Our Lady of Lourdes Winners of the Challoner Cup 2007

St. Bernards Winners of the Challoner Sheild 2007

Erin Go Bragh Ladies will be looking to improve on their shield final appearance in Feile Peile International 2007

Schools finals kick starts GAA season in the Midlands

By Brian Roberts

This month saw over 300 primary school boys and girls take to the Gaelic football field as part of a successful ‘GO Games ‘schools initiative in the midlands. The Warwickshire Schools GAA programme run by Bishop Challoner School in Kings Heath and local GAA community clubs launched the scheme with a number of exciting school coaching programmes in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Leicester and Rugby.
The GAA season in the midlands got underway in January when many of the Year 5 children were first introduced to a host of Gaelic football skills such as the hand-pass, block tackle and solo run during PE lessons. Coaches from Newman College and Bishop Challoner School delivered an exciting 8 week coaching programme which also included crest and design a kit competitions before culminating in two schools festivals.
The first ‘GO Games‘ event took place on Tuesday 27th March in Pairc Na h’Eireann, when over 200 primary school children came face to face in the WSGAA Primary Schools Championship 2007 for the east midlands and black country division title. Christ the King RC Primary School from Coventry coached by GAA stalwart Mick Duggan took the championship cup honors after an exciting clash in the final against Holy Rosary School from Wolverhampton. The championship shield final saw St Patrick’s of Walsall come out on top against St. Thomas Moore from Coventry. The children were also joined on the field by RTE sports presenter Marty Morrissey, who was visiting the area as part of a special ‘Sunday Game’ feature on the success of youth Gaelic Games in Warwickshire.
The Challoner Cup was up for grabs on Thursday 29th Marc when over 100 children from 11 school teams descended on Queesbridge playing fields in Birmingham. Our Lady of Lourdes school continued their fine form, which saw them clinch the All-Britain in 2006, and defeated St. Martin de Porres school in the cup final. St. Bernard took the championship shield title by overcoming Colmore Primary School.
Local GAA clubs will now look to encourage the primary school children to sign up to a local Gaelic football league which will commence on the 14th April with a record breaking 38 clubs teams taking part.