Cats to share know-how at Haiti fundraiser

HURLING coaches, players and supporters could do worse than head to St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny, this morning for a day of coaching and tips in aid of disaster relief in Haiti.

“We had a Hurling for Bóthar day last year,” says Martin Fogarty, Kilkenny selector and one of the coaches in operation today. “We wanted to follow on from that and we picked Haiti as the charity for this year.

“We’ll have groups working on pitches in St Kieran’s and the coaches will rotate through the groups to work on different aspects of the game. It’s a chance for club coaches from all over the country to come along and chat to the likes of Brian Cody about things they want to introduce in their own training programmes back with their clubs.”

Registration costs €30, with all proceeds going to charity.

Fogarty adds that a DVD will be made of the day and will go on sale later in the year. The DVD of last year’s ‘Hurling for Bóthar’ day, a similar event, will be on sale for €20.

“We’ve had very good interest from Clare and Carlow and so on,” he says. “Last year we had club coaches coming from places as far away as Mayo. They enjoyed the day and felt they’d picked up some good tips.”

The topics that will be covered today include: using the hurley and ball for fitness training or fundamentals for U8 players; speed training for adult players or working with U12s; questions and answers with players; working with small numbers - mini-and conditioned games; defending and attacking.

Several members of the Kilkenny senior hurling panel will be present, both to participate in the coaching sessions and to take questions in informal discussions throughout the programme.

Coaches in attendance will include Brian Cody, Martin Fogarty, Brian Ryan (coaching officer and former Kilkenny minor hurling trainer); Noel Richardson (Kilkenny senior hurling trainer); and George O’Connor, coaching officer and former Wexford hurler. Registration for Hurling for Haiti is at 9.30-10am in St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny and the programme itself runs from 10am to 1pm.