Cork Hurling 2010

Orizio

Put this up elsewhere, might as well put it here:


I know there has been a lot discussion about the near future for Cork Hurling over the past year on RebelGAA/TFK, but I thought one thread dealing specifically with the Cork 2010 Senior Panel and what needs to be done to win an All-Ireland would be useful. I'm not talking about youth development, schools etc - this is explicitly short term, dealing with the panel in 2010.

Problems: Over-reliance on aging and out of form players; lack of real competition in the squad and for pivotal positions; lack of ball-winners; too many mediocre non-inter county players thoughout squad.

What We Need And Why: A full-back; a center-back; a wing-back; a midfielder; two big ball winners in attack. Greater youth and enthusiaism throughout squad.

Although Eoin Cadogan has done fine at full-back, this isn't his natural position, while Ronan Curran and John Gardiner are woefully out-of-form and undeserving of selection at present. Similarly, Jerry O'Connor is out of form, as are the two McCarthy's while Pa Cronin has shown clearly to not be up to inter-county standard.

Short-term Solutions: This year's panel to be disbanded; although I know its difficult and imprecise, numerous trials to be held throughout every division, 2-3 players selected by each club, 2 further players selected by 09's Minor, U-21 and Intermediate managers. Trials, along with youth, and club and inter-county form over the past year, to be the main factors in selecting a training panel of 40 to be wittled down to 30 come championship. Panel should be fluid and flexible throughout, taking into account inter-county but also club performances, the latter often ignored by past managers.

Pre-season tournaments/league teams should be focused on giving young players as much a chance as possible, the first 15 and subs focused on youngsters; with this in mind someone young and mature like Shane O'Neill or Eoin Cadogan should be made captain thoughout the year, as a sign that the management views youth as the way forward.

Renewed focus in training upon ground hurling, doubling on the ball, hooking/blocking, goal and winning aerial ball. Too much emphasis upon running has left other skills as secondary; ground hurling/doubling can still be lethal, particurly with the kind of quick, small hurlers Cork often produces; the others are self-explanatory, a lack of goals, weak tackling and an inability to win aerial ball have been three very obvious reasons we are behind Kilkenny, and now Tipperary, Galway and Waterford. Striking is another problem for some players, whether it be getting easily hooked (Pa Cronin, Cadogan etc) or not getting great distance (Shane O'Neill, Shane Murphy etc).

A final obvious point is that the intelligent pass needs to be re-emphasised as it was under O'Grady, particurly now with the re-introduction of a big man on the square. As we have seen with the Cork footballers and Michael Cussen over the past few years, the big player on the square can be a disaster, leading to lazy and predictable passing into the full forward line. Something similar happened against Galway in particular this year imo when Cork were briefly dominant - it shouldn't be a matter of hit every ball any old way on top of the full forward, rather balls into space, in front of the full forward line, taking the defender out of the equation like we were taught when young.

The final, and most controversial, point is that we need to pilfer or coax certain players away from the Senior Football panel, specifically players on the fringes of the squad and/or players that are better at hurling then football. Two to come to mind are Michael Cussen and Aidan Walsh - the former is going to be a bit part player in football considering Counihan clearly doesn't fancy him at full forward anymore, while the latter is one of the best young hurlers in the county and would surely have a better chance of getting a place with the hurlers then the footballers.

Players You Want To See In 2010: Although Cork Hurling has struggled underage throughout this decade, our tradition, size and (imo) competitive club matches/championships means that we should be able to pick a 30 man squad capably of winning an All-Ireland, it would be truly incredible if this wasn't possible considering our history and size. 5 intermediate All-Ireland's this decade makes the depth in the county very clear; its a matter of re-forming youth and school structures yes but in the near future, in being less conservative, taking chances on new players, and focusing on youth. Here are certain players we should be looking at, focused on problem positions...

Full-Back - Dara McSweeney/ Eoin Keane/Chris Murphy/ Eoin Dillon/ Darragh Rodgers.

Eoin Cadogan is our future center-back, not full-back. I'm sure he could do a decent job there at a push, but why when it isn't his best position and when we have other options? Dara McSweeney and Eoin Keane are the two clearest options, the former a specialist full-back, a passionate player with great presence, while the latter has been exceptional for the Barrs this year (essentially the in-from club hurler in Cork County) and has the added advantage of being able to play in different players. Two players who should be automatic for the league next year. Chris Murphy also, was one of our more impressive players throughout the league.

Other outside options are Eoin Dillon and Darragh Rodgers. Many would say the former isn't a natural full back, but he has always impressed me at 3, and may make a good squad player considering his physicality and experience of playing in different important positions. May or may not yet have the hurling for senior inter-county. Rodgers had two solid years at Minor at 3, has the build for the position and would be a more distant option.

In the corners, we are blessed with plenty of options, so playing Shane O'Neill back here is a waste of epic proportions. Should be moved to wing-back immediately.

Center-back line - Eoin Cadogan, Shane O'Neill, Aidan Walsh, Eoin Keane, Ciaran McGann, William Egan, Joe Jordan

With the changes in the full-back line, we have freed up Shane O'Neill and Eoin Cadogan to move up to 5 and 6 respectively - thats two-thirds of our center-back line over the next 5 years imo, and would add serious competition to our most important line considering players like Gardiner, Curran and the under-rated Ciaran McGann would be around. Sean Og is still one of the best wing-backs in the country and an automatic starter imo, adding the necessary experience to the youngsters around him. Eoin Keane, William Egan, Joe Jordan and Aidan Walsh are four further players who could make fine wing-backs in the future.

Midfield - Kieran 'Fraggie' Murphy, Leigh Desmond, David Drake, William Egan

As noted, Jerry O'Connor is out of form and had a bad year imo, and again competition here is badly needed. Fraggie Murphy isn't a full/corner forward, not quite deadly enough; what he is is an intelligent energetic hurler, an excellent distributor with all the skills. He has the play-making, clever passing abilities to make a good, nicely contrasted, partnership with the dynamic, hard-running Tom Kenny.

Desmond is very raw; plenty of talent, speed and skill but let down too often by bad decision making and he is often pretty inconsistent, moving in and out of games. Still, with some polishing, he has plenty of talent. David Drake is a player that has repeatedly impressed me, an extremely skillful intelligent young hurler like Fraggie. He is also a player that may be poached by Conor Counihan so bringing him in sooner rather then later makes sense. William Egan is another tidy little hurler well worth a look at midfield.

Center-forward line - Michael Cussen, Mark O'Sullivan, Pa Horgan, Lorcan McLoughlin, Fintan O'Leary

I have already talked about Cussen - at the very least his size will cause problems, and he has shown with his club that he get scores and change games. Mark O'Sullivan has an incredible paw, is a rough and ready type hurler who chipped in with plenty of scores for the intermediates; at center-forward, a different type of player would be useful, a playmaker and runner rather then a ball-winner (ala Seamus Callinan), Pa Horgan filling the bill. Like Fraggie Murphy, I'm not convinced the corner is his best place, he strikes me as a player that needs a lot of touches to play himself into the game and for confidence, and would be the perfect player, along with Fraggie Murphy, to give good clever ball into the full-forward line. He would, finally, be a good scoring threat on the 40.

With Horgan at 11, Cussen and O'Sullivan could flank as the ball winners, with Ben O'Connor possibly moving to corner-forward, or midfield for parts of the game. McLoughlin and O'Leary are two further options on the 40, although I haven't quite seen enough of either to really comment on them properly.

Full-forward line - Luke O'Farrell, Cathal Naughton, Ben O'Connor, Maurice O'Sullivan, Niall Ronan

Luke O'Farrell should be the first new player in 2010 for the Cork Seniors at corner forward, he has all the potential - pace, an eye for a goal, good movement and decent in the air. The Aisake experiment at 14 was a limited success in 09 and should be persevered with next year; however, this diving/looking for frees bullsh*t we saw against Galway needs to go immediately, while he has a habit of trying a bit too much, taking on his man when tapping it over the bar would be the better option. I think a consistent league campaign would do the world of good however.

A few options for the other corner, beyond Ben, is Naughton. He isn't going to be a wing forward or midfielder at this level, no physicality and incapable of winning his own ball, but with his pace and point-taking ability he can't be jettisoned. Get good ball into him and his ability to go past players and point from tight angles should mean the corner would suit him. The Ballyhea lads, O'Sullivan and Ronan, are two very good hurlers, and although I don't know what happened with the latter, they have the intelligence and touch to at the very least be options at this level.

Players To Be Jettisoned: No offence intended, but I don't think Kevin Hartnett, Pa Cronin, Kieran 'Hero' Murphy and Brian Corry should be left on the panel. Pa Cronin, Hero Murphy and to a lesser extent Corry have all been given chances to make a position on the 40 there own, and all have (woefully, usually) failed. They are getting in the way by this stage. Kevin Hartnett is the perfect example of the conservatism that has left Cork Hurling rotting - he has been on the panel for what, 7 or so years, and has failed to come even vaguely close to making any position his own. He has played well underage and for UCC, but fails to distinguish himself for his Junior A club (not the only veteran on the panel to have mediocre club form to be fair). Whats the point in having a player(s) on the panel who has little to no chance of starting for the team?

Nothing to say beyond that - replies/criticism would be most helpful(remember, this thread is for matters on the pitch) and lets hope Cork Hurling has a good year in 2010!

ShamoBuc

Fair dues, that was a super post, one if not the best I have read. There was so much information and possibilities detailed that I have had to read it again to get my head around it!! The list of players and possible positions mentioned has numerous discussion points and if this thread does not take off , I don't know what will. Cadogan is clearly one for the future, probably at centre half. I would actually like to see Curran tried at full back, experienced, strong under the dropping ball and has been reasonably poor ( by his previous standards) in recent years at centre back, because he has been dragged out of position constantly. I would like to see a half forward line of Cronin ,Cussen and Asaike. Three people capable of winning primary possession and putting the ball over the bar. Cronin has been a little unlucky as he looked to be the only person capable of winning a puck out, therefore being double marked, especially by KK.
Luke O 'Farrell came upon the scene when Midleton won the Harty and has progressed well in the Cork colours especially in the KK game at the weekend - no grandslam this year!! He is definately worth a start in the corner. I would like to see Horgan in at full forward. If we could win ball in the half forward line he would be dangerous and is more than capable of hitting the net, something Cork BADLY need. Naughton in the other corner with the license to raom to the half forward line to pick up the breaking ball from puckouts , and then run - á la Forrest Gump - at goal. New blood is needed but moving personnel around might also bring about the desired result.
Once again great post!