Kerry poor show irks O’Sullivan
The Cork selector expects to have no more than two of Jack O’Connor’s panellists on hand in Dublin for the game, while only Tomás Ó Sé and Pádraig Reidy featured when the southern province won the competition on its last outing in 2008.
O’Sullivan said: “For one reason or another they just don’t seem to be interested. It doesn’t surprise me that much but it disappoints me that one of the top counties in the country wouldn’t give it more support. I think the players would like to play but they have a training schedule laid down for this week. Jack is not involved with Munster and he wanted the players so they are not released.”
O’Sullivan understands the pressures facing inter-county managers given his role alongside Conor Counihan with Cork and he called on the GAA to make it easier to avail of county players by cementing the interpros’ place in the calendar.
“We have a fortnight break in our league and a week would do us. Play this off at the end of the McGrath or O’Byrne cups at the end of January. Don’t play back doors or shields. Play the first rounds of the Interpros before the league then pencil in a weekend around the finals. If not St Patrick’s Day then somewhere close. I know there were proposals to play the football with the [club] football and hurling with hurling. I know one of them would have to move but maybe change them every year. Give it a permanent spot on the calendar for three years.”
GAA president Christy Cooney yesterday reiterated his three-point survival plan for the competition — the players must be committed to the concept, the games must draw a crowd and it must be cost effective.
“The Munster Council have been very supportive,” said O’Sullivan, who will announce his panel later today. “The majority of the senior inter-county managers have been very good but it is difficult for them, especially with the timing.”
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