A select group of coaches graduated from the Performance Coach Course run by Meath GAA and were presented with their awards by Paul Garrigan. Coaches participating in the course had four modules to complete and all coaches were chosen for the course in advance of its commencement.
Meath GAA were pleased to award our elite coaches with their Performance Coach award. The Meath Football Development Committee (MFDC) were briefed by Coiste na Mí to help improve coaching standards in the county. To that end, the Meath performance coaching course was initiated in 2022. The course targeted existing Level II coaches who have coached or managed at inter-county level, or competitively managed in high level adult competition. The course brought together our best coaches for a series of practical sessions over 8 months. An 80% attendance, or above, was required to secure the award. The sessions were primarily practical ‘peer to peer’ sessions that worked through tactical and technical football problems.
The learning primarily came from working with other coaches, whom they might previously have crossed swords with on a pitch. Working from the game back, the coaches, worked through the principles of play and the phases of play to arrive at solutions. Furthermore, the coaches have helped Meath GAA put together the Meath football coaching curriculum, a body of work that is ongoing, and will help our academy. But that our clubs will benefit from too, as we deliver the curriculum to all our club underage teams through the club pathway programme.
The 17 coaches who completed the programme and were awarded their certificates were:
- Barry Callaghan
- Cathal O Bric
- Conor Gillespie
- Conor O’Donoghue
- Daithí Whyte
- Davy Nelson
- Eoin Carroll
- Gordon Ward
- Jody Devine
- John McCarthy
- Kevin Reilly
- Lar Wall
- Ronan Kearns
- Sean Murphy
- Shane O’Brien
- Stephen Morgan
- Trevor Giles
Conor Gillespie Biography
Playing Experience
Played for Summerhill (club) and Meath Seniors.
Won 2 Keegan cups in 2011 and 2013 with Summerhill; Part of Meath team that won the Leinster Championship in 2010. Played for Meath from 2010 – 2015. Retired due to injury at 26.
Coaching Experience
Following the conclusion of my playing career, I have been involved with all levels of club, underage and Senior in various roles (Managing, coaching, selecting). Currently manager of Summerhill Seniors since 2022. Won A League Division 1 in 2022 and Meath SFC in 2023.
I have been a selector/coach with Meath Underage ( u-15 – Minor) while also doing a selector role with Meath Juniors in 2017 (Leinster JFC Champions 2017).
Jody Devine Biography
- 2011-2013 – Manager/Coach of Gaeil Colmcille. Won promotion from Division 3 to Division 1 & won the Meath intermediate championship in 2013.
- 2015-2017 – Manager /Coach of Bective GFC winning the Tailteann cup & Meath junior championship in 2016.
- 2018-2020 – Manager of Laragh Utd in Cavan winning the Cavan Intermediate championship in 2019.
- 2021-2022 – Manager of Killygarry GFC and reached the 2022 Cavan Senior Final
- 2023 – Manager of St Colmcilles GFC and reached the Division 1 League
Kevin Reilly Biography
- Senior Football Finalists 2023
- All County Football league, Div 1A Winners 2023
- All County Football League, Div 1B Winners 2022
- Intermediate Football Championship Winners 2021
- Leinster Intermediate championship Winners 2021
- All Ireland Intermediate Championship Finalists 2021
- Corn na Boinne Winners 2021
- All County Football League, Div1 Finalists 2019
- PGD in Leadership and Management (NUI)
- PGC in Professional Leadership (NUI)
- BSc Physical Education with Biology (DCU)
- MSc Sport Science (DCU)
- Foundation Award G.A.A.
- Meath GAA Performance Coaching course
