Sean O’Riordan: My Co-op Experience with Kerry LGFA

Sean O’Riordan, 3rd Year Sport and Exercise Science Student

As part of my third year of the Sport and Exercise Science programme at the University of Limerick, I completed my co-op placement with Kerry LGFA. The experience has given me the opportunity to work in a high-performance environment, apply what I have learned throughout my degree, and gain invaluable experience supporting athletes and coaches at both underage and senior inter-county level.

Working with Kerry LGFA

Kerry Ladies Gaelic Football Association is responsible for running, promoting, and developing ladies’ Gaelic football throughout County Kerry.

During my placement, I worked as the sport scientist for the Kerry U14 Ladies panel and the Kerry Senior Ladies team. My role with the U14s involved coaching and strength and conditioning, both on and off the field, while also providing support in areas such as nutrition, recovery, and sports psychology.

With the senior team, my responsibilities included assisting with coaching, strength and conditioning, nutrition, physio and recovery support, statistics, video analysis, and general football and training tasks.

The variety of responsibilities meant that no two days were the same and gave me exposure to many different aspects of athlete support and team performance.

Learning the Importance of Communication

The biggest skill I have developed throughout my placement has been communication.

Working with players, coaches, and support staff has shown me just how important effective communication is in building and maintaining a successful team environment. One of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that the timing of a message can sometimes be more important than the message itself.

Being able to communicate effectively with different people in different situations has been a skill that I have developed significantly throughout the year.

Supporting Players Through Rehabilitation

One of the aspects of the placement that has stood out most to me has been assisting with the rehabilitation of injured players.

Even though I only play a small part in the process, seeing players progress through rehabilitation and eventually return to play is incredibly rewarding. Being involved in that journey has given me a greater appreciation for the work that goes on behind the scenes to support athletes throughout their recovery.

Applying What I Learned at UL

My degree has helped enormously in preparing me for placement.

Modules in nutrition, strength and conditioning, functional movement screening, sports injuries, psychology, coaching, and many others have provided a strong foundation that I have been able to build upon throughout my time with Kerry LGFA.

Having that background knowledge allowed me to contribute with confidence and better understand the different areas involved in supporting team performance.

Memorable Moments

The most rewarding part of my placement so far has been having the privilege of being part of the journey with both the U14 and Senior teams.

The U14s won both the Munster A and Development titles before going on to win the All-Ireland, while the Senior Ladies secured a third consecutive Munster title and continue to perform at a high level.

Being involved with these groups and witnessing their success firsthand has been a fantastic experience and one that I will always remember.

Looking Towards the Future

This placement has definitely influenced my future career plans.

Before starting, I was focused on pursuing physiotherapy after college. However, seeing how important each role within a team environment can be has broadened my perspective.

I would now like to combine strength and conditioning with physiotherapy while also drawing on the knowledge I have gained in nutrition and psychology throughout my four years at UL. I have also really enjoyed the coaching aspect of the placement and would love to continue developing in that area in the future.

Advice for Future Co-op Students

My advice would be not to focus on what everyone else is doing or where they are going on placement.

Instead, focus on your own interests and find a placement that suits you and the areas you are passionate about. If you enjoy what you are doing, you will get so much more out of the experience.

I would also encourage students to make as many connections as possible with everyone they meet, regardless of their role. The relationships you build and the people you learn from can be just as valuable as the experience itself.

Final Reflections

My co-op placement with Kerry LGFA has been an incredible learning experience. It has allowed me to develop professionally, apply the knowledge gained throughout my degree, and gain first-hand experience working in an elite sporting environment.

Most importantly, it has helped shape my future career ambitions and given me a much clearer understanding of the direction I would like to take after graduating from UL.