Smyth coaches London's U14 footballers to Feile success

Former Raharney and Westmeath hurler Brian Smyth has been enjoying plenty of success recently with South London’s U14s Gaelic footballers.

A former Killucan footballer and Westmeath senior hurling captain, Brian has been in London for over four years now. He was a civil engineer but moved to London and became a teacher at St Paul’s Academy. By 2010 he was managing their Gaelic football team.

Brian, and fellow St Paul’s teacher Donnelly, have been training the South London team since March in preparation for the 2013 Feile Peil na nOg, held in Derry on the weekend of 29-30 June.

St Paul’s provided 11 of South London’s 20-man panel at the 2013 Feile. All 20 players from drawn from only three clubs; Tomas Mac Curtains, Round Towers and Dulwich Harps.

South London swept all before them, in barnstorming fashion, to win the division 4 title at the Feile in Derry. 6-7 to 2-1, 4-9 to 1-3 and 7-12 to 2-2 were just some of the scorelines South London racked up on their way towards victory.

The final itself was a one-sided affair as Ennistymon of Clare were dispatched in convincing fashion, 1-0 to 2-11. The closest game that South London faced was the final group game against Enniskillen Gaels.

Seen as a very strong side, the Gaels had the core of a team that had been together since they were U8s. Their defeat to Brian Smyth’s charges proved to be their first competitive loss in years.

Of course it isn’t just kids of Irish heritage that are playing football for the team.

“We have kids of African descent, there’s a huge ethnic diversity in the team,” said Brian. It seems it was the physical aspect of the game that particularly appealed to the kids; “Once they found out they were allowed to shoulder and to hit back hard they took to it like ducks to water.”

The team continues to go from strength to strength. According to Brian their division 5 victory in 2010 was the complete opposite of this year’s victory. “We scraped by. We beat Clonmel in the final, but it was a tight game.”

Brian is hopeful of South London’s chances in division 3 next year. “No doubt we can keep moving up. We have a strong bunch of lads in the team.” There are however fears over whether the Feile will take place next year or not. That decision ultimately lies with GAA President Liam O’Neill.

It has been a busy year for Brian. Working on a masters, which he is due to finish this week, and training the U14s meant taking a year out of the club scene altogether. “I gave it up for the year. I felt unless I could give 100% commitment I wouldn’t play.”

However, Brian hopes to get back to playing club hurling again “as soon as possible.”

Eoghan Wallace