Mini - Sevens Report 2004

Once again this year 240 boys & girls got the opportunity to display their skills in Croke Park on the occasions of the All-Ireland Hurling & Football Semi-finals and finals.  All 32 counties were represented as usual and this factor remains the strength of the Mini-Sevens.  There are no strong or weak counties, all are represented.

The G.A.A as an organisation can be very proud of providing such a wonderful opportunity for our young boys & girls.

As in every other year, many cards and letters were again received this year from players, referees, umpires, linesmen and their parents thanking Cumann na mBunscol, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and the INTO for the wonderful time that they had in Croke Park each Sunday during August and September.

As well as players, 20 boys and girls participated each Sunday as umpires, linesmen, runners and flagbearers.   We had many written requests from parents and children seeking an opportunity to partake in these roles.

For the fifth year running we had young people refereeing the mini - games and this has proven to be an outstanding success.  The referees have come through the “Young Whistlers” scheme organised by Cumann na mBunscol, Átha Cliath.  We hope that the experience of refereeing in Croke Park will encourage these young people to continue refereeing in to the future and that it will give them a positive image of the role of the referee in our games.  The

“Young Whistlers” are now very much an accepted part of Mini-Sevens days in Croke Park.

Arís I mbliana ritheadh comórtas ar TG4 agus b’e an duais ná an buaitheoir a bheith mar maor ‘sna Mini-Sevens ag Cluiche Cheannais Peile na hÉireann.  B’é Pádraig  Ő hŐgáin as Baile an Fhirtéiriigh, Co. Chiarraí a bhuaigh i mbliana agus bhí an-lá ar fad aige i bPáirc an Chrócaigh.

Everybody concerned was very appreciative of the attendance of Uachtarán C.L.G.  Mr. Seán Kelly in Clonliffe College on the mornings of the All-Ireland

finals and of the considerable amount of time he spent with us, taking photographs and chatting with the participants. We thank him for that and for the considerable amount of time he spent with us.

The I.N.T.O was represented on each of the six Sundays by its President, Mr. Austin Corcoran.  Each Sunday, he emphasised the organisations commitment to the series and he was very appreciative of the work being done for Gaelic games by Primary school teachers throughout the country.

 I would like to thank Austin for his support each Sunday.

A word of thanks also to Mr. John Carr, General Secretary of the I.N.T.O whose commitment to the concept of the Mini-Sevens is well known and we thank him for all his help and assistance over the years.  Thanks also to Catherine Byrne of the I.N.T.O for her help throughout the year and to all involved with the In-Touch magazine.

.Dhein Máire Ní Graham sár-obair arís I mbliana, mar atá déanta aici le blianta fada anuas agus táimid thar a bheith buíoch di.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a gabháil don fhoireann ar fad i bPáirc an Chrócaigh a chabhraíonn linn i gcónaí agus go háirithe iad siúd a thugann tacaíocht dúinn gach Domhnach.

Táimid thar a bheith buíoch do Liam Ó Maolmhichíl de bharr an méid suime atá aige sa scéim I gcónaí.

Bíonn an-cóibriú againn ón Artane Boys Band. Is breá leis na páistí siúl amach taobh thiar den banna cheoil cháiliúil sin. Is minic a deireann páistí linn gurb é sin an rud ba mhó a thaitnaíonn leo ar an lá.

Tá buíochas ar leith ag dul dos na múinteoirí ó Chumann na mBunscol, Átha Cliath a bhíonn ann gach Domhnach ag feachaint chuige go mbíonn gach rud in oiriúint dos na páistí.

Tá buíochas freisin ag dul do oifigigh Chumann na mBunscol, Coiste Náisiúnta go mór mór Malachy McGeeney,Jim O’Reilly agus Jerry Grogan.  Bhí sár obair Jerry le feiscint arís i mbliana tríd an méid Poiblíocht a fuaireamar don scéim ‘sna nuachtáin, irisleabhair agus ‘sna cláracha gach Domhnach.

Míle buíochas mar sin, do gach éinne a raibh baint acu leis na Mini-Sevens na bliana seo agus táimid ag súil le 2005 nuair a bheidh an seans iontach seo ar fáil arís do pháistí na tíre.

The attached table shows the number of schools that took part in each discipline throughout the 32 counties.  I would like to thank the host counties who organised the Regional festivals.  They were, as usual, well organised and very skilful players were selected in all disciplines. 

Number of Schools which took part in the INTO/GAA Mini-Sevens 2004

Condae       Peil        Peil Na mBan           Iomáint       Camógaíocht

Leitrim            20                    19                                15                    12

Galway           101                 65                                66                    49 

Sligo               60                    58                                24                    20

Antrim             45                    30                                30                    45

Fermanagh    22                    21                                15                    10

Derry               23                    12                                10                    17

Louth               50                    48                                12                    6

Monaghan      28                    28                                3                      8

Cavan             52                    40                                10                    17

Donegal         103                 91                                 8                     4

Wexford          54                    42                                48                    30

Carlow            24                    18                                20                    16

Westmeath    18                    16                                8                      6

Meath             55                    47                                21                    11

Kildare            36                    22                                14                    14       

Laois              12                    10                                6                    4

Waterford       27                    24                                26                    20 

Offaly              23                    11                                18                    11

Cork                83                    73                                44                    35

Kerry               78                    52                                14                    4

Condae       Peil              Peil Na mBan        Iomáint        Camógaíocht

Armagh          51                    32                                18                    28

Longford         28                    18                                7                      5

Clare               16                    12                                28                    25

Roscommon    9                    4                                   8                      7

Mayo             143                   114                              4                      0

Tipperary        50                    42                                60                    46

Tyrone            48                    25                                 7                      7

Down              18                    12                                18                    10

Kilkenny          27                    8                                  40                    24

Dublin           115                   45                                 81                    40

Limerick        21                  15                                   20                 28

Wicklow        16                  11                                   11                   5