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Ma
Nuachtlitir Cumann Fánaithe na Claise Monthly Issue: July 2020
2020 Return to Training
Great to see our first teams back training in the Bleach
this evening after 13 exceedingly long weeks without
Gaelic games. ‘Welcome back’ to all our teams who
have returned to training during over the past few
weeks:
Under 14 Championship preparation
VR u14s enjoyed a great day out in Ballyhass
Coachford today before they start their year on
Monday evening with hurling championship against
Carrigaline.
Upcoming Fixtures:
Cork County Board Announces
Championship Match Arrangements:
Click on the link below for details
https://gaacork.ie/2020/07/17/cork-county-board-
announces-championship-match-arrangements/
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Hurl Safe Invention by Derek Sheehan
and Fergus Twohig:
“Superficially, it’s just a piece of plastic to go inside a
hurling helmet to prevent the spread of Covid-19 but a
lot of work has gone into the product, which is the
brainchild of Derek ‘Doc’ Sheehan and Fergie Twohig”
The simplest inventions are the best ones and that’s certainly
the case with the Hurl Safe visor.
With the return of Gaelic games on the horizon, they were
wondering how best to cater for the health of their children,
who play at underage level with Valley Rovers, and things
have expanded exponentially
To read the full Echo article just click the link below:
https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/Valley-Rovers-duos-new-
visor-will-help-to-protect-young-hurlers-from-Covid-19-
3b1cf2b0-a3ad-4529-b69d-70f0adc8fc2e-ds
U14 Seven’s Tournament
Our u14s with the help of some u13s held a 'sevens' hurling
tournament in the bleach. Over 34 players participated in
what was a great show of hurling.
Senior players Tomas O'Brien, Noel O'Donovan, John Cottrell,
Chris O'Leary and Willie Hurley put on the Bainisteori bibs for
the day.
After an extremely competitive set of round robin fixtures it
was the blue team of John Cottrell against the red team of
Noel O'Donovan in the final. After a pulsating battle ended in
a draw, it was Conor Nash who scored the 'golden' goal for
the red team.
Well done to all the players especially Oisin McCarthy and
Neil Hennessy who won the player of the tournament and
the goal of the tournament awards, respectively.
Many thanks to the u14 mentors for organizing the
tournament
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Camogie News
Underage activities:
Over the past few weeks, we have seen our underage
girls return to the pitch which is fantastic. It brilliant to
see the Bleach a hive of activity on a sunny Saturday
morning!
Our newest age group – U6 girls, will start training on
Friday 24th July next which we know is eagerly awaited,
while our U11’s & U12’s are looking forward to the
Carrigdhoun leagues which will get underway shorlty.
Many thanks to the Covid supervisors & coaches with
each group for all their efforts over the past few weeks
in getting everyone up & runnnig again & to everyone
for following the guidlines, its much appreciated.
New members to any group are always welcome &
enquires an be made to Joanne @ 086 0245014.
Training times are currently:
U6 – Friday @ 6-7pm in the Bleach
U7/8 – Saturday @ 11.30-12.30pm in the Bleach
U9/10 - Saturday @ 11.30-12.30pm in the Bleach / Mon
@ 6-7pm in the Bleach
U11/12 - Saturday @ 12.45-1.45pm in the Bleach /
Weds @ 6-7pm in Brinny
U14 – Adult Groups:
The U14, 16, 18 & Intermediate teams have been back
training a few weeks now & will start their competitive
games over the coming weeks. The U14’s have had
challenge games against Enniskeane & Ballincollig
already & take on Douglas this weekend also.
It’s the Intermediate team which are in championship
action first with their opening game on Monday July
27th V Blackrock, with a follow up game on August 09th.
Best of luck to them.
Following that the minor team will be face Bishopstown
at home in the opening round of their championship on
August 15th. We eagerly await all these fixtures
Coaching
The camogie association have recently launched their
new player welfare booklet which is a great resource for
all coaches.
See here for a copy; https://camogie.ie/wp-
content/uploads/2020/07/The-Camogie-Association-Player-
Welfare-Booklet.pdf
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Valleys Abroad – Interview series
Valleys Abroad: Interview with Aidan Coleman
Next up in our series of Valleys abroad we have Cheltenham festival winning jockey Aidan Coleman. Aidan
talks about his current life in England and his memories of Innishannon.
So, let us wind the clock back to a time before you left Valleys and tell us what your connection was with the
Club?
Dad joined Valleys in 84 and played with them for 15,16 years. He played his last championship match when he was 45. Then he coached underage for many years. Mom also played ladies football, All of us played underage and Alan played for longer than Laura Kevin and myself.
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When did you move away and what was it like getting settled in?
I moved to England roughly 14 years to see if I could make it as a professional jockey, I am loving every minute of it. Even though I have been here so long I always planned to come back to Ireland when I’m done but it’s hard to make too many long-term plans in my line of work.
Can you briefly describe to us your life now, work, family (if any)?
I’ve always wanted to be a jockey when other kids wanted to be footballers G.A.A stars etc etc so as my career is going well so far I’m really living my dream, it’s a hard life but I love it, I’m single at the moment so family is on hold for now.
Looking back again at your time in Valleys, what would be your prominent memory of being around the
GAA fields?
To be honest I realised early I was not very good so after under 14 I made to the move to horses.
Tell us a little bit more about your life away from Valleys, for instance, what’s your weekly routine, how do
you attack the weekend, and what’s a holiday from where you currently live?
I live just outside Cheltenham which is central enough for racing, I have around 600 rides a year so my
whereabouts can vary massively around the country throughout the week so I spend a lot of time in the
car we do roughly 60000 miles a year which is tough, I’d probably get up no later than 6:30 most days get
in the car and go to ride out for a trainer to school some horses on my way to the races I would be racing
more or less everyday from October through to June with only a few days off at Christmas and if the
weather claims a few fixtures. So it’s pretty hectic and hard on the body Id need to get physio 5-6 times a
week too just to keep on top of old injuries and wear and tear etc, we get a week off in August so I try
make the most of that a few of us go to Las Vegas every couple of years otherwise I try to get a few days
skiing mid season if the weather gets a few race meetings cancelled, although we do get few
opportunities to let off some steam basically my social life is on hold until I retire!!
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Who is your favourite sports person of all time and what is it about him/her that appeals to you?
It’s hard to single out a favourite sportsperson but from reading autobiography’s and getting to meet plenty of people from other sports I have huge respect for anyone who does sport to a high level as no matter what they do it all requires extreme discipline sacrifice and both mental and physical toughness. There’s plenty people that are very talented and more than capable but don’t have the mentality to get to a top level.
Have you any funny memories/stories from your time involved in racing?
Can’t think of any off hand that would be suitable to print!! There’s plenty characters in the weighroom so we usually have a good laugh most days it also helps take your mind off the 2 ambulances that follow us around every race!!
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Best horse that you have ridden? And the one horse that you wish you got a chance to ride?
I’ve been lucky to ride a lot of good horses but it has to be Paisley Park, it was a shame he didn’t perform at Cheltenham this year but he was found to have an irregular heartbeat after, it’s sorted now so hopefully it won’t affect him in the future. I’d love to win the Grand National so any horse that has won that recently would be a horse I’d like to ride, my record in the race is terrible i think I’ve had about 12 rides in the race and 10th is the best result.
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What is your favourite sporting moment of all time?
As a huge sports fan it would be Europe winning the 2012 Ryder Cup the Sunday of that competition was all you could ever want in a sporting event!
Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?
I’ll be retired!! I’m bound to have plenty of injuries in that period so fingers crossed none are too serious and I can get out in one piece and look back at a career I’m very proud of so wish me luck!!
Finally, do you have a message to send home to Innishannon?
I only really keep in contact with Darragh Lordan but I follow Valleys progress through social media so I
have a fair idea how the club is doing, I don’t get home very often but the next time I hope it falls the
same time there’s a good game on I could come to watch, would be nice to see some old familiar faces.
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Valleys Abroad Interview series – and a massive thank you
to Colm Butler for coordinating the initiative!
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Valley Rovers GAA
Contact
Valley Rovers Phone 0857038198
Email [email protected]
Website: www.valleyrovers.com
Covid-19
Valley Rovers members are
available to support the elderly or
those who may need additional
assistance in our community
during this period of uncertainty.
Please contact Paul Hoey
0876196254, Alan Quirke
0879077770, or Kevin Canty
0873515946 if you, or you know
of anyone who may need our
help. Thank you & take care.
Every effort has been made to ensure the contents of this newsletter are correct, however we take no responsibility for any errors, omissions or misprints that may occur in this publication from time to time
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