KENNEDY BREAKS THE GLASS CEILING
Out-going County Committee Chairman Ger Lane reflected on a mixed year for the county at inter-county level in his final address to delegates
017 was a mixed year for our inter-county teams. Our hurling teams did well, but all our football teams struggled. All our teams prepared diligently and many hours of preparation go into each squad and it’s not a lack of effort or commitment.
Our Senior Footballers who remained in Division 2, which was a major disappointment as it was their target to return to the top division in 2018. Division 1 for Cork Football is important if we are to compete with the top teams in Championship.
Staying in Division 2 had a knock on effect when we struggled alarmingly against Waterford in the opening round of the Munster Championship. It’s safe to say we struggled all year, but for one very encouraging performance against Mayo in the All Ireland quarter-finals.
This team is in transition, under new Coach Ronan McCarthy, but we have the players, and 2018 has to be earmarked for a major improvement in our football fortunes
My Thanks to Peadar Healy and his management team who worked tirelessly but the results didn’t go our way2
Our Senior Hurlers had a great League, and continued the marked improvement in the Championship. Our All Ireland Semi Final versus Waterford, while the result went against us, the overall feeling was one of a year where major progress was made.
Losing Kieran Kingston and, most of his back room team was a major disappointment, Kieran’s decision to step away after a number of years of involvement has created a challenge for the players and the new back room team to reach the heights of 2017. We wish John Meyler and his new selectors and the team the best in 2018
Both hurling and football Under 21 teams came well prepared this year and the Hurlers were beaten by a good Limerick team in the Munster Final who went on to win the All Ireland.
With a full panel to choose from I believe Cork would have challenged even more seriously for ultimate honours but with many of the panel available to new coach Denis Ring and the good crop of minors in the last few years we can be hopeful in 2018 that it can be achieved.
In football our Under 21s defeat to Kerry in Pairc Uí Rinn was a major disappointment and we never got off the ground and were well beaten Kerry, with a conveyor belt of underage talent presently will continue to a major obstacle in the years aged at the Under 20 Grade.
Both minor teams were excellently prepared and gave good performances. The footballers lost to Kerry in a good game, but Kerry were the best team in the country at this level and with the exceptional talent of David Clifford swept past every team with ease.
The Minor hurlers had a brilliant year and in a wonderful Munster Championship where the two games v Tipp will be long remembered and our Munster final day in Thurles v Clare where we reclaimed the Munster title was indeed a very sweet day for Cork Hurling.
This team was capable of being All Ireland winners, but Galway proved too good on a day where too many of our players under performed and some serious injuries leading into that game hampered our chances considerably.
Our Under 17 Hurlers, coached by John Considine, won a very good Munster Championship and went on to claim the inaugural All Ireland at this level. This achievement was very noteworthy and built a solid foundation for our Under 21
teams in the years ahead. Our thanks to the management team for a job very well done.
In Under 17 Football our football management under James McCarthy had assembled a very good team; however we played below our potential in the game with Kerry in Tralee and paid the ultimate price with defeat by our neighbours. However, there are players on that team well capable of playing at higher level in the years ahead.
Our Junior footballers went down to a good Kerry side and it was a disappointing performance. With so many players to pick from we should be much stronger in this grade of football and we hope that will be the case in 2018.
Our Intermediate hurlers were most disappointing. Just one game v Kilkenny we again underperformed and paid the price for many missed chances on the day. The future of this grade hangs in the balance due to a lack of interest in most counties.
Under Age Our Development squads are performing very well. Congrats to all those involved with the squads in winning various Munster tournaments. My thanks to our Games Manager and his team of GDA s who have been spearheading these squads for the last few years and continues to do so.
Our Coiste na nOg are well established now and continue the great work of previous years. The commitment of so many people to Rebel Óg is an inspiration as they go about their work year in year out with the minimum of fuss.
Our ladies continue to show the way with another great year and we warmly congratulate them. Our camogie team once again came out on top. Their manager Paudie Murray deserves the highest praise and may I also say congratulations, to Rena Buckley who captained the team and collected her 18th All Ireland medal, a major milestone in the history of the game.
Cork is a great GAA county with great people, and I want thank you all.
I wish to thank my family, my Employers Corrib Oil / Suttons Oil my club Bride Rovers, my division Imokilly for their full support and encouragement. I want to say thank you to everyone involved in Cork GAA I want to thank you collectively for the respect shown to me throughout. I have always tried to put the best interests of Cork GAA first and foremost.
Finally, let me thank all of you for your friendship and the honour of having worked with you. As I leave I bear no grudge or ill feeling to any delegate club, or member.
For those who are moving on, I wish you the very best, and for those who are staying, I wish you much success.
As for me, one part of a very challenging and illuminating experience has come to an end, one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. In closing, let me echo Saint Paul in saying that “I have run with perseverance and have finished the race”.
Whether I have finished the race successfully or not, is not for me to say. I will leave it to my colleagues here and you as members to be the judge.
Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh.