A QUEST FOR DIRECTION

DAMIEN COLEMAN believes controversial proposals only underlines the need for a dedicated position to coordinate a coherent national strategy for hurling.

‘It does. We spend vast amounts of money in the GAA, a lot of it on good things. I don’t understand how a role like that would be surplus to requirements based on how successful Martin Fogarty had been. And how successful Paudie Butler, in a different way, had been successful before him.’

He wouldn’t just restore the National Hurling Development Manager position that Martin Fogarty (right) held for five years until 2021 but broaden it with a view to integration with the Camogie Association.

‘I do think it should be strategic.

Instead of spending too much time in the operations box, whoever comes into our role needs to go more into the strategy box. Ensure policies, procedures, good practice and structures are happening. The role needs greater clarity and definition.

‘A National Hurling Director or Manager – and I don’t mean stay in an office in Croke Park – he or she needs to be on the ground meeting people. Do you know what? Why wouldn’t there be a National Hurling and Camogie Manager for the country put in place? Because the girls aren’t doing anything different than the boys.

‘Why aren’t we talking about being the same on that?

‘I have a little girl – she is six and a half. A young fella who is five. I wouldn’t want anyone to tell my daughter that they can’t be in the field at a certain time because the boys are in there. We need to be moving with the modern way of thinking.

‘If I had anything to do with it I’d be appointing a Hurling/Camogie National Director who would have specific terms of reference. Mostly living in the strategy box rather than operations. Aligning structures.’