GPA Rookie Camp involves 11 of Sligo’s county players

FOUR members of Sligo’s Senior Gaelic football panel and seven of the county’s Senior intercounty hurlers were among the 303 inter-county panel members who logged on to the recent Gaelic Players Association’s 2021 Rookie Camp which was held remotely across three evenings last month (January 18-20).

The camp, which is in its third year, is aimed at helping young players to adapt to life on a senior inter-county panel and also at showcasing the supports they have at their disposal through the GPA. Sligo Gaelic footballers Seán Carroll, Gavin Gorman, Red Óg Murphy and Alan Davey were involved, along with county hurlers Michael Munnelly, Dónall Hanley, Darragh Cawley, Patrick O’Connor, Gavin Connolly, EoghanRua McGowan and James Weir. Sport psychologist Dr Cíara Losty delivered a presentation focused on strengths-based approach to developing a personal wellbeing toolkit – helping players prepare for the opportunities and challenges associated with being an inter-county player. There was a panel discussion where Mayo footballer and current PhD student Stephen Coen and Cork Ladies Footballer Dr Orlagh Farmer shared their experiences on how building their own personal wellbeing toolkits have helped them overcome challenges and setbacks, in sport and in life.

The final night of the camp saw international athlete Ciara Mageean and Irish 7s rugby star and Love Island winner Greg O’Shea discuss how they balance their lives in sport and outside of sport.

They focused on how they ensure they look after the physical, personal and psychological parts of their lives. Speaking about last month’s virtual event, GPA Player Development

Manager Ian Reeves said: “Stepping into a senior inter-county dressing room can be a daunting experience for young players.”

“We want to ensure our members are as best prepared as they can be for what that entails.”

“We also want to ensure that becoming a senior inter-county player does not take away from the other aspects of their lives which cannot and should not be ignored.”

Reeves added: “A balanced approach to their sport will allow them perform better both on and off the field of play.”