350 players on 24 teams from almost 20 clubs enjoy U10s blitz at St Loman's GAA

Some 350 young footballers played on 24 teams from nearly 20 clubs in the Leinster U10s blitz at St Loman’s GAA, Mullingar on Saturday morning.

Those numbers meant that Lakepoint Park was as busy as, or busier than, a day when the senior footballers are playing in a championship match, and are proof that the now well established tournament is a major part of the calendar for LGFA clubs across the region.

Ted Corroon, St Loman’s LGFA chairperson, was pleased with how the event went, and said he and his colleagues at the host club received positive feedback from everyone, the visiting club officials, parents and players, and the locals involved.

“The reaction we got from all of the clubs involved was very, very good,” he said, “and that’s really what you want at the end of the day.”

A major attraction of the blitz is the opportunity for young players to take on clubs from outside their own counties, Ted added: “Within Westmeath, we play 12 or 13 blitzes a year and teams are playing the same clubs maybe four or five times during the year.”

The standard of football on display on Saturday was high, and that also adds to the event, as it brings young players on in their development.

An event of this size requires considerable support, and parents, club members and referees all play their part. There were nine referees involved on the day, eight of them from the girls club at Loman’s, and seven of the nine played in the blitz in their younger years. Among them was St Loman’s and Westmeath senior county player Katie Kilmurray.

Two of the youngest referees were Grace Farry and Eve Nugent, U14s players who have shown their commitment to the club by helping out with the U8s girls twice a week for the last two years. “When I asked them to do it, they agreed straight away,” said Ted. “It’s good for them and it’s good for me to see that they’re prepared to help out at that age.”

The blitz is run under Go Games rules, meaning it’s about the participation. “It’s all about girls getting out there and enjoying themselves. There were 350 girls out there playing – that’s the main thing.”

Ted praised the support from throughout St Loman’s, from club executives to senior ladies to parents, who helped in various ways including preparations for the day, in the shop and with parking. “You need to get the buy-in from the club as well,” he said, adding that St Loman’s have the facilities to host a large event.

This year’s blitz was the seventh, and it was clear on Saturday that the enjoyment of the young players is a major reason clubs around Leinster support it so well.