Ryan: a coach to the players and the game

IT has to be one of the most magical coach-player relationships in all of Irish sport, this bond the 70-something Eamonn Ryan and his Rebels have, and six All-Irelands in seven years is far too crude a measure of it.

Watching them embrace him last Sunday, it brought to mind a story a coach from another sport tells about the man. A few years ago Ryan was one of the guest speakers at a high-profile coaching conference. The organisers were to provide players for Ryan to use in his demonstration to the attending coaches, but the night before it was to take place, Ryan was informed only three players were available.

At 10am the following morning seven Cork ladies footballers were up in Dublin to help Ryan give his demonstration. They’d only got the call at 10pm the previous night. That’s the regard they had for him.