GAA legends get behind Super Games with Sky Sports
Three-time All-Star and four-time All-Ireland winner, Kieran Donaghy, Dublin footballer and six-time All-Ireland winner Dean Rock and Cork hurler and four-time All Star winner Patrick Horgan, were at the National Games Development Centre at Abbotstown to attend the GAA Super Games National Blitz Day 2020 in partnership with Sky Sports.
The National Blitz day is an integral part of the GAA Super Games initiative which is delivered in Post Primary schools from September-April by County Games Development Personnel in each county nationally. On the day players have the opportunity to play with and against players from different schools and counties as part of the blitz format as well as meet & learn from Sky ambassadors.
Last year Kieran Donaghy travelled the length and breadth of the country to shine a light on the work of The Super Games and the role they play in keeping young people playing the sport. His journey was documented in a five-part special which aired on Sky. This year, he’s back again to travel to counties in the four provinces with a Sky Sports crew.
Health and Wellbeing will be the prime focus as Kieran travels to Clare, Longford, Roscommon and a cross border Super Games event in Down/Louth.
Speaking about his involvement in the initiative, Kieran said: “I’m delighted to be supporting today’s National Blitz and the GAA Super Games in partnership with Sky Sports again this year.
“Last year was a real eye opener for me working on The Super Games. Speaking to parents, coaches and kids there were lots of reasons which affect dropout but the one that really stuck out for me was Health and Wellbeing, whether that’s physical health, mental health, anxiety or bullying. I know making clubs and communities a healthier place is crucial to the GAA, so this year, with Sky, I’ll be looking a bit more at how important health and wellbeing is when it comes to kids staying with the sport.”
The GAA Super Games is one of three initiatives that Sky supports as part of its continued investment of €3m in Grassroots GAA over five years. As well as providing equipment and kits for the Super Games, Sky also supports Super Games nationwide with ambassador visits. Previous ambassadors that have supported the Super Games include Conor McManus, TJ Reid, Con O’Callaghan, Jonny Cooper, Paul Geaney, Carla Roe and Joe Canning.
Over the course of five weeks Kieran will visit four Super Games; St Flannan's College in Ennis, County Clare, St Mel's College in Longford, Dr Hyde Park in Roscommon and DkIT, Dundalk for a cross border Super Games with kids from Louth and Down. Each of these visits will be documented by Sky Sports for a new midweek GAA show called Inside the Game and will also feature on Sky Sports’ social channels.