Blitz Reviewed
The amount of unseen behind the scene work associated with the GAA never ceases to amaze and often takes place unnoticed by even the most informed of club members. The Under-10 Blitz on Sunday was a fantastic success from both a playing and organisational perspective. This did not happen by accident and was a product of detailed preplanning and a huge voluntary commitment by Shamrocks members and by mentors and parents of visiting teams many of whom made long journeys and arrived in Springfield in good time for the 10.15 start. Coaches (of the four wheeled variety) were notably absent from the car park which meant that all participating teams were carried to Mullingar by the parents and volunteers.
Robbie Boyle was ringmaster in chief for Shamrocks and was the one with overall responsibility for the day’s organisation (with his dad Jo Jo keeping a watchful eye).
The back-up support included a team of eight umpires recruited from our under-12 and under-14 teams and four runners who carried the essential information of the final score in each match from the four pitches to the scoreboard operator, an essential part of the logistics of keeping the state-of-play updated. The scoreboard created by Martin Moore was of the non-electronic variety and was manned for most of the day by J. P. Crowley and in the final stages by Eddie Byrne. Sean Raeside, Sean Wylie, Daragh Maguire and Derek Sheridan took care of the refereeing duties for all thirty-six matches. Tony Sheerin, Barry Maguire, Ollie Keating and Tom Ormsby looked after the Shamrocks team.
Another large team managed the catering and refreshment arrangements and made sure that no one departed hungry and prepared the lunch box packed with food supplied to each participating team. Tara Boyle, Linda White, Joan Ormsby, Chloe and Marie Flood, Elva Pierce, Andrina Finch, Sharon and Tess Foy, Amy Kelly, Shandel Sheerin, Darina Maguire and Sharon Byrne brought sandwiches, buns, cakes and supplies from their homes and then made extra sandwiches in the clubhouse, filled the team boxes with food, set-up the food and drinks, welcomed all the guest teams, served the teas and coffees and kept the burka on the boil. Many others brought tea, cakes, biscuits and sandwiches also.
As always when Shamrocks run major events, Tom Earley and Willie Keeley were on duty from early in the morning and had the venue looking fabulous. The four pitches were ready with goalposts in place and sidelines marked out. All this was done in good time to allow Tom and Willie to manage traffic and supervise the car parking arrangements.
At the end of the day Pat Collins, secretary of our under-age committee, made the medal presentations and delivered the plaudits in his own inimitable fashion.
And one more thing … the logistical operation will be repeated on Sunday next between 10.00am and 4.00pm when the Under-11 Blitz takes place with many of the same personnel involved and contributing to the well-being of their community. Teams will again travel from Meath, Cavan, Longford, Dublin, Galway, Kildare and Wicklow to compete with the several Westmeath clubs. Everyone’s a winner.
