Gerry McQuaid happy to cede sideline control to 'hurling brains' on his ticket

HAND OVER CONTROL: Gerry McQuaid is happy to cede sideline control to McCormack, McCullough, and Mags on match-day. They are the “hurling brains”, he insists. Picture: ©INPHO/Evan Treacy

A Monaghan native, with a background in athletics, attempting to lead Dublin to their first All-Ireland camogie final in 38 years. Whatever description or stereotype exists for an inter-county camogie manager, Gerry McQuaid does not fit it. He doesn’t even come close to fitting it.

Born and bred in Glaslough, just 3km south of the Northern Ireland border, McQuaid was a runner and an outlier in football country.

Following his Leaving Cert, he packed his bags and shipped out, on scholarship, to Indiana University. He went out to run. Instead, he got an education and a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

Upon his return home, he took up work as a PE teacher in St Paul’s Community College in Waterford city and put down roots across the way in Wexford. This man of Monaghan has been resident in the Model County for 21 years ago.

It was six years on from his arrival when then Wexford camogie manager JJ Doyle asked McQuaid to come on board ahead of the 2010 season. His role was that of trainer. He carried out the roles today performed by athletic development leads and strength and conditioning coaches. But of course no such titles existed 14 years ago.

Doyle, McQuaid, and Wexford won a historic three-in-a-row. McQuaid was on the camogie map and there was no getting off. Of the 12 senior club hurling teams in Wexford, he’s worked with five.

The Dublin link came through Paul Kelly when the latter was appointed for the 2023 campaign. But when Kelly stepped away, McQuaid stepped up to ensure some semblance of continuity.

McQuaid’s first game on the sideline with Wexford 14 years ago was a home league clash against Dublin at Monamolin. The hosts won 2-17 to 0-5. Their opening championship game that same season was another home fixture against the Dubs. Another trouncing. 7-15 to 0-3.

“That was 2010. A lot of work has gone into Dublin camogie since. You don't see those types of scorelines anymore - except when we play Cork,” McQuaid quips.

His first game as Dublin boss last year was against today’s All-Ireland semi-final opponents. Cork won the first-round league clash 3-17 to 0-5. In their most recent meeting, at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh last month, Cork won 4-22 to 0-5.

So while the Dubs have made considerable progress under McQuaid, Bill McCormack, Micky McCullough, and Mags Darcy this year, as evidenced by their Division 1B League final win over Wexford, a championship win over the same opposition, pushing Galway to three points in the group phase, and stunning Kilkenny at the All-Ireland quarter-final juncture, Cork remain the market leader they’ve yet to close the gap on.

At UPMC Nowlan Park Saturday lunchtime, it is a gap they must wipe out if they are to secure a first Dublin involvement in camogie’s showpiece since 1986.

“We have to perform on the day and try to stop the onslaught,” McQuaid continued. “Dublin have earned the right to be here. We just have to go in and do our best to perform. They’ve got to back themselves and believe that they are good enough to go toe-to-toe with Cork.” 

Such is his non-hurling and non-camogie background, McQuaid is happy to cede sideline control to McCormack, McCullough, and Mags on match-day. They are the “hurling brains”, he insists.

Continuing on together, though, is crucial for Dublin camogie and their efforts to further climb. The All-Ireland semi-final appearance of 2017 was hailed as a breakthrough. It was the county's first last-four appearance since 1990. But they’ve not been back since.

“I've listened to a lot of inconsistency on management, management coming and management going. This is one of the terms where we've been there for two years. We know the players and the players know us. They trust us, they trust the system. The players are there, it is about nurturing them and getting them to where we need them to be.”