Galwegians RFC youth academy has celebrated a successful year on the field.
This season the academy honoured Rory Cunningham and Eoin McKeown, who played for the Ireland u-18 club team, and Dave Nolan, who played for Ireland u-20s.
With more than 450 registered players from ages seven to 18, and a team of 50 coaches, the academy is thriving with players who are city-based and from as far away as Headford, Kinvara, Oughterard, Carraroe, and the Aran Islands.
Every youth grade team from u-13 to u-18 made it into a league or cup final during the season. The u-13s recorded a comprehensive victory to take one Connacht Cup; the u-18s maintained their stranglehold of the Connacht Cup for the third successive season; and the u-16s were league champions and narrowly lost an All-Ireland final - the third time in four years in which the club have made it to this level.
Off the field Colette Fallon was named Youth Academy Person of the Year for her many years of service as a squad manager and helper. A minute’s silence was also held in respect for longstanding and popular u-12 coach Audie Murphy who died tragically recently. His contribution was vast for a large number of children and his sporting spirit will remain with them.
