Football fun as KickFit comes to Mayo

Soccer: The inaugural Cadbury's FAI KickFit Connacht regional blitz was played at CMS Park, home of Kiltimagh-Knock United, on Saturday, November 16.

KickFit is a fun and non-competitive recreational social programme for women aged 18 plus, which has been rolled out in three Mayo football clubs to date – Kiltimagh-Knock United, Ballyvary Blue Bombers and Castlebar Celtic.

Teams from the Mayo clubs were joined by players from Carrick Town, Renmore AFC, Coolaney United and Corofin United for a series of matches organised and refereed by the FAI's development officers in the province, including Mayo representative Nigel Naughton.

While the primary aim of the programme is to keep fit and create a social group, clubs are benefitting especially from recruitment for new or existing women's teams, along with volunteer roles such as coaching or committee.

Castlebar Celtic rolled out the programme last year and the other two Mayo clubs delivered hugely successful KickFit programmes this summer, which have now evolved into weekly football sessions and inter-club games, with Kiltimagh-Knock recently hosting Ballyvary for a friendly and a return visit in the offing.

The blitz last Saturday week was a showcase for the spirit of fun from participation in sport, while there was no small number of players whose talents would be welcomed in the competitive women's leagues across the province.