Focus of St James’ is on developing skills of young players

Given the growth of St James’ GAA club, it would not be a surprise to see it challenging for senior championship honours in the not-too-distant future. However, until that point arrives, its juvenile director, David Henry, says the development of its young players remains the priority.

This year, St James’ GAA celebrates 25 years in existence but it is a very different club from when it was founded. Initially, the amalgamation of Mervue and Renmore was as an adult club only, with the underage set-ups of those not absorbed into St James’ until over a decade later.

With Ballybrit, Roscam, Rosshill and Doughiska ballooning into densely populated residential areas in the last two decades, it has meant St James’ now caters for “extremely high” numbers at academy level.

“The main focus is on player development at underage and working on the skills. Skills are so important. We have a template that we are following and it is basically to work on both sides and develop these players as best as we can. So, when they get to the age of 17 or 18, that they can fit into any style of play that an adult team is working towards.

“We also want them to be the strongest player they can be individually. If the individual is strong, the team is strong, and that is the end goal of the club. But it is hard work. We are trying our best and hopefully in the future we will flourish.”

Certainly, the work that has been put in since the total integration of the Mervue and Renmore clubs into St James’ in 2007 has paid rich dividends.

Their juvenile boys roll of honour list is as long as the River Shannon with title victories across all age grades. In recent years, they won the U-14 Féile ‘A’ title in 2016 and the U-14 ‘A’ county championship in 2018, along with a plethora of other juvenile crowns.

It goes without saying, once the foundations are right, everything else follows. “That’s it,” agrees Henry. “You also need a good group of coaches and players and we are lucky to have a good committee. So, we do have some great people in the club and some very good players. I suppose, we are all the time striving to improve and, hopefully, we can make it tell in the future. Yet, who knows what is ahead of us.”

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

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