Four of
today’s Down squad were among the first ever graduates of Queen’s University’s
new GAA Scholarship programme which was launched recently at the Belfast seat of
learning. Aidan Carr, Mark Rooney, James McGovern and Eoin McCartan all
featured during the college’s run to this year’s Sigerson Cup final, and were
honoured alongside a host of other footballers as part of a GAA Academy scheme
named in honour of former Down great Sean O’Neill.
Carr and
McGovern are following in the footsteps of their fathers Ross and Brendan, both
of whom featured in the Mourne County’s last success at U-21 level in 1979,
while Mark Rooney’s father Francis featured in Down’s All-Ireland success at
minor level two years earlier. Eoin McCartan, who has carried an injury for
most of this season, is part of an esteemed dynasty, as father James won
All-Ireland senior medals in 1960, 61 and 68 and eldest brother James jnr
(present manager of Queen’s) enjoyed considerable success for college, county,
province and country during the early nineties. Eoin is the fifth sibling to
play for QUB – his brother Daniel is the present GAA chairman and vice captain.
The GAA
Academy, which was launched last June by GAA President Sean Kelly, covers a
range of very important issues for the GAA at
Ireland’s
biggest campus, and is intended to benefit the five sports of Gaelic Football,
Hurling, Camogie, Ladies Football and Handball, and all who participate in them
at any level.
The
Academy project combines the key aspects of Performance, Recreation, Education,
Community and Culture and is a partnership between Queen’s, the five student
clubs and the Ulster GAA Council. The new Scholarship scheme will now be able to
allow young players to benefit from top range sports science, performance
analysis, recreational GAA activity, and administrator and coach training, while
the GAA at the university will also benefit from academic expertise in analysis,
psychology, medicine and management. The recipients of the awards will avail of
accommodation contributions, specialised Academy clothing, heart rate monitors,
top-class coaching, sports science support and injury management.
Funds for
the GAA Academy and the
Scholarships were raised as a result of a campaign by the Development and Alumni
Relations Office and named after legendary Gaelic player Sean O’Neill. Other
patrons included former GAA President Peter Quinn, Down’s Greg Blaney, Tyrone’s
Eugene McKenna, Antrim’s Paddy O’Hara and Hugh O’Kane, Armagh’s Kieran McGeeney
and Derry star Anthony Tohill.
The
Academy is based at Sports Centre at Queen’s and is headed by former Queen’s and
Down footballer Karl Oakes.
Karl
stated that “the Scholarships are awarded to those Gaelic Footballers’ that
have reached the top of their game at various levels and to those who have the
potential and aspirations to reach that same level. In naming the fund and the
scheme after Sean O’Neill we are highlighting someone who exemplified the
characteristics that we have come to hope and expect from our players. His
achievements marked him out as a fine example to those who aim to excel, and I’m
sure he would be quite proud of seeing some of those players featuring in an
All-Ireland final.””
If you
would like to know more about the GAA Academy, contact Karl Oakes (Academy
Development Coordinator) at
k.oakes@qub.ac.uk or 02890 387688, or visit the Queen’s website at
www.queensgaa.com
