A large crowd gathered at the clubroom of Letterkenny Gaels last Saturday evening for the annual underage football presentation.
The event rounded off a very successful year for underage football at the club. Special guests presenting the medals were Donegal Star and All Ireland winner Neil Gallagher, Club Player of the Year Sean McDonagh and U16 Buncrana Cup and LK Gaels player Mikey Sweeney.
Chairperson of the underage subcommittee Jim Frain opened the proceedings by welcoming the special guests, the large crowd of parents and children and the club coaches.
The fact that club has had to host separate two separate football underage presentations due to the growing number of children taking part in underage activities was a measure of how far the club had come over the last few years.
Jim encourages parents to get involved in supporting the club. Due to the large numbers of children, more help was required.
PRO of the Underage football subcommittee, and MC on the night, Brian Sweeney presented a review of 2016.
This focus on underage football over the last number of years at the club has resulted in an increase in the numbers of boys and girls attending training on a Sunday morning.
Letterkenny Gaels now have over 180 children taking part in underage football from under 6 to under 10 age groups.
Brian Sweeney also informed the audience that a lot of hard work was being done with girls and ladies football which was now entering a very exciting phase at the club.
A short interview was conducted with each of the guests who all have had a successful year in 2016.
Neil Gallagher won another senior club championship medal with Glenswilly and confirmed that he was training hard with Donegal and looking forward to the season ahead.
Sean McDonagh rounded off 2016 with the Letterkenny Gaels Senior Player of the Year award. Sean has also played in all of O’Byrne and Seigerson Cup with the University of Maynooth senior team.
There was a loud cheer from the crowd when the MC asked Neil Gallagher to pass Sean McDonagh’s mobile number on to the Donegal Senior Management team.
Finally, Mickey Sweeney talked about his success in making the Buncrana Cup U16 team and with Coláiste Aileach in the Post Primary Schools competition.
Brian Sweeney also acknowledged and thanked the contribution of the club sponsors. Enda and Claire Nicholls from Arena 7, Right Price Cars (John and Edel Margey) Kieran Barron from the Value Centre, Sweeney’s Spar and Send Mode were all thanked for their support and contribution to the underage football.
Under 6, 8 and 10 Underage football indoor training will resume again on Friday 17th February. Under 6 training takes place each Friday at 6pm in the Woodland NS gym. Under 8 and Under 10 training will take place in the Aura Leisure Centre from 11am to 12noon on a Sunday morning. New children are welcome to join.
Anyone interested should contact John McDermott (086) 856 1768 for under 6’s, Conor Crossan (087) 133 2680, Brian Sweeney (087) 228 2386 for under 10’s and David O’Callaghan (086) 769 0305 for under 12’s (boys) and Michael O’Connor (087) 779 7292 for Under 12s (girls).
