Galway Juvenile football is facing major overhaul

With a review of Gaelic underage football in Galway currently underway, Coiste Peil na nÓg Chairman PJ Rabbitte believes the problems facing both rural and urban clubs must be addressed in the immediate future to ensure that every youngster who wants to play the game has the opportunity to do so.

Clonberne man Rabbitte, who hopes to secure a third term as Chairman when Coiste Peil na nÓg’s AGM is held on Monday, November 21, is a familiar face within GAA circles, although, arguably, it was through his association with ladies football that he first sprung to prominence.

Indeed, in this earlier life, he managed both Galway and Roscommon to All-Ireland ladies football titles while also guiding his native Kilkerrin/Clonberne to Connacht and All-Ireland intermediate ladies football honours in 1999.

A decade ago, however, he turned his attention to underage football in his own GAA club and he was to the forefront in setting up a juvenile committee, on which he served as Chairman. He has also mentored a number of successful underage club teams in this time and has held both the Vice and Chair positions of Kilkerrin/Clonberne GAA.

In addition, Rabbitte, a well known referee, has had a strong association with Coiste Peil na nÓg over the last 10 years – as delegate, Vice Chairman and now Chairman – and it has been this willingness to selflessly take on any role that has marked him out as one of the most respected men in Galway GAA.

Just to underline this point, when Rabbitte was appointed Vice Chairman of Coiste Peil na nÓg under then Chairman Tadgh O’Conghaile, he was entrusted with the task of spearheading the setting up of the U-13 and U-15 leagues in North Galway.

These leagues had already been a success for the City & West as they would become the other side of the county and this, he says, has just been one of the positives he has witnessed in underage football. Others have been the adoption of a more professional structure and better coaching for players.

However, there are things that can be improved upon and, with this in mind, there is currently a review on-going that hopes to identify these areas. Already, both Killanin and Loughgeorge have hosted meetings, at which clubs expressed their concerns.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.