Carrig training gone to the dogs

THE club scene is mesmerising and enthralling. These few weeks are full of breathtaking activity nationwide as each little village battles, tooth and nail, for its honour and glory and at least 12 months of bragging rights.

There is nothing more pleasing than to see a club who hasn’t won for a very long time crowned champions. It happens in some county every year but then on the other hand you have mighty clubs like Nemo Rangers and Crossmaglen who just don’t know how to lose, who just go on winning and winning.

But for a club that hadn’t known how to win, to eventually learn the recipe, that first win is a defining day, an inspiration to all its parishioners. They all grow in stature and confidence from that moment on.

Such a day came for the Carrigaline club on Sunday in the holy ground of Cork GAA, Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Carrigaline had never won a county title at adult level before Sunday.

A wonderful Cork football servant, the gentle giant of the Rebels, Nicholas Murphy had until Sunday last played and lost in seven county finals. But the South East boys put all that negative baggage in the bin last Sunday as they became Intermediate hurling champions of Cork for the first time, when defeating a very accomplished Bandon side. Bandon had been very impressive in the semi-final, but there was no denying the Carragline men their day — what was the secret of their success?!

I am told their trainer is better known as a greyhound trainer, a man called Ger O’Sullivan, and he worked the oracle. Now there’s a thought for teams aspiring to success — bring in a greyhound trainer and young players will be more fleet footed and nimble!

Will Carrigaline be playing senior hurling next year? No, as Frank Murphy explained to me recently, they have a premier intermediate grade in Cork, so Carrigaline will go into that competition next year.

This is an idea that other counties could do well to adopt. Too many counties including Kerry, have too many senior clubs which lowers standards and then when intermediate clubs win the county championship they go senior even though it isn’t always wise or prudent to do so.

A grade in between senior and intermediate seems the ideal solution. It would take the Cork boys to think of it.