Kidney keeping it low-key

DECLAN KIDNEY is unlikely to make any major adjustments to Ireland’s approach as they set out on a 2010 mission to retain their Six Nations Grand Slam title.

Fri, 08 Jan, 2010 - 00:00

Barry Coughlan

Subtlety will be the key for Kidney as the coach adopts a typically low-key attitude to the challenge ahead. “We will be looking at the way we are trying to play and at ways of improving in a subtle manner,” he said.

Kidney was back on home soil yesterday to pick up another award to remind him of how his 2009 had been, winning the Boardwalk Bar and Grill Supreme Cork Sports Star Award trophy. But he put it in perspective when asked to highlight the high points of the year. “We stayed healthy, and that was the main thing.”

Kidney continues to believe giving opportunities for younger players is a huge part of his job at national coach although he insisted that caps would not be given out easily.

“The ultimate aim for us would be to have three guys in each position, at least two, going into the Six Nations and keeping an eye on the World Cup as well; you need to build up the squad because even if you were to identify 30 right now you can be sure that two, three, or more would not be available because of injuries, form or other reasons.”

The long-term replacement for veteran prop forward John Hayes continues to raise questions but Kidney is not worried.

He noted: “Obviously, you need to have guys playing in that position to challenge. Tony (Buckley) has been playing for the last couple of weeks there for Munster, Mike Ross played well against Jaguars (Argentina) which was his last start and there is Declan Fitzpatrick, who had a fine 50 minutes when he came in for BJ Botha for Ulster against Stade Francais in the Heineken Cup.

“If John happened to be out for some reason, somebody would have to go in obviously; that is why we keep such a close eye on matches and on performances to see how guys perform when they get opportunities.”

Meanwhile, the Hall of Fame Award at the ceremony yesterday went to Irish and Munster rugby legend Noel Murphy.

Boardwalk Bar and Grill Annual Cork Sports Star Awards

Supreme Annual Award Winner: Declan Kidney (Rugby)

Hall of Fame Award: Noel Murphy (Rugby)

Monthly Winners

January: Shane Coughlan/Michelle Fahy (Basketball)

February: Donncha O’Callaghan (Rugby)

March: Declan Kidney (Rugby)

April: Conor Counihan (GAA)

May: John Cleary (GAA).

June: Ray Murphy (Pitch and Putt)

July: Daniel Goulding (GAA)