Gerry Hussey replaces Gary Keegan as Cork hurlers' performance coach 

The Galway native takes over from Keegan who had been working with the group since 2022.

Newly-installed Cork hurling performance coach Gerry Hussey. Pic: Liam Murphy

Gerry Hussey is Cork senior hurling team’s new performance coach.

The Galway native takes over from Gary Keegan who had been working with the group since 2022 having previously assisted them in 2017.

Renowned for his work with the Irish Olympic boxers, Hussey and former Galway hurler Tony Óg Regan were part of the Tipperary All-Ireland SHC winning team in 2016 having advised their own county’s footballers prior to that.

Speaking at the launch of the Electric Ireland Higher Education competitions, Cork and UCC defender Eoin Downey mentioned how Hussey is helping him to juggle current college and county hurling commitments.

“I suppose the main thing about that timing aspect is just being organised with it,” remarked the Glen Rovers man, who is in Fitzgibbon action against MTU in The Mardyke on Thursday evening.

“You have to be organised with it. I think our psychologist, Gerry Hussey, is very good at keeping us on top of things like that. It wouldn't stress me out, is the way I'd put it.

“In person, we've only met him twice but, yeah, we've had a few texts and voice notes and this and that.” 

Cork and UCC defender Eoin Downey at the launch of the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Downey has had no reason yet to revisit with Hussey his double yellow card sending off against Tipperary in last year’s All-Ireland final.

“I've moved on, to be honest. Now, I have no doubt it might come up, but it doesn't linger with me anymore, do you know what I mean? So, I won't be bringing it up on purpose.

“But look, it was a tough challenge to face, being sent off in an All-Ireland final at 22 years of age. I just think that it has to be used as fuel for the coming year, and can't be used as a negative.

“I think if I just put it that way, I'd only be going backwards. So there's no point in dwelling on the past, just use it as fuel and push on to the future.” 

Last August, former Cork defender and current manager Ben O’Connor’s Newtownshandrum club-mate Pat Mulcahy highlighted the need for a sports psychologist to be available in person “at all times”.

Keegan’s commitments with the British and Irish Lions in Australia last July as Cork were facing Tipperary in the All-Ireland final drew criticism in some quarters.

Mulcahy said: “I think what's very obvious in Cork, and I don't think we're quick enough to embrace this, is a consistent performance sports psychologist on the ground at all times, understanding the energy in the room, understanding the mood and the tone of the place.

“And managers are good at that themselves in some ways, but the level of professionalism in that space is really required in county hurling. I think in Cork we’re shy of that. We haven't embraced that as we would have embraced strength and conditioning 20 years ago.”