Down LGFA breaking new ground with all-ladies streaming service

FEATURE

DOWN LGFA

By Shaun Casey

DOWN LGFA have launched the first all-ladies streaming platform, ‘DOWN LADIES TV’ and are already up and running with a series of games already available on demand.

Most counties now have their own streaming platforms, while the likes of Clubber and Stream Sport have done amazing work at club level through a range of different counties.

But Down are the first to provide a streaming service for LGFA games, and Down LGFA PRO Ryan O’Gorman, the man behind the venture, has been delighted with how things have gone so far.

“It was about eight weeks ago that we sat down and the conversation came up about streaming matches. I think with Covid, if there was anything good that came from it, it was the streaming of matches,” O’Gorman said.

“In terms of Down specifically, Down TV have covered basically ever senior game and a lot of intermediate games, so I suppose as a county, we wanted to cover the ladies games as well.

“I’ve been involved in videoing for analysis purposes now for seven years in ladies football in Down and it is something that we always talked about.

“We started at the quarter-final stage this year and the arrangement is that both clubs get a copy of the game free of charge and we post clips on social media to try and grow.”

Another motivation behind the venture is ensuring that talented Down footballers get properly showcased.

“I’d be passionate about showcasing the talent we have coming through in Down – our minors won a Platinum Ulster last year and Carryduff have won three Ulster minors in a row and the Knock school that won the U20 A Colleges.

“We have a big diaspora as well and people can’t always make the games. It’s just trying to open up to people and keep them involved and give the girls a bit of exposure as well.”

The buy in has been top notch so far as well: “It’s been brilliant. Our first game was Saval v Ballymartin and I was really nervous because it was our first stream.

“We had a bit of a hiccup with the scoreboard, but the stream worked and the feedback was brilliant. We had commentary and everything has grown from there.”

This weekend sees the county finals take place with Bredagh and Carryduff locking horns in the main event, Burren and St John’s competing for the intermediate prize and Loughinisland taking on Mayobridge in the junior final.

The latter two is a double header at Bryansford, so O’Gorman and Down Ladies TV have been working hard to put together an entire production.

“We’re going to be streaming that double header out of Bryansford on Saturday and we’ve been chatting about scaffolding and all the practical stuff we’ll need for it, connection, power and all that,” O’Gorman continued.

“It’s not just the bigger games we’re doing; we want to cover junior and intermediate as well and on Saturday, we have plans to do a preview on the day on our Facebook page and things like that.

“We’ll have a panel talking about the game and the team announcements, we’ll hopefully get speaking to members of the management team as well.

“We’re going to have members from all the clubs participating and have county management representatives along with ex-county players and current county players too.

“We haven’t done anything like that before, it’s just been commentary and footage, but with it being a finals day we thought we’d try to build a bit of an atmosphere before the game. We’d be hoping to get fan comments as well.”

With integration a hot topic at the minute in GAA circles, Down Ladies TV is a separate setup to Down TV, but O’Gorman says the two have worked closely together to help each other out.

“I’m involved with county teams at underage level so I know a few of the people involved and we spoke to them and both products can be mutually brilliant, it doesn’t have to be one or the other,” O’Gorman added.

“Louise Kenny is the Down Communications Officer, and her son Peter actually manages the ladies minor team,There’s always been a good connection there between the two and Louise has been very helpful to us.

“The commentators and video operators are involved in both and if there’s a clash in games or anything, they’ve been more than accommodating and more than willing to help out.

“It’s no different whether it’s men’s or ladies and in Down, in my experience anyway. There’s lots of communication there that’s ongoing and long may that continue.”

GROWING…There’s plenty of talent coming through the ranks in the Mourne County.