Professional approach gives Cork the edge, says Cregan

EAMONN CREGAN never said so in public, but you always sensed that when he was in charge of Limerick, he was on a personal crusade to win an All-Ireland title that would compensate for the one Offaly snatched in 1994.

Outspoken, often controversial, Cregan was a respected coach and strategist who could draw on considerable experience in management and from his own playing days. These days, he observes from a distance and reaches his own conclusions.

The official stance taken at the beginning of the year over the dual player controversy amused him. This was the issue which undermined his management and eventually led to his resignation. “It raised its head and was quickly quenched. There are double standards in our County Board,’’ he states. “I noticed that an awful lot of the people who criticised me for not wanting dual players hid under a stone. Nobody from the executive questioned the dual player issue this year. Yet, I was reprimanded by the executive, who said players had a choice to play hurling and football.’’