Lack of investment in hurling hampering Cork’s chances

Like many of the most fervent Cork hurling supporters I was sorely disappointed at the outcome of last Sundays All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Tipperary. More so since it was Tipperary who hammered us.

I have no intention of venting my frustration at either the manager and his group of hurlers as they have done us proud, at least to my mind, over the past three seasons. Cork won their 27th hurling title in 1990 and some 24 years later we have only 30 titles, time was when we were winning an average of two titles every decade. For a proud, traditional hurling county this fact is a meagre return for one of the so called top three in hurling.

Yes, the lack of underage titles and the colleges’ decline has had an effect on our lack of success over the years but more fundamentally the lack of investment on the part of the county board is more than likely the real reason for the county’s hurling title decline. All the pish about mushrooms et al is just that, pish!

The game of hurling in Cork needs investment and that investment needs a plan and that plan needs commitment from all parties involved so as to bring us back to where we should be on an ongoing basis. The game of hurling has long evolved into what it is today since Tough Barry uttered the mushroom throw away remark. Let’s get real about our great game before we are left behind, a long way behind, in the number of titles. Perhaps Dónal Óg Cusack should be invited by the county board head honchos to submit a formal document on the way forward for Cork hurling? Somehow I’d be inclined to think that petty grievances, personal dislikes, strike history and politics will negate that proposal. How the likes of Tipp, Kilkenny, Waterford, Clare and Limerick must be gloating about the decline of Cork’s hurling empire. Let’s get real about our current and future hurlers before it’s too late. Corcaigh Abú!

Denis Moloney

Tinkers Hill

Kilnagurteen

Macroom

Co Cork