Reader's Blog: Cork hurling is alive and well despite final defeat

Winning comes naturally. Winning in sport is achieved through talented players supported by sporting ingredients such as fitness, strength, speed, physiology, diet etc. These days, the ingredients are professionally applied by coaches and the end product is capable of a competitive success rate around 85% over a period of time.

This figure is increasing due to the increased level of professionalism within sport and the financial investment. Sadly success and winning is coming down to a few who can afford a professional set up and the quality of people who can identify talent at a very young age. I say sadly because some of the most exciting moments on the field of sport is when the underdog delivers the knockout and walks away with the spoils on a given day. It happens and illustrates that not always the most talented team wins but the team that delivers at the moment that matters at a given time. However in the overall context of sporting fixtures, over time, the talented professionally supported player wins out.