Laying the foundations for development of growing club

Castlegar GAA chairman, Tom Coyne, has a nice line on the relationship that should exist between a local GAA club and its members, particularly players, underage and senior.

“You only have the players for a while, really, and they will always remember how they were treated by their club,” he says. “So, while they might move on, you’d hope they will never forget their coaches and the club.”

It’s a philosophy of respect and it’s one Castlegar GAA prides itself on, perhaps, more so than the 17 senior hurling titles they won between 1936 and 1984. Those victories see the club top Galway’s roll of honour ahead of Ardrahan (11) and their neighbours and great rivals, Liam Mellows (9).

No doubt, Liam Mellows lifting the Tom Callanan Cup in 2017 gave hurling in the city the boost it needed, and Castlegar GAA would also have felt the ripple effects.

“We were delighted for them,” says Coyne, “but we also realised it was time we threw shapes ourselves.

“So, it was a case of are we going to keep talking about them winning the cup or are we going to try to come up to par with them? So, we’re beginning to push on now and it is just about keeping ambition there. Anyway, why wouldn’t you want to improve things? We’re getting there.”

While it has been 36 years since their last senior title win, more often than not, Castlegar are competitive in the senior championship. They have also won their fair share of titles in the other grades, including U-16 ‘A’, minor ‘A’, and Junior in recent years.

“The ultimate is senior,” agrees Coyne. “When the camogie won the All-Ireland in 2013, it was plain to see what that did for the club. It gave it a big boost. So, you are aiming for it, but there are no guarantees.

“That said, if you look at the young lads, we have had the [2018 Galway All-Ireland winning] minor captain [Sean Neary], we have had a few lads on the Galway minors and U-21s, and we are producing players. I suppose, you are just hoping as you go along you will produce a team that does it.”

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

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.