Gap in the market in coaching
FORMER All-ireland winning Galway goalkeeper Colm Callanan says the game of hurling needs to improve its training resources for up and coming goalkeepers.
Callanan retired from the county game last winter but was immediately called in as goalkeeping coach in Shane O’neill’s new Galway backroom team.
Callanan worked with goalkeeping coach Christy O’connor in recent seasons, and he says despite huge value being placed on the position, resources are slim on the ground.
“For just hurling goalkeeping coaching I don’t think there is too much out there at the minute. It is something I have been looking at.
“I still find myself talking to other goalkeeping coaches and coming up with my own ideas on how we should train the guys with Galway.
“There are not too many platforms or resources you could go to, where it is just dedicated to hurling goalkeeping. Certainly if there is anything out there I’d be all ears, I’d love to get into it but I haven’t found it.
“We have lots of different resources available for hurling coaches in general, but I think it’s really geared towards outfield players.
“I sought out the help of Christy O’connor who was my goalkeeping coach for all of the time I had been in with Galway and I heavily relied on his input into the way I was doing things.
“It might not have been common for goalkeeping coaches to be part of backroom teams. But in the last few years with myself this year and Christy over the last few years, it’s pretty much a dedicated role.”