Strabane Sigersons GAA hosted their annual Gerry Kelly Under 8 Memorial Blitz last Saturday morning with over 100 children taking part this year. Thankfully the weather warnings for heavy showers were wrong and the Blitz was played in near perfect conditions on the immaculate surfaces at Páirc Mhic Sioghair. 

The standard of football from the twelve participating teams was of a very high calibre with every match keenly contested. Each and every player was out to show off their skills in the hope of getting one of the coveted places on the All-Star team of the tournament.

Points were fired over left, right and centre; last ditch tackles flew in; Conor Gormley-esque blocks were made during each and every match. Mums, Dads and coaches were shouting encouragement to their young prodigies whilst still being appreciative towards the little pieces of magic from opposition players. No scores were kept, no team was victorious nor suffered defeat just a celebration of football, Go-Games football at its best.

The games culminated in the selection of the Gerry Kelly Memorial All-Star Team. Gerry’s wife Peggy alongside Sigersons Club President John McCrory presented the awards to the boys who included Strabane players Caolán Gallagher, Oran White, Fintan Foley and Gerry’s grandson Ciabhan Kelly.

Everyone was invited into the Social Club after the blitz as parents from rival teams mingled with old foes from yesteryear. The coaches exchanged everything from their ideas on coaching, their numbers at training to how mornings of blitz days are the foundation of the GAA and they exemplify what we are about; one big GAA Family. 

That’s exactly what the Kelly family are, a GAA family to the core. Gerry was a stalwart of Strabane Sigersons club in the early years. An honorary vice-president of the Club until his sad passing he was influential in the construction of the club grounds and always championed for youth to be given a chance. His family have carried on in his footsteps and take an active part in the youth set up at Sigersons with several of his grand children now playing on the pitches that Gerry and the founding members of Sigersons had the foresight to invest in.

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped out both at the blitz and with the Sigersons Under 8 team this season. You’re helping to build on the Sigersons legacy started by Gerry Kelly et al – Sigersons Abú!