Children at Mullabuoy Primary School with Derry GAA coach Emmett Stewart.
Thirteen out of twenty six, one in two, fifty percent – whatever way you present it; it’s remarkably consistent, and also admirable.
Those statistics describe the semi-final appearances of the senior footballers of St Mary’s Slaughtmanus in the Derry Intermediate championship since their last title victory in 1988. Thirteen straight defeats came to an end last September when a narrow victory over many people’s favourites, Craigbane, propelled them to the final hurdle – a final they narrowly lost.
On the face of it, the record would deflate many clubs, but that’s not in the nature of the men and women of Tamnaherin and surrounding areas.
“We were very disappointed; we had played so well all year,” says the club’s youth officer, Shona Watson.
“We hoped that we could have ended the twenty-six year wait for the intermediate trophy but it just wasn’t to be. But I know the people here well, and we will regroup and be back stronger than ever come the new season.”
The roll out of a new five-year coaching plan twinned with ambitious plans off the pitch will see the club continue to be a hive of activity for the community throughout 2015.
With redeveloped pitches opened in 2008, the St Mary’s club does not intend to stand still. Plans are in place to upgrade the existing clubhouse and changing rooms, and introduce a new terrace and car park for spectators.
On the field, and with teams at all age groups of men’s and ladies Gaelic football, the Slaughtmanus club has over 400 members and have seen large numbers of children participating at underage level.
“We have had great success in achieving numbers below under 14 level the past few years and we want to back that up by developing more at under 14, under 16 and minor levels,” declares Watson.
Part of the reason for the healthy state of the underage games in the club are the strong links the club has with the schools in the local area. Mullabouy, Listress and Broadbridge primary schools provide what for many children is their first exposure to the playing of Gaelic games collectively.
“We have a great relationship with the schools in the parish,” says Watson.
“We provide club coaches to the schools for six hours of the week, which is of huge benefit to the club. We provided each school with a Slaughtmanus notice board, and also provided Mullabouy with a set of jerseys. So we are really just trying to maintain our close partnership with the schools.”
Slaughtmanus GAC members Clara Connor, Shona Watson, Georgie Gormley, Sean Watson and Cahir Cooke.
With a GAA presence in the local area dating back to 1921, the club is one of the oldest in Derry. As is consistent with the history of Gaelic games in the Derry City area, locals recall tales of ‘Caman’ or ‘Commons’ being played in the area in the 1850’s.
It wasn’t until the late seventies, however, that an amalgamation of Wolfe Tones, Slaughtmanus and the St Mary’s Mullabuoy clubs resulted in the current club’s formation.
They quickly put down firm and lasting roots.
Winning the Intermediate championship ten years after their formation is still a milestone for the club.
However, promotion to senior football for the first time in their history in 2010 has whetted the appetite for more according to Watson, and it’s a goal the club have in mind as they continue their strategic work at underage level:
“The ultimate goal is for the club to achieve a senior championship, but within these five years we would like to develop our youths so they are competing in higher grades of competition. Recently we have been competing in b and c competitions. We ideally would like to be playing A or B grade after the end of the current five year plan.”
Practical measures such as presenting every underage player with a football at the recent youth presentation demonstrates recognition of the fact that work done away from the club is just as important in the development of young players as the more formal training sessions.
According to the St Mary’s woman, this is where the support of parents comes in:
“We are trying to promote a recruitment drive to get some more parental help and develop more coaches over the next few weeks. We plan to hold a series of meetings with parents, past players, current players and non active members very soon to highlight the importance of the youth to our club and what we can achieve if we can get a little extra help from all parts of the community.”
It is exactly that continuous search for ‘a little bit extra’ which defines a successful club. A vibrant and close-knit community off the pitch, and remarkably consistent at adult level on it, current underage coaching strategies combined with a strong volunteer base mean St Mary’s Slaughtmanus can look forward to the future with confidence.
Think of them as the undefeated.
Children at Mullabuoy Primary School.