Cork GAA Discussion Thread

thefa

Straight Talker wrote: »

There's something about this deal, that doesn't sit well with me.Maybe it's because of Mike Ashley and his dodgy business practices, maybe it's the thought of that god awful sports direct logo on the shirt.Of course we need the money, to compete with the likes of Dublin Tipp and Limerick, but i feel that we have badly lost our identity as a gaa county over the past decade.I just feel a sponsorship deal, with a bargain basement sportswear company, that treats it's employees like garbage, is kind of a further eroding of that identity.

Would have the same sentiments as yourself but can’t help but feel there’s an arrogance to the idea that Cork football or hurling is above it or deserves better. I think we don’t based on recent history.

There’s an article there that mentions the multinationals located here but realistically, I don’t think many of them are in the market of sports sponsorships and Cork GAA doesn’t have the pull in this environment, especially when the PR is often mixed. It’s a sorry situation that we can’t attract the equivalent from a more reputable brand but it is what it is.

The sportsdirect/com is going to look cat on the jersey. Hopefully there’s more substance on the pitch in the next 5 years to get the county back in proper All Ireland contention.

The White Feather

Stephen McDonnell has retired from Cork Inter County Hurling. Best wishes to him !!!!!

zetecescort

footballers training on Youghal beach. should face serious sanctions regardless of how they try to spin it

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40203011.html

benji79

You can’t condone it, I dunno what they were thinking. The team building thing they were at is pointless enough at best of times too

The White Feather

Interview here in the Examiner with Ronan McCarthy

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-40203233.html

I want to believe but it always seems to be one step forward and then two back.

He says there were "hysterical reactions to defeats and setbacks"


“The hysterical reaction to defeats and setbacks. Success isn’t linear, nor is learning, and there are bumps along the road. And there will be more, so (Cork) people should buckle up. But in the end, if you come out the other side as a top team competing for titles then it will have been worth the journey.”

“If Tipp had beaten Kerry in a Munster semi-final and we had beaten Tipp in the final, what judgement would people make of us then? I look at it over three seasons, and by any objective assessment we have improved. So while the Tipp game was a disappointment, it was not a setback. I am surprised people were surprised (that Tipperary won)."

"You need time with teams - and to be fair the Cork County Board afford you that - but this is done against a slightly hysterical background in terms of extremes of despair.

“Stand back in the cold light of day any objective analysis would say that this team is going in the right direction – be that with me or someone else. Age wise, there’s a good mix in the panel, a lot of good players coming through, a top class set up in relation to coaching and S&C. I’d prefer if people looked at that and took Ronan McCarthy out of it. They might see this is going in the right direction even if there are setbacks along the way.”

“It took me as long to get over the Tipperary defeat as it did the win over Kerry. What you learn as you get older is you achieve little from wallowing. That was a huge disappointment, don’t get me wrong, I’m not going to pretend it didn’t matter.

"The real loss was the opportunity to play another top four team (Mayo) in Croke Park in an All-Ireland semi-final. That was a huge miss in terms of the development of the team.

“We are trying to develop a team to go on and win an All-Ireland – that’s what we are talking about here. Can we get this group of Cork players to win an All-Ireland in the next couple of years? Whether we won Munster or not, we need to be playing in Croke Park regularly.

"We benefitted from the Super 8s last year, and a semi-final with Mayo would have been another step along the road. Then you get to a point where it becomes familiar, expected, regular. If I don’t believe this team can win an All-Ireland in the next two years, what am I doing here? I have talked about patience from supporters, but at the end of a five-year period in charge, if you haven’t done it, then that’s that, isn’t it?

"You can’t have it both ways - talking about the quality of the panel and the strength in depth and then not being able to achieve what you set out to after five years. Then it’s time so to hand over to someone else.”

You sit down and look to see how we can improve the set-up, make it more professional. Kieran (Shannon) is a fantastic addition, highly experienced, knows the inter county scene well, and is a Cork man, which also helps.”

The likes of Niall Hartnett (Douglas, younger brother of midfielder Brian), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree, All-Ireland U20 winner at full-back), and (Nemo Rangers’) Mark Cronin will be added to the official panel for the Allianz League. They were drafted in last September as extended members of the group and McCarthy hopes they continue their development through the spring.

“The key thing is to give guys time. Just as managers need time, so do players. We try to give a guy two seasons. The day of giving him a couple of challenge matches and then out the door, never to be seen again, is gone. You make a considered judgement and see if he is worth investing a couple of years in.

"Because it’s inter-county U20 now, and not U21, they have a season less done in terms of development. But the other end of that stick is you don’t want guys sitting on a panel for 4-5 years and not making the breakthrough. There’s a balance there.”

McCarthy says exciting wing back Liam O’Donovan from Clonakilty won’t return for the League but should be ready by April. Ciarán Sheehan should see League game time before that, while Kevin Crowley is back ready for full training after an extended absence through injury. Keeper Mark White has re-joined the group after a season out.

zetecescort

a real waste of two pages in the paper but when he is being interviewed by his club mate what do you expect.

So while the Tipp game was a disappointment, it was not a setback. I am surprised people were surprised (that Tipperary won)."

People were not surprised by the defeat to Tipp, just disgusted at the total lack of any plan once we reached the halfway line but I suppose in McCarthy's head that's not his responsibility. Given that he has admitted to the training in Youghal the silence from the GAA is amazing, open season for clubs and counties for collective training

thefa

Agreed. Looking at a 3+ year tenure, there’s been a lack of progress you’d hope for. Despite some nice additions to the squad, the tactics are as bad as ever. Just promoted back to the division he took over in and three Munster final losses. I’d be happier to hear more ownership than downplaying a big loss.

stayback

Very critical article in the independent on the new sponsorship deal..

Eamonn Sweeney touched a lot of nerves.

thesultan

Will we see Sports direct Páirc Uí Chaoimh?

Vinnie222

Looks like Anthony Nash will be transferring to South Liberites in Limerick for the season ahead

Cork2021

Vinnie222 wrote: »

Looks like Anthony Nash will be transferring to South Liberites in Limerick for the season ahead

Yeah transfer has been agreed.
It’ll be a big step up for the Kanturk Minor Keeper. He is talented though. Also he’s parents are Polish. Grand footballer too.

benji79

Probably good timing in a way to allow a younger keeper get experience in the club. Especially a young lad who could drift away if he was stuck as a sub for a while

Coneygree

Even though I knew of his family connections in Limerick I never put two and two together that himself and Barry Nash were related.

DuffleBag

You'd have to feel for the current Liberties goalkeeper

ShamoBuc

FYI a Feedback Thread has been opened.

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2058149601

Please read the Opening Post before posting.

Any opinions or thoughts in general are welcome.

The White Feather

Sad news today...

Sorry to announce the passing of Eamonn Ryan who helped the Cork Ladies footballers to win 10 All-Irelands in 11 years.

Condolences to his family and friends. He was a great man.

Positiveways

Eamonn Ryan = Laochra.

Really upsetting to hear of the legendary man's sad passing. One of the GAA's true greats.

May he forever rest in peace.

benji79

An unbelievable GAA man. Played and coached at nearly every level and code in the game. And never looked for attention despite his huge achievements

ShamoBuc

Awful news
An absolute Legend.

The White Feather

Donal O'Grady is joining Kieran Kingston's backroom staff in analysis and coaching.

Sport and performance psychologist Cathal Sheridan has also joined Kingston’s backroom team as well.

Poor_old_gill

From Kerry- went to UCC and played football there for all 4 years.

I just want to say a bit on Eamon Ryan- an absolute event of a man.
I suffered a number of injuries at different times and he always make sure you were looked after. Had great time for everyone involved with the club

His knowledge of club games going on was almost unparalleled- you’d land in after Christmas and he’d be asking you about duhallow tournament matches, etc.

As someone who played fresher, junior, intermediate and senior/ he treated every player there with the same level of respect and was a great man to knock into for a chat.

Would tell you that truth too- told me after one Christmas that I had gone too hard at it and needed to lose a few pounds! A gas man, a lovely man, a huge loss.

SeaFields

Very sad news regarding Eamonn. By all accounts and as stated here he was an absolute gent. I recall one of the Cork ladies saying (Brid Stack I think) that the first person she rang about getting engaged was Eamonn. He was like a father figure to them all. A legend of the game. Rest in peace.

Speakerboxx

The White Feather wrote: »

Donal O'Grady is joining Kieran Kingston's backroom staff in analysis and coaching.

Sport and performance psychologist Cathal Sheridan has also joined Kingston’s backroom team as well.

It should have been done years ago. Hopefully success will come Cork hurling way going forward.

zetecescort

RIP Eamonn Ryan. Had the pleasure of a few words with him at different post All Ireland celebrations over the years. As others have said, a true gent who had time for everyone

The_Kew_Tour

RIP. Did not know him myself but never heard anyone have a bad word for him either who knew him or played for him.

LuasSimon

Whats the view in Cork GAA of Mike Ashley of Sports Direct Slaves operation been their new sponser?
Stories from the UK of his staff all on UK minimum wage without breaks, needing to use foodbanks etc etc are not what one likes to be associated with.

DuffleBag

LuasSimon wrote: »

Whats the view in Cork GAA of Mike Ashley of Sports Direct Slaves operation been their new sponser?
Stories from the UK of his staff all on UK minimum wage without breaks, needing to use foodbanks etc etc are not what one likes to be associated with.

UK operation is a totally different thing to the Irish one. This deal was done with the Irish marketing HQ in Dublin. I would imagine Mike Ashley didn't even know about it.

The UK sports direct problem is just that, a UK problem, of which they have many.

Good deal for Cork GAA. Wouldn't have got that kinda money from many other places.

ShamoBuc

From a financial perspective, it looks to be the best new deal of any county, done during a pandemic also.
SD have a bad name across the water, but not so in Ireland but there will still be a negative side to them as a result, you say SD, you think Ashley.

Outside of how the New Jersey will look, I hope there wont need to be any other mention of them. Time will tell.

willietherock

LuasSimon wrote: »

Whats the view in Cork GAA of Mike Ashley of Sports Direct Slaves operation been their new sponser?
Stories from the UK of his staff all on UK minimum wage without breaks, needing to use foodbanks etc etc are not what one likes to be associated with.

Under the economic environment we live in, a v good deal.

benji79

Great deal with Sports Direct. Unreal deal in the current climate