GAA Minor Moments

Our final guest for Season 2 is former Kerry football legend and current Armagh senior football coach, Kieran Donaghy. Kieran chats to host Fergal about his four-day Minor career, playing with an underage Colm Cooper, and the difficulties of having size thirteen feet. They also look ahead to the upcoming Minor football final and speak on the recent success of Ulster football. As a lifelong competitive basketball player, Donaghy also speaks about the transferability of skills between basketball and football, and how more Senior football teams are using a basketball playbook. To listen back to the previous episodes of Electric Ireland’s ‘GAA Minor Moments’ Podcast, go to: https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/helpful-links/our-sponsorships/gaa-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest this week is current Tipperary Minor football manager, John McNamara. John chats to host Fergal about how critical the Minor grade is for developing successful Senior teams, the importance of getting high-intensity championship minutes, and the difficulty with competing during the Covid-19 pandemic.  McNamara also outlines his own coaching philosophy which is centred around the player as a person, and creating an enjoyable atmosphere for young athletes so they can bring self-confidence through to every aspect of their lives.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is former Westmeath footballer and Leinster rugby player, current musician, podcaster, and producer; Niall (Bressie) Breslin. Niall chats to host Fergal about his childhood love of football, and how this progressed to a professional rugby contract, and later to a very successful career in the music industry.  Breslin also discusses at length the mental aspect of sport, how important it is for coaches to have empathy, and his long list of legendary coaches.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is former Donegal footballer, Michael Murphy. Michael chats to host Fergal about the tactics involved in the Donegal victory of 2012, defending and counter attacking in the modern game of football, and his own time as a Minor footballer.  Travelling to Australia and featuring in the International Rules also made up a part of Michael Murphy’s development as a player, where he experienced a high-risk style of offensive play and a culture focused around skill development.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest is former Galway dual player, Alan Kerins. Alan chats to host Fergal about the difficulties of being a dual player, success at both club and county and how an intercounty career can be much more enjoyable when you play with a smile. Alan also discusses his extensive volunteer work in Africa, which includes raising funds for tree planting and bringing over 50 GAA players to host the first ever intercounty GAA game in the country.  Alan touches on the long-standing relationship between his family and former Republic of Ireland football manager Jack Charlton, and how this relationship came to exist. Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

Our guest is Clare Hurling Star, Anthony Daly.Anthony chats to host Fergal about the connections he has made from his playing days with Clare, the positive times and life experiences he has had since he started his Minor Hurling career in the 1980s. Daly fondly looks at the current Clare Hurling teams as he watches sons and other relatives of his own teammates from his time as captain in the 1990s make their own mark in the yellow and blue jersey.  The Clarecastle clubman also chats about his time as a pundit with RTÉ, his preference for radio commentary, and the evolved role of strength and conditioning in the modern game compared to his own playing days. Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information

Our guest for Episode 14 of the GAA Minor Moments Podcast with Electric Ireland is Kilkenny hurling legend, Michael Fennelly.  Michael talks about his impressive intercounty career which saw him amass five All-Ireland titles, nine Leinster titles, five League titles and three All Stars, recalling a pivotal Minor All-Ireland final as a particular highlight. Following his time with the Minors, he was brought on to the under-21 Kilkenny team in 2004 where he won a further Leinster and All-Ireland medal.  The Ballyhale Shamrocks clubman also reflects on his time as manager of the Offaly hurling team, speaking about the pressures and challenges that have evolved with the management role.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. 

Galway Camogie star, Niamh McGrath, talks about her family’s influence on her playing career and the important role her father, Michael ‘Hopper’ McGrath, played as her club’s manager. Hailing from a Gaelic Games household, the McGrath family has been strongly embedded in Camogie and Hurling communities, which had a significant impact on the game.  McGrath also looks back fondly at the impact her young playing days had on her life today, citing strong relationships with teammates, nail-biting title wins and bouncing back from losses as some of her most influential memories. Today, Niamh continues to play with her club team, Sarsfield, alongside five sisters, with her father at the helm.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.   

Our guest is Wexford Camogie legend Ursula Jacob who is widely regarded as one of the finest Camogie players of all time. Ursula chats to host Fergal about her rise to stardom in Wexford, and the key role played by her sports-mad family in supporting her journey at juvenile level before breaking on to the Wexford Senior Camogie Team.  Despite losing to Galway in the All-Ireland Minor Camogie Championship Final in 2000, Jacob claims that bonds forged between the squad that year propelled them on to the heights that they reached in the years to come. Jacob retired from Wexford with 4 All-Ireland titles, 4 All-Star Awards and 10 provincial titles.  Every Tuesday well known Irish stars will share memories from their early sporting careers and reflect on the defining moments from playing Minor and how that shaped them both on and off the pitch. For more information on the Electric Ireland Camogie Minor Championships got to https://www.electricireland.ie/camogie-minor-championships. For more information on the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships go to https://www.electricireland.ie/gaa-minor-championships. Produced and hosted by Fergal O’Keefe at https://lume.ie #ThisIsMajor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.