The Swinford U12 GAA team had a memorable visit to Croke Park on Tuesday last, to play against a selection of other Connaught teams.

Central GAA and Connaught GAA have been providing this opportunity to clubs for the last six years and this year was Swinford’s turn.

Prior to playing, the entire team toured Croke Park to see what goes on behind the scenes on match day. After a visit to the museum, training areas, the dressing rooms, the corporate boxes and the player’s lounge they got down to business, but not before testing their tour guides with a well co-ordinated round of questions on GAA history.

Playing as two teams, with everyone on the U12 panel playing three matches, the Swinford teams put on a great performance, and were well able to hold their own against all opposition, despite the short training season to date. The performance and discipline shown by all the players on the day is to be commended.

Regular U12 coaches Chris Toner (U12 Manager) and Michael Devaney, were accompanied on the day by Marty Roughneen (U8 Manager), Cillian O’Donnell, Breda Toner and Michael Maye all of whom were integral to ensure the smooth running of the day’s events. Michael Maye kept a photo journal of much of the day’s events and the photos are available in his online photo gallery at http://michaelmaye.com

The coaches extend our thanks to those that helped out on the day, including Vincent Armstrong, also a regular U12 coach, couldn’t make the trip but helped out with advance arrangements, the Club for financing much of the expense, the parents that got all the players to the clubhouse for a 6:30am start, and the players who acquitted themselves very well and represented the Swinford Club admirably – it didn’t go unnoticed!

We’re taking a short break for Easter and are back in training on Friday 25th to prepare for the Go Games League which kicks off on 5th May.