Dream Cork job available, but may lead to restless nights

Michael Moynihan

Finding a new manager for the Cork senior hurling team shouldn't be a problem. Donal O'Grady's resignation leaves a dream job open, and steering the All-Ireland champions should be the peak of ambition for any hurling coach. However, applicants should be mindful of the magnitude of the task involved. Cork selector John Allen gave us a glimpse of the workload.

"Even during the league you're out three nights in seven," said Allen. "By April you're out four nights in seven, rising to five nights a week during the championship. That's not counting meetings with players, other selectors and backroom staff."

When Allen says evenings he means it, pointing out that the Cork sessions all lasted at least two hours, apart from the shorter training spins the week before a championship game. "Between the session itself, warm-down, ice baths, showers and a meal afterwards, you're talking about five hours a night for the players," he says. "We don't train in Páirc Uí Rinn or Páirc Uí Chaoimh early in the year, so you're also travelling around the county to the likes of Ballygarvan, Carrigtwohill, Ballyhooly and Fermoy."

If potential candidates aren't put off by that kind of time commitment, consider this: it's likely to increase. "Now the commitment is more or less full-time," says Allen. "That's because various counties keep upping the ante - Clare brought it to a different level and then Kilkenny brought it on again. Counties keep moving on, and if you're not willing to reach a certain level of fitness then you're finished and you won't be involved in September.

"As a result of that, the manager isn't going to pick players who won't put in that effort. He won't want to put himself forward to be let down. You need players who are totally committed, though there are perks for them: an All-Ireland is the ultimate for any hurler, while they can enjoy higher profiles and good holidays as well."

Dealing with those top players is a challenge in itself for the new manager. "You're dealing with elite amateur athletes," says Allen. "These are highly motivated hurlers, some of whom have big egos. I don't mean that in a bad way, but to perform to your best in front of 80,000 people you can't be a shrinking violet."

Allen also identifies a crucial division in the new man's duties. "It's worth making a distinction between coaching and managing. Coaching is coaching, but there was a feeling for a long time that intercounty hurlers didn't need coaching in the skills, that they knew what they were doing. Donal didn't buy into that; he coached the team and you could see a very definite pattern to the team's play in the last two seasons."

And when the manager is finished with hooking and blocking drills? "In terms of management, everything comes under the manager's remit: players, doctors, physios, masseurs, the lot."

Dealing with the media is another responsibility for the new man: "I remember we used to complain that Donal had his phone off most of the time, but in the last couple of days I've had so many calls I can see why." However, longevity in the job shouldn't be an issue. "If an intercounty team keeps going through to September regularly I don't think a manager can last longer than three or four years."