O’Grady sticks by resignation pledge
His unwillingness to go forward for a further term had been well signposted in advance of the Croke Park decider against Kilkenny, but people close to the team privately hoped that he would stay on if they were successful.
The name of former Midleton and Cork player Seán O'Brien, coach to the All-Ireland winning intermediate teams of 2001 and 2003, is being touted as a possible successor. But it's conceivable that, in the interest of maintaining continuity, the executive could go for either Seán O'Leary or John Allen from the outgoing management. There have even been suggestions that
Jimmy Barry-Murphy could be lured back, but that's considered improbable. Likewise, the Under-21 coach for the past two seasons, Seán O'Gorman, would not be viewed as a candidate.
Yesterday, John Allen admitted that O'Grady had as good as made up his mind before the All-Ireland final and was never really going to go back on his decision. Furthermore, he revealed that he had seriously considered giving up last year.
"As a management we were very professional in every aspect. The feeling was that if we were not successful against Kilkenny this year, so be it. It would not be for the want of trying, from our point of view,'' he commented.
Allen and the other three selectors were privy to the announcement on Sunday night, when he telephoned them individually. He conveyed the news to the County Board Executive in letters they received yesterday. Meanwhile, O'Grady himself wasn't available for interview yesterday.
Effectively, he didn't resign. As he pointed out the morning after the All-Ireland victory on September 12, his term (and that of the other selectors) had expired at midnight. When it was put to him that the tradition was for All-Ireland winning managers to be re-appointed, he replied that this was an executive function, which he 'would not interfere with.' However, it's clear that he decided to make his move before that process gets under way (after the county final).
According to John Allen, O'Grady had made it clear all along that he was going to walk away, as the huge time commitment required as Cork manager was intruding more and more on his personal position as Principal of Gaeilscoil Mhuire, the Irish-speaking wing of the North Monastery secondary school.
"Even the first time Seánie O'Leary, myself and himself met in the Rochestown Park Hotel two years ago, he said he would give it a go for a year. Even though last year went pretty well, despite the final loss to Kilkenny, he would have questioned the commitment, the sheer amount of time and effort. It was very much touch and go whether or not he would be able to put in the same time and effort this year.''
Back in 1999, John Allen was part of the backroom staff under Jimmy Barry-Murphy when Cork got to the All-Ireland final and won it. His view is that even in that short period, the role of the manager and selectors had increased 'vastly.'
By way of illustration, he pointed out how O'Grady used a software package for player analysis and how he could have up to 40 segments to go through with individual players on a night. "Dónal did that on his own and he did it religiously,'' he commented. "And that was only one aspect.''
A successful dual player with St Finbarr's at county, provincial and All-Ireland level, he captained the Cork team which defeated Offaly in the 1981 League final. He took over from Martin Doherty at full-back for the 1983 All-Ireland campaign which Cork lost and after winning a medal in Centenary Year, was a selector with the All-Ireland winning team of 1986.
Whatever about his departure, his appointment as coach, in December two years ago, did come as a surprise, even though he had been touted in many quarters. He succeeded Bertie Óg Murphy, who had resigned after the debacle of the qualifier defeat by Galway. Unknown to the public at large, morale among the players was at an all-time low, leading to the landmark decision to strike. While the players won a major victory ultimately, Bertie Óg and a few others were unwitting victims in what was the darkest period in the proud history of the GAA in Cork.
O'Grady was the first manager to be given the right to pick his own selectors, and he made it clear on more than one occasion that he would not have taken the job if he hadn't that freedom. John Allen agrees that this is not only the 'right way, but the only way.'
"You are working with people you want to see eye to eye with. You want harmony, which we had right across the board from day one.
"It's hugely important, especially at this level where the stakes are so high.''
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