Andy Comerford calls for Kilkenny development squads to be disbanded

Kilkenny were eliminated from the championship after losing to Dublin on Sunday. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Andy Comerford believes development squads are “gone by their sell-by date” and they should be disbanded as part of a review of Kilkenny hurling.

The Cats’ 2002 All-Ireland SHC winning captain was reacting to the county’s Leinster SHC exit on Community Radio Kilkenny City's TC Tyres World of Gaelic Games on Monday evening.

Comerford last week claimed Dublin were “no great shakes” and has since admitted he tried to “write them down” ahead of the game in Parnell Park on Sunday.

The O’Loughlin Gaels man felt the championship had been lost for Kilkenny before the defeat in Donnycarney. “They were never firing even though we'd be trying to fire them up and get them going.

“But Derek (Lyng) was probably doing the same thing but it just wasn't there in them. How much dirty ball did we win, how many rucks did we win?” 

He added: “Fifteen minutes to go, the white towel could have been thrown in, it was all over. They were not at the races at all, in umpteen positions. I don't think anybody came out and won their position, really.” 

Having spoken with several hurling people since the loss, Comerford feels the common theme is the development squads are counter-productive.

“Development squads, they've gone by their sell-by-date now. I'm after ringing 15 or 16 lads there to know what their opinion is on development squads. It's just not working.

“Let these lads go back to their clubs at 14 years of age. Put in a team, enter a team in Tony Forristal (tournament). By all means, enter a team but release them to a manager five days prior to that.” 

Comerford argued development squads are leading to bad habits among players and parents are pressurising managers. 

“Lads are getting browned off. Players are getting sick of it. Mentors are getting sick of it.

“I've heard they're receiving 29, 30 phone-calls from parents. ‘Why isn't my young lad on a development squad?’ ‘Why isn't he on this?’ ‘Why isn't he on that?’ It has to stop. End of story.” 

Comerford added: “Players are getting ragged off of hurling. They're going in there and they're dragging their feet in. You have to be spontaneous. Spontaneity in hurling you need. You need to look forward to going to training. Not dragging your legs into going to training.

“Players are coming back with egos, back into their clubs and they're untrainable. I’ve often heard players are coming back after being with county teams and they're not producing the goods for their clubs.” 

Comerford said Dublin have to be looked at as an example. “It was done in Dublin. They had to go through the phonebook to identify people who had played inter-county. That's what we should be taking from Dublin. Not bringing down one of their coaches to coach our senior team (Niall Corcoran).

“We shouldn't be doing that. We should identify this and put a line in the sand as of tonight. The county board has to step in and say, ‘Listen, we're going to help you out.’”