Roger Keenan, SINI's new high performance manager for Gaelic football welcomes two
of his squad members James Colgan (Down)(centre) and Johnny Bradley (Derry)

Roger Keenan from Gortin, County Tyrone was today announced by the Sports Institute Northern Ireland (SINI) as their High Performance Manager for Gaelic Football.

Roger who was coaching and development officer with the Tyrone County Board and manager to Tyrone club champions Carrickmore, will be responsible for managing a squad of 20 gaelic footballers who access services and support at SINI.

“The job is a tremendous opportunity and challenge to me.  I will be responsible for ensuring that these players maximise the support and services available to them at SINI.  The current group of players appear very committed and I want to ensure that they benefit fully from their time in SINI”.

SINI will be accommodated in a £10 million capital development at the University’s Jordanstown Campus which will include a state of the art High Performance Centre.

Speaking at today’s launch, Hugh McCaughey, Chair of SINI said:

“Roger will be a great asset to the SINI staff and completes the team of high performance managers based at SINI.  He has experience of the modern game and hails from County Tyrone, current All Ireland Champions.”

Ensuring that essential services such as strength and conditioning, physiotherapy, physiology, nutrition, sports psychology and performance lifestyle are used to the full is essential but equally important is ensuring that the modern players have individualised training programmes”.

Ulster Council Secretary, Danny Murphy expressed his support for the appointment and wished Roger every success in the new post:

“The partnership between the Ulster Council GAA and SINI has been very positive over the last 3 years.  The Council looks forward to further developing the partnership and to the opening of much needed new facilities on the Jordanstown Campus.  Roger’s enthusiasm and commitment will ensure that the excellent work started by Dr Eugene Young continues to the benefit of the athletes and the sport throughout Ulster”.

SINI is a two member company (The Sports Council for Northern Ireland and University of Ulster) based at the University`s Jordanstown campus.  It is funded through a revenue grant from the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.  SINI moved recently from a pilot phase to a Company Limited by Guarantee, providing support and services for 110 athletes from the core sports of rugby, gaelic football, athletics and hockey, together with individual sports such as badminton, sailing, squash, rowing, judo, triathlon, swimming and bowls.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young