‘Hurling needs more coaches than managers’

WATERFORD boss Justin McCarthy has called for the development of “more coaches than managers” to help hurling at inter-county level.

He was speaking at Allianz NHL launch in Dublin, with Brian Cody and Richie Bennis, where all three managers responded to the concerns of Leinster chairman Liam O’Neill at the lack of progress in expanding the game outside its traditional strongholds.

O’Neill said little had changed since the “hurling in crisis” statement at Congress in Cavan 14 years ago and very little had been done since the Strategic Review Committee’s aspiration in 2002 of having six teams outside the top ten in a position to contest the All-Ireland final.

McCarthy claimed it was possible to increase the number of leading teams to 16. “We have to aim for something, but there are more coaches needed than managers. I think there are a lot of men managing teams without the necessary coaching ability.”

He told how he conducted a two-day coaching session with Dunloy in Mallow last weekend and how some observers expressed amazement at the standard they had for an Antrim team.

“We have to develop this. There are teams in Laois, Carlow, Westmeath, we have to look at how to help.

Cody admitted that it was worrying to hear what O’Neill had to say.

“People might say it’s only the Walsh Cup, but we played Antrim recently. They had a lot of U21 players — five of them forwards — and they were excellent. I think the potential that’s there in Antrim is huge, their standard of play is terrific, their touch, their striking, their skill levels, the spirit in which they play the game. The likes of Sambo McNaughton and Dominick McKinley are crying out for every help available to prosper.”

Richie Bennis said it would be no good if Dublin make strides and counties like Wexford, Limerick, Clare and Offaly slip down the pecking order.

“It’s very important to keep hurling strong where it is strong — which I would also apply to club level. We’re trying to promote hurling in Limerick and trying to get hurling into places where there was never hurling and where it’s dying in parishes where it was always strong.

“I’d love to aspire to a 16 team League. It’s not possible at present, but the progress made by Dublin is a lesson for other counties.”