clubs with us on Sunday, including ourselves. We’re delighted that all those clubs are very keen to come along and to join in.”

Celebrating the dual player is key to the whole thing. At senior level, Creggan have experienced plenty of success in both codes down through the years and bringing through the next generation of dual players is key for the future.

But a blitz like Sunday’s also helps to take the pressure off the parents of dual players, who are no doubt being dragged from pillar to post, and Kelly speaks of that from experience.

“From a hurling perspective, most of the time, everybody is a dual player already,” she added. “We got a lot of feedback from the other clubs that are taking part, and the parents are delighted that we are supporting both codes.

“Our plan is we’ll fill out a schedule, we’ll have short Go Games matches. The teams will play a hurling match and then directly after, the same clubs will play a football match, and each club will play against each other.

“It’s a celebration of the dual players and of dual clubs. Obviously, the load is heavier for the dual player and for the parents. I have kids myself and they play all codes so you’re constantly on the road.

“If you can make anything a wee bit easier for people it maybe increases the more players that you’ll have or gives people a wee bit more capacity that their kids can come and play.

“We haven’t done anything like this before, and I haven’t heard of anything like it to be honest. I couldn’t say for certain that it’s definitely the first of its kind but anyone I have chatted to from the other clubs think it’s a great idea.

“We haven’t been invited to anything like it so it’s something a bit different and we just thought it would be attractive for everybody. If you have an interest in hurling, great. If you have an interest in football, great. If you have an interest in both, even better.”

While the hurling and football competitions will be the main attraction for the participating clubs and players this weekend, Kelly is hoping to have the support of the entire community and there will be much more than just a football and a sliotar being passed around the pitch.

“We’re having a community day really to show how well the two codes go alongside each other and we’re building our community day around it. It’s a celebration for all of us and we want to show an appreciation to parents who bring their children along to play for us.

“We’re going to have some different games going on, a penalty shootout competition and we’re providing a BBQ too, there’ll be different stalls and a poc fada competition for various age groups as well.

“We’re trying to come up with a few different ideas that will attract everyone from around the area and there’ll be quite a few things happening and hopefully the weather will play ball too.

“I’d encourage anyone else to give it a try, we’re happy for anybody to get in touch with the club and we’re always very willing to take in any new starts.”