Historic first GAA fixture for Ardnashee School & College

The small school pitch at the rear of St. Columba’s Primary School in Newbuildings possibly shouldn’t have passed it’s impromptu pitch inspection but it would have taken a brave referee to call off a special fixture.

And so on Friday, with the sun making a rare February appearance and just four weeks after their first Gaelic football session, the students of Ardnashee took to the pitch for a friendly fixture against St. Columba’s P.S. - the first Gaelic football match in the Racecourse Road school’s history.

“This was a great opportunity for the kids in Ardnashee and they loved every minute of it. They played 20 minutes each half and for every minute of each half they were smiling and that was the main thing,” explained Ardnashee coach, Tomás Crossan.

“I asked all the children a question at the start of the day, ‘How many of you have played in a team before?’

“Only three of the 10 players put up a hand, so this was a great opportunity, and I suppose a bit of history, to come here and play our first GAA match. Thankfully St. Columba’s gave us the opportunity and we were delighted to play the game which was great for all the students involved.”

Ardnashee is a makaton friendly, controlled school for children and young people with learning difficulties and associated disabilities aged between 3 and 19 years and Tomás believes games like Friday’s, which came about after a conversation with his Doire Trasna colleague, Caolan Doyle, a teacher at St. Columba’s, can be a great educational aid.

“Being two Doire Trasna men, Caolan and myself were chatting at training and the idea came from there and it’s been brilliant,” he added, “It was one of those opportunities that you can’t pass up because you only have to look at the kids after the game to know how much they have enjoyed the experience.

“Caolan gathered the two teams together at the end of the game and told everyone he hoped it wasn’t just a one off. The match wasn’t the end of something, we want it to be the start.

“We’re hoping to build a partnership between Ardnashee and St. Columba’s Primary which we could then push across more schools in the city as well.”

Echoing Tomás’ sentiments, Mr Doyle said the fixture had been a superb experience for both schools.

“It was a fantastic occasion for the players and everyone at St. Columba’s. Both Tomás and myself are Gaelic football men and this was all about children of all ages and abilities playing and enjoying Gaelic Football.

“We were very happy to help do that but it wasn’t just a ‘show up and play’ activity. We wanted it to be a good competitive game and Ardnashee should be very proud of some of the players they have, every one of them put in a great performance.

“That is a massive credit to Tomás and everyone at the school. You could see the coaching. For only four weeks playing a sport, to have grasped it so well, it was outstanding.

“It wasn’t just about Ardnashee getting a friendly though, it gave our players a good, hard challenge and that’s what it’s all about. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the game.”