Cusack departs Cork league panel
Though manager Jimmy Barry-Murphy indicated yesterday that the door remains open for Cusack’s return, it looks unlikely that a player in such a specialised position could be considered for a championship place with no league games under his belt.
Cusack, one of the strongest personalities in the Cork dressing room for more than 10 years and internationally known since revealing his homosexuality in his award-winning autobiography, had indicated his willingness to challenge incumbent Anthony Nash for the goalkeeper’s jersey this season.
However, it is believed manager Barry-Murphy and his selectors intend to carry only two goalkeepers for the league at least, with current All-Star Nash of Kanturk and Ballymartle’s promising youngster Darren McCarthy in line for those slots. Cusack, for the first time in 14 years, is unlikely to figure in Cork’s league and championship plans.
It also means Cork face into 2013 without yet another experienced linchpin following the departure of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, John Gardiner and Niall McCarthy from the panel. Damien Cahalane and Eoin Cadogan have opted for football alone. Darren Sweetnam has taken up a rugby contract with Munster.
Cusack made his name with Midleton CBS in the Harty Cup and at club level in Cork with divisional side Imokilly, winning a county medal in 1997. He made his senior championship debut for Cork against Waterford in 1999, as a young team surprised observers by winning an All-Ireland title against the odds, Cork’s first since 1990.
At that stage, Cusack had already won a minor All-Ireland title in 1995 — under Barry-Murphy’s stewardship — and U21 Celtic crosses in 1997 and 1998.
Cusack was a fixture on the Cork team until rupturing his achilles tendon in last year’s Allianz Hurling League semi-final against Tipperary.
Martin Coleman of Ballinhassig took over but was dropped after conceding three goals in the league final against Kilkenny, with Anthony Nash replacing Coleman for the championship.
Nash won the All-Star award for goalkeeper last year when, ironically, Cusack presented him with the award in his capacity as chairman of the GPA.
The Cloyne man won two All-Stars himself and three All-Ireland medals in Cork’s victories of 1999, 2004 and 2005, but he was also one of the most controversial figures within the GAA, thanks to his high profile with the GPA, and within Cork after three player strikes in less than 10 years.
Cusack’s interview on local radio was the touch paper which set off the original Cork player strike in 2002 over poor standards of preparation and conditions on Leeside.
In 2007, the Rebel County’s hurling and football squads withdrew from competition in protest against changes in the process used to appoint managers and selectors.
In 2008 came the bitterest strike, when the Cork players refused to continue playing under manager Gerald McCarthy when the St Finbarr’s club man was reappointed for a two-year period.
In February that year more than 10,000 people took to the streets in a show of support for the striking players and although McCarthy was able to field a team to fulfil league fixtures, early in March 2008 he stepped down after receiving death threats.
In each of the strikes, Cusack was seen as playing a leading role and made telling media interventions on behalf of the players.
On the national stage, Cusack was deeply involved with the GPA from early on, when the player body was regarded with deep suspicion by many observers, who felt that the GPA was pursuing a pay-for-play agenda.
However, Cusack and GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell were centrally involved in the negotiations which led to the formal recognition of the players’ association by the GAA at the Congress held in April 2010.
His departure leaves the Cork hurlers short on big-game experience as they face into a period of transition. It also removes the last playing link with the team of 1999, which was, of course, managed by the current boss, Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
