The untapped global potential of Gaelic games

[AZOffaly]

Sounds like you'd like to play! Best of luck with it. The montage is very good. Looks like a lot of good work going on there.

[Zulu]

Yeah things are improving in Scotland underage and we hope to run a boys U13 championship next year. We're bringing 28 kids to the Dublin/donegal game next week too so hopefully the atmosphere will inspire the older ones to continue into their early teens. We've lost 3 or 4 of our best players this year already which is disappointing and kind of why we are making a big deal of all competitions now as there's no guarantee they'll be there next year to make a fuss of!!

[AZOffaly]

Why did ye lose players? Same reasons as at home?

[Zulu]

Not sure with one or two and others are concentrating on other sports. The thing I found this year as our older kids went into secondary school is football was viewed as simply a fun game for them but not as a sport they are going to continue seriously. I'm working on changing that perception at the moment but I was caught off guard by how easily some players seemed to want to drop the sport as soon as they went to secondary. Some of them were very good and seemed to enjoy it immensely so I can only presume they saw no future in the game. The U12 is fixed at this time of year precisely to encourage 12 year olds going into secondary to keep it up for a bit longer at least.

[sligoman2]

It's time to split Rockland. They've far too many players and $.

I would argue that rather than trying to weaken Rockland, the goal should be for the other teams to commit the time effort and cash that Rockland has.  Surely we want to go forwards and not backwards. 

Underage Football in NY is going well with the boys winning their group in division one of the feile before losing to the eventual champs (naas) and the girls winning division 3.

[Any craic]

The biggest international GAA event outside Ireland takes place this week in Boston... here's a video preview showing San Fran, Cayman, Atlanta, Texas, etc all gearing up for it..
http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2608140740-video-preview-2014-north-american-finals/

[Any craic]

Day One at the North American Finals in Boston, featuring Cayman Islands, San Diego and more
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEHTWjIOjvA&feature=youtu.be

[sligoman2]

Brilliant stuff - great to see so many new teams

[Any craic]

VIDEO: See 3 superb goals in Boston today by Ulster Club San Francisco in the North American Semi-finals vs Philadelphia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaPxol7ekGA&feature=youtu.be

[Eamonnca1]

Did you get much of that senior hurling semi between San Francisco Naomh Padraig and Boston Fr Tom's? Deadly game! SF made some comeback to win that by a point!

[Eamonnca1]

Well here's my synopsis of the weekend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gj2VP2f910

Great couple of days as usual. Some great action on the fields, nothing terribly controversial. A lot of the upcoming poster-children like Indy and Milwaukee took a few hidings, but that's because they're playing at a higher grade now.

[foxcommander]

Well here's my synopsis of the weekend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gj2VP2f910

Great couple of days as usual. Some great action on the fields, nothing terribly controversial. A lot of the upcoming poster-children like Indy and Milwaukee took a few hidings, but that's because they're playing at a higher grade now.

Good video. A lot of potential for the games outside of Ireland if only HQ would help fund it.

[Any craic]

See my North American Finals Video review here http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/0509140748-video-report-north-american-finals-in-boston/ and here http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=223761

[Eamonnca1]

Good stuff.  I'm not sure if I agree with Aileen Lawlor on a few things though!

[Any craic]

Here's my second & extended Video review of the North American Finals http://www.hoganstand.com/HomePage.aspx