Here on the farm, I’m in the middle of a very heavy calving job at the moment. I’m dealing with the sort of heifers who are that strong and that big that I’d nearly need to mimic the county teams and get in my own Strength and Conditioning coach.
I got a belt of a shoulder Wednesday morning at 5.30am that put me on my arse. After the huge response to last week’s article, that’s probably where a lot of Cork supporters would like to see me.
There’s been that many getting on to me, I thought I’d nearly have to go into hiding. And it was across every platform – bar Donald Trump’s.
Local hero: For many Cork fans, manager Ben O’Connor can do no wrong
A good few were saying I’m gone soft in the head, wondering why on earth I was questioning the Cork culture under Ben O’Connor. It’s great to see debate on it, on whether the Cork manager’s outspoken views and vision for the game is really what the game needs.
Some were missing the point completely, just content to have a go. I don’t mind being criticised, as long as they’re arguing over the main point.
The only one not making a comment about it is Croke Park. And there’s been no comment from the president Jarlath Burns either on the various melees that have taken place in the early rounds of the league but that have gone unchallenged.
Silence at the top: GAA president Jarlath Burns (right) with camogie chief Brian Molloy
It’s amazing the amount of debate that goes on around the whole scene – while there’s silence from those at the top.
I felt what we’ve seen and heard so far this year needed to be challenged. I’m also very disappointed in the National Head of Hurling Willie Maher. What function has he? I thought he was there to represent and speak for the game? Is there a gagging order on him?
Need for guidance: Action from the recent league game between Cork and Tipp
I was hoping that we’d have somebody who would have a voice, especially in such a role. We have plenty on RTE who speak as if they’re all coaches but I don’t here anything from the national head.
From the product point of view, the Fitzgibbon Cup final was a big disappointment. It felt like a loose puckaround. An exhibition.
In saying that, we had some of the finest young players in the country on show. I’m delighted, of course, to see my cousin Colin Coughlan win a medal, along with Aidan O’Connor – both from Ballybrown.
And to see Brian Ryan there as manager of UL, someone who goes back to my last time in charge of Limerick. During that time, Dave Maheedy was my right-hand man. I always attributed any success on the field to his input. We spent nine years together, between club and county. When things got nasty with the Limerick county board and the whole ’20 Questions’ scenario they threw at us after the 1996 All-Ireland final defeat, I supported him in everything he did. He was one of the best trainers. Dave, Brian Mullins and many more all came through Thomond College.
I remember in the 1990s, we were walking off the field after training one night when my favourite subject came up. I said to him: “What’s all this about sports psychology to improve player performance? Is that a tablet or a drink?”
“No, we have a faculty of sports psychology!” he replied.
Visionary: The great Dave Mahedy during his time with the Limerick hurlers
The actual head of it, was a guy called Dr PJ Smyth. I said to Dave, “any chance you could get him out here?” He said “yeah”. So he arrived out on a Tuesday night as the players went out – the likes of Mike Houlihan, Ciaran Carey. When it came to the psychology of the game, the force of the hurley was the only psychology that mattered to them.
There was one thing he said to the players that stuck with me: ‘never dwell on negatives’. That applies across every part of life. That really struck a chord.
Rugby was his background. I said to Dave would he do a one-to-one session with a few of the panel. I nominated one or two players who I felt would benefit. The man I picked – a great hurler but one who suffered a bit from match day nerves – his first thought was that he was a psychiatrist so the whole thing blew up in my face. Backfired badly.
Anyway, when Dave left – he wasn’t going to put up with the abuse that followed the 20 questions – I appointed Brian Ryan who was a captain in the army. He had plenty of experience, played for Limerick himself. And we won the National League in 1997 – beat Galway – and it was played in the summer.
To see him now in charge of UL was great. He said the sports section of UL was very strong. When you see the team he had on the field, it contained some firepower.
It does raise the question of whether the field needs to be levelled in that area. Sure here was a UL team with nearly the pick of Ireland. Maybe the Fitzgibbon mightn’t be as authentic as we want it to be.
Playing in Croke Park was a nice idea but it didn’t work either – it was all too open and scores too easy.
That won’t be the case tonight in Thurles where Limerick will travel to face All-Ireland champions Tipperary with all guns blazing. This should be one to savour. I saw a lot in Tipp last year that I liked, though they’re not showing their hand just yet.
Limerick have managed their comeback very well. The sharpness was there again versus Kilkenny. John Kiely has managed the experienced players back to form – and now Kyle Hayes is back in the mix.
I think it’s going to be a tremendous clash of systems. Tipp have the physicality back. The experience of winning the All-Ireland.
In the 10 minutes before that match against Cork ended in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, they really dominated.
For Limerick, what happened against Waterford was a wake up call. There could be 20,000 in Thurles. It’s arguably the fixture of the league. And no more than my All-Ireland final prediction, I fancy Tipp to win it.
P.S. I lost a lifelong friend this last week in Jack Sheehan. We went to national school together; took confirmation together. Hurled together with Ballybrown. Won a couple of county titles and a Munster championship. He was a great clubman, a great hurling supporter. And a gas man.
Like Tommy Maher in Kilkenny, he was there producing young fellas. People like him are the heart and soul of clubs around the country. We were tremendous friends. And he’ll be a tremendous loss.
