Page 3 - Monaleen Camogie Newsletter Jan 2021

MONALEEN CAMOGIE NEWSLETTER

2020 Monaleen Camogie club development by Margaret Burke

The plans for club and county development were obviously affected badly by the year that was Covid but never-
theless we at Monaleen camogie still did our upmost to ensure that our girls got the most out of the time allowed
to train and play.

During lockdown our wonderful coaches kept in contact with their groups and organised lots of fun on line chal-
lenges between the girls and even parents got involved at various stages. Our U13s participated in the Dublin
club Faughs 6 week skill challenge which they really enjoyed and performed very well. Our U14s created a fun
video of them striking and passing the sliotar between all girls and our U11s made a fantastic movie called Magic
showcasing all their super skills. All done in the safety of their back gardens while isolating but still ensuring that
the hurley was never too far from the girls hands.

After the initial Lockdown was lifted, the girls returned to training much to their delight.

*Summer academy*

Our inaugural summer academy was set up and ran for 6 weeks over July and August. Here we had over 70 girls
take part from U8s to U11s. They were coached every Saturday morning by club coaches as well as senior club
players. This was really well received and the girls benefited so much from the social, physical and fun side of it
as well as learning new skills from different coaches. The girls got a chance to purchase personalised water
bottles as well as red training t- shirts. On the final say the girls got a big surprise when 2 County stars( and now
2020 All Ireland Champions ) Dan Morrissey and Kyle Hayes visited the academy to talk to the girls, sign hurleys
and present some lovely camogie raffle prizes. A great end to a wonderful 6 weeks of summer hurling.

*U6 Nursery academy*

September 2020 saw Monaleen camogie set up our nursery programme for girls born in 2014. We currently have
over 45 girls on board every Sunday morning and lots of new coaches willing to get involved and help out with
our future stars. Fun games, skipping ropes, jumping , hopping, striking tyres are only a few of the many
activities involved in an U6 training session.

In 2021 we will be looking at setting up our next Nursery group for girls born in 2015 .
*MNA*CLUB*

We are now also proud to be known as a camogie association MNA club where our aim is to
motivate, nourish and aspire all our female athletes. We had started the Come Hurl With Me
programme in early spring but unfortunately didn't get to complete. This we plan to roll out
successfully in early spring 2021. Here we hope to get mums hurling along side their daughters
as well as being mentored in the learning of the basic hurling drills which in turn will lead to more
female coaches coming on board as great role models for our future stars . There is also lots
more exciting initiatives coming in the next year from the camogie association so lots to look
forward to.

All in all a very mixed year. Despite everything we can be very proud of the continued development of our club
and with the success of our senior girls winning the Junior A title , we are in a very positive place and while we
face huge challenges with our large numbers and population , we will continue to learn and develop our girls and
our club for the future.

Monaleen Abú, Margaret Burke, Monaleen camogie, Development officer