Cork model offers a pathway for all to reach Senior grade

HERE’S AN interesting observation on the John Meyler-managed Cork Senior hurlers who came up agonisingly short against Limerick in the second of the weekend’s classic All-Ireland semi-finals that captivated the nation.

Of the 20 players used by the Leesiders, the grand total of seven don’t play with Senior clubs but are instead eligible to represent their divisions in the top flight.

Indeed, the East Cork barony of Imokilly are the reigning champions, and that bestowed the captaincy on Seamus Harnedy whose small Junior club, St. Ita’s, is based in Gortroe, a tiny speck on the map close to Youghal.

Colm Spillane from Castlelyons is likely to join him on the team in defence of their title, although he didn’t feature last year as he instead opted to represent his third level college in the Cork Senior championship.

U.C.C. and C.I.T. also feature in the competition, and a player has to choose between division or college if he is eligible to feature with both.

Imokilly will be further strengthened this year by the fact that Bill Cooper’s Youghal were relegated from Senior ranks at the end of 2017, so the midfielder will be a huge addition.

Corner-back Seán O’Donoghue comes from Inniscarra and his divisional side is Muskerry. Mark Coleman (Blarney) is another Muskerry man, while midfielder Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville) can play Senior with Avondhu.

The seventh player used was Mark Ellis of Junior club Millstreet and Duhallow, who have lost Kanturk duo Anthony Nash and Lorcán McLoughlin this year by virtue of their Premier Intermediate success in 2017.

The unused substitutes on Sunday included Carrigaline pair David Griffin and Rob O’Shea (Carrigdhoun), Brian Lawton of Castlemartyr and Imokilly, and substitute goalkeeper Patrick Collins from Ballinhassig, another Carrigdhoun man.

And to turn to the Cork Under-21 squad that we will meet next Saturday, nine of the 24 named on the programme for the Munster final win against Tipperary are in a similar situation.

Apart from Senior men Coleman, Fitzgibbon and Griffin, there’s another Collins brother in goal, Ger (Ballinhassig and Carrigdhoun), plus David Lowney (Clonakilty and Carbery), Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons and Imokilly), Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers and Carrigdhoun), Declan Dalton (Fr. O’Neill’s and Imokilly), and finally substitute Stephen Condon from Harbour Rovers and Avondhu.

Cork has eight divisions in all - Imokilly, Avondhu, Duhallow, Muskerry, Carrigdhoun, Carbery plus two not mentioned thus far, Seandun (city) and the rocky outpost of Beara on our south-west shores where the emphasis is almost entirely on football.

I have outlined the above in order to highlight what is possible if divisional or district teams are allowed to compete at Senior level, following on from my observations last week.

Not all of the above divisions prepare thoroughly for the championship annually, but the key point is that there’s a pathway there for any young player from an Intermediate or Junior club with the desire to better himself and line out in the Senior grade.

And the divisions that do make the effort have regularly claimed titles in Cork. Imokilly beat Eoin Quigley’s Sarsfields in a semi-final replay before overcoming Blackrock in last year’s hurling decider, while Duhallow got to the last four in football.

Carbery in 1994, Avondhu in 1996, and Imokilly in 1997, 1998 and 2017 are all recent hurling victors, while Imokilly (1984 and 1986), Duhallow (1990 and 1991), Beara (1997) and Carbery (2004) have claimed football crowns to go with the earlier successes of Avondhu in 1961, and Muskerry nine years later.

In Wexford there is a natural tendency to dismiss any radical proposal to alter championship structures without asking the most pertinent question: is it for the common good and the betterment of our players?

I’ll keep banging this drum for another while, and next week I will use some more facts to show why clubs shouldn’t fear the presence of the four Districts in the two Senior championships.