DESPITE RECENT CONCERNS for the future of the GAA and serious questions being raised over how children are being coached, it turns out that we might not have to worry about the youth of the country after all.
This email was sent yesterday to the secretary of the South Tipperary County Board and has been forwarded on to every club in South Tipperary, they tell us.
In the missive the parent of a young Moyle Rovers player praises a Carrick Davins’ lad for the kindness shown to his son during the South Tipp U-12 Group 4 hurling final. We dare you to read this and not smile:
“I am writing to you in a personal capacity regarding the U12 Group 4 hurling south final which took place at Duneske, Cahir on Monday 12th August, 2013 between Moyle Rovers and Davins.
I am writing to advise that my 9 year old son was playing on the Moyle Rovers team on the night in question and that a conversation took place between himself and the Davins boy who wore the number 2 jersey (first name Ethan). The Davins player, Ethan asked my son his age and where he got his helmet from, upon which my son advised him of his age (9) and that Santy had got it for him. The Davins player admired the helmet and told my son that it was a great thing to ask for.
In a day and age where cynicism is spoken about regarding our games; while he was one of our team’s opponents, and unknowingly to my son, Ethan showed a maturity and sensitivity towards my son, Peter, and allowed a 9 year old opponent to keep his dignity and innocence in the heat of battle. I wanted to write to you to advise you and to commend the Davins player (age 12) on his behaviour. I feel that his behaviour should be brought to his parents attention and to the attention of his Club as so often parents/clubs only hear about their kids inappropriate behaviour and more often than not, disreputable behaviour is spoken about in the local media.
I wish to congratulate the Davin Club U12 team mentors as this type of behaviour must have been encouraged in their young players. I felt the South Board should be advised of this incident as I feel that this young man should be told what an absolute credit he is to his parents and to the Davin Club and our games in general. It is this type of behaviour which should be brought to the attention of the media and to the GAA administration.”
What do you think?
Its great to know that a story like this can pop up now and again in the midst of all the giving out we do be doing. I’m glad I got to read this.
SHOCKED, how any coach or parent allows children of 9 years of age play against 12 years olds in a competitive match beggars belief. Who needs Garda Clarence when this carry on is let happen…mad.
Shocked? Why?
This happens in all clubs around the country when I was 15 I played for both U16′s and U18′s….. The better players my age even got to play for the club U21′s – we took pride in bein asked to play an age up =)
Great story & fair play to the mother for recognising the young boy and praising him and his club to the county board.
Who is this Garda Clarence and where does he live?
The way your name is spelt says it all about you Owen!
Was it something I said!
You’ll catch him Thursday nights in Coppers shifting a nurse/teacher and afterward in Topaz gettin the free coffee….
Who is this Garda Clarence you speak of?
Jesus 9 year old and 12 years old play together be it gaa watch DVDs play Xbox it’s a world or integration 12 year old are not monsters they are children I think ur comment is ridiculous this young man is a credit to his club and I think our young people are changing to be thoughtful of others my dad has been a great gaa man all his life he has passed to me the love of hurling and the respect u have for ur club and county on that come on the banner may Croke park be good to u on Sunday!
They wouldn’t let him play if he wasn’t capable of holding his own clearly
The GAA doesn’t get half eneough credit for keeping youngsters on the straight and narrow in their most vulnerable years.
It’s a lovely story to read, I commend the Davins player for his personality showing through on the field and also the parent of the 9year old child for realising the importance of something so small in the midst of all other happenings.
What’s the big deal.Santie was just doin his job..
What a smashing story. That 12-year old will make a great adult and role model. Take a bow young man.
‘And so shines a good deed in a weary world’
Great to read something like this
Both lads shouldve been subbed immediately! County final lads not a time for having craic ! Jaysus is any wonder tipp are so bad at the minute! Shocking…….
Great story, so proud that it’s come from South Tipp, well done Ethan, you sound like a smashing young man :)
I bet ya Conor McManus told Sean Cavanagh about Santy thats why he Rugby tackled him???
Best story I have read all year..
was at an underage game one day and the ball spent an age down the far side of the pitch so two young fellas who were supposed to be marking each other dropped their hurleys and proceeded to have a sprint competition between the 65 and the halfway line ; it was the coolest thing I have ever seen…it was an under – 8 game…that’s what sport is all about ; friendship not winning !
Thank you to all who green thumbed ; it gives me hope that ireland has not lost its soul;
my son was one of the two young lads and it was his finest moment on a hurling pitch !
Didn’t want to say earlier !
I was taught hurling by a true philosopher of the game who also happened to coach two allstars and a texaco hurler of the year ; and no journalist knows his name!
Fantastic story.
troll
comment on stories such as this to gain credibility for your bile about the north.
I know that young boy as i am a selector on one of the teams from the Davin club and yes Ethan is a very good young lad and a credit to his parents and y there is such negative vibes from people about this article gets to me it’s not all about winning it’s about taken part that’s wats counts
Did ye win?
gerry, what are you talking about. . .the comments are 95% positive. . .and rightly so. great story
Restores ones faith in South Tipperary too!
It’s north Tipp and Lowry that’s the problem :P
He got the helmet from Santa O’Halpain?
Fair play to him, just goes to show that something so small can mean so much to much someone else! Ethan sounds like a mature and kind young man and it was a pleasure to read a story so heartwarming!
Lovely story it should be used as an example to all Mentors to show what sort of spirit they should be developing in their teams
All this story really shows is that the two kids aren’t yet indoctrinated into the GAA culture of displaying an irrational hatred towards your neighboring parish.
Give them time and it’ll come.
One day soon you will make an unmerciful fart and on that day may follow through be wished upon you
What’s irrational about hating the neighbouring parish?
Hateful b*****s
its more sporting culture to hate your nearest rival , liverpool – man utd, australia – nz in rugby, just sporting rivalry. its narrow minded to say its only gaelic games or irish people
Buachaill an mhaith is e Eathan.
Great parents.Great young lads.Great clubs.Great Organisation.So sad that some sneer at it.
“DESPITE RECENT CONCERNS for the future of the GAA” – i think i missed these recent concerns … can someone link me to these?
Referees needing Garda escorts, assaults of refs and players, players leaving the country an so weakening local and county teams, an apparent cynicism become more prevalent in football, contentious refereeing decisions, county boards ever decreasing budgets and increasing costs. Take your pick, all concerns within the gaa in this decade.
Joe Brolly highlighted concern about cynical play creeping into underage teams.
The fact it happened during the heat of battle is brilliant..the real credit must go to Ethan and his parents..well done young man!!
Great story.. And fair play to the older lad..
What a sweet story just made my day thanks for that
Despite all the bitching, whining , moaning and snide comments by some posters, this kid Ethan showed something that money could never buy : respect.
What a great story, some of the greatest friendships are formed by kids being involved in sport. One of my son’s best friends was a gaa footballer on a neighbouring under age team & as well as being on opposing teams they became great buddies & still are 20 years later. That young man’s parents should be so proud of him & fair play to the other little fellows mum for writing such a great letter. Restores my faith in the future of our lovely country knowing there are young people like that around waiting in the sidelines to take over the reigns in time hopefully.
More importantly who won the bloody match??
Christmas stories in August???
Head off
Only kiddin, good man Ethan. Take a bow son
Well done to young Ethan & to Carrick Davins. & well done to everybody involved in coaching young lads in GAA clubs all across the country.
In the current climate of cynicism and dog eat dog this truly is one of the stories of the decade – brought a tear to my eye
good to hear decency still being instilled on our youth by parents.
just a question,..should a 9yro and a 12yro be on the same pitch??esp hurling
What age do you think tony Kelly from clare and tony Browne from waterford are?
you are answering my question with a question, an answer would have been polite
Yes and as the saying goes if you’re good enough you’re old enough!
I’ve a question why did you say “esp hurling”? I’ve played hurling, football, soccer and rugby and I’ve accumulated the least amount of injuries because of hurling
didnt mean single it out as more violent or anything just the point of young lads swinging hurls,
i know full well hurlers are probably more skillfull than most other sports people.thought that there is u9,u11,u13 etc to avoid age gaps at youth level!!!
“Young lads swinging hurls” what in the name of god is that suppose to mean?
You can play in your age group and 2 above it, we’ll that’s the way it was when I was young. If every player played in their own age group I doubt any club in the country would have enough players to field a team
Brilliant story, Mel you will find clubs have to play 9 year olds to fulfill fixtures especially during the summer where families are on holidays, that child could be turning ten soon so the gap in sporting terms is 2 years between him and the oldest children against him. Why do we always have to question something great, take it for what it is, a heart warming story. End of!
it was a simple question and not in the slightest meant to detract from a great story.
Bryan Whitney, thanks for your educated answer.
Sparky, you need a chill pill
Apologies if I came across abit strong. I just don’t like negative comments on such a positive article
Heart warming, are u serious I don’t get it it’s pretty bland to be honest
I’m not sure why adults are getting so incised about underage hurling, rules, age groups etc. Especially when it seems obvious many never played. Surely they can’t miss the point here. Rather than sledge an opponent, something all 12 year olds are capable of, Ethan chose to show some class. A young man of some style and sportsmanship. I hope his club, parents and of course himself get to read this article and overwhelming positive comments. ( a lesson to be learned too from the begrudging trolls). Well done young man. And well done to Santys helper who took the time to write the letter which brightened my day anyway. We have enough winger’s. Glad someone takes the time to say well done.
It’s to the parents credit nothing to so with the GAA just happen to be the sport he was playing all of a sudden the GAA are bringing up kids now
To do
Gavin as somebody who has had a lot to do with the GAA over the years I must disagree with you somewhat, of course nobody is taking away from the fact that this young man’s parents have obviously done a wonderful job in rearing him but sometimes outside influences can also help mould children into the kind of adult they become. My husband was very involved in training underage teams when our own sons were playing as is the case in a lot of clubs. He gave those youngsters so much of his time along with all the other adults involved in training them. It isn’t just the practical skills kids that are taught at that age, a good coach/mentor will also teach them the importance of respect, good manners & all the other elements that are equally as important as being able to score goals & points on the playing field. My husband often meets some of these lads socially now & 20 years later they still remember the fun & craic they enjoyed with him when they were mere under 10s & under 12s & many of them have thanked him over the years for all he did for them & the good groundwork he put in to guide them into being good sportsmen on the playing field. We tend to forget all the voluntary work that goes on behind the scenes in local clubs & organisations but without those dedicated people who give so freely of their time & skills our country would be seriously lacking some of the great sportspeople we can now look up to and admire & be so proud of.
Have you any involvement with the GAA Gavin?
Nope and don’t want too for stories that were told to me about the GAA like this one .A memorial plaque was being put up for a Garda (that had been killed )on one of the grounds so the GAA decided to ask up all the Garda to the grounds when the service was over the GAA decided to ask the people that attended the service to leave the grounds and pay back in if they wanted to watch the matches that were going to be on and there is no point in going on about the Garda can afford it so can the GAA .The GAA really moulds the players in to fine young men that’s why ya see them shouting and swearing at referees and showing no respect when they get a decision against them. And as for your husband giving up his spare time it’s his choice to do so .
“Nope and don’t want too for stories that were told to me about the GAA like this one ” Stories? Fiction? Your not serious surely with this?
I thought so Gavin so it’s fair to say then that you don’t really know what you are talking about and you are simply making sweeping generalisations.
Of course the GAA is not perfect but drop down some day to your local club on a Saturday morning and watch the club volunteers working with the u6′s, u8′s and u10′s and you will see the positive influence it has on the kids. This carries right through to their adulthood. For some disadvantaged kids it can often the the only only positive peer exposure they have outside school.
Ah sorry did I say something wrong about the GAA ah no it’s a perfect organisation don’t care become bored with this go on thinking the GAA is the best sporting organisation that won’t pay there county players not bothered .
Nice story, great to hear something like that!! However im not quite sure how this is supposed to restore ones faith in the GAA. Not sure what it has to do with the GAA at all actually. This story is about a very well brought up lad who clearly respects other. A compliment to his parents.
His parents….. And his club
Fantastic.
The negative comments on this are typical of a generation in Ireland where u have to put down everything, or at least have u’re say, because u just have to be heard. Maybe what the article has shown us is that the next generation coming up can change that. People if u have nothing good to say on an article like this, then I’m sorry but u are everything that I don’t want my kids to be.
GAA Policy Lesson
It is coached throughout the country at U8 level to
A) Hold the hurley right
B) Maintain Santa/Tooth Fairy beliefs in younger opponents
C) Strike the ball on the ground
I hate to point out the downside of a great story like this – now that this has got media coverage – everyone at both clubs will know who the 9 year old is and he may get some serious slagging about his ‘beliefs’. Let’s hope not.