Diarmuid Sheehan
New Cork Under 20 boss Pat Ryan argues that success and development are one in the same
AT Ryan is a Sars man and still puts his efforts into making sure the Glanmire Club is as successful as it can be but for the foreseeable future the well-respected Cork legend finds himself with another title, Cork Under 20 Hurling Manager, a role few would argue isn’t the second most important job in Cork hurling management.
Ryan comes in after a stint which saw Denis Ring bring the side to two All-Ireland finals, but they were collectively never able to bring the spoils home – something that Ryan has been charged with doing.
“I’d like to pay tribute to Denis and his management team. They have done fantastic work. I don’t think people realise how much work they put into this group. They were unlucky and there was no one more disappointed than them.
“They got a bit of stick for it, which was unwarranted at times. All you have to do is look at the panel Kieran will assemble for the seniors and you will see all the players that have gone through that management for the last few years.
“There are 16 or 17 of last year’s 30 eligible for next season so there is no shortage of players.”
Ryan has been around the block long enough to know the challenge that awaits and even with that knowledge he is still right up for the gig.
“It is a fantastic opportunity. It is very humbling to be involved with Cork. I wouldn’t be here only for my family and my club. It is very dear to my heart. A special thanks to Sars, my time will be less spent below there.
“I am really looking forward to the challenge and getting to work with Kieran [Kingston], Donal Óg [Cusack] and Aidan [O’Connell] and Noel [Furlong].”
Ryan’s backroom team is impressive and he couldn’t wait to pay tribute to them all.
“I have a fantastic team around me, genuine people who have got on board. Wayne Sherlock, who I have known for 25 years, played with and worked with. A fantastic guy from Blackrock, and hugely experienced.
“Donal O’Mahony from Bishopstown. I worked with Donal in 2016 and 2017 with the senior team. He is doing fantastic work in Christians (CBC), another very genuine, honourable guy, and has great experience of kids at that age being involved with Harty as well. Very lucky to have him.
“Brendan Coleman from Youghal. I played Under 21 with him in 1997 and played senior with him. I know him for 20 odd years. Another great guy as well, has huge coaching experience between Youghal and west Waterford.
“Fergal Condon from Aghada who is involved with Imokilly who are going for three-in-a-row Cork county senior hurling championships. Fergal has done fantastic work with development squads. He is a very honest, genuine guy as well.
“They will all bring a genuineness, a soundness and a humbleness to what we want to get out of these players.”
The perception of the role of an Under 20 management team can often be confusing with some thinking its primary function is to win while others want players coming through – regardless of results.
“The more you win, the more you develop players. The more successful you are the better they feel about themselves. Of course, we have to win. Cork is all about having a winning culture. Developing the player, the person, making them better kids, making them more grounded, making sure they are looking after their school work, their jobs, that is all a holistic approach to the player.
“Cork people are starved of success. Winning is a huge part of it but we can’t put winning at the top, it has to be the development and hopefully winning comes out of that.”
So has success with the big ball been a hindrance or a help and what about his relationship with the other high profile managerial appointments?
“We are very lucky in Cork, we have fantastic facilities, we have a fantastic county board that is going to support us and Aidan O’Connell. If you look at the people involved with football – Keith Ricken and Bobby O’Dwyer – they have done great work at the ground level as well.
“If you look at our management teams, they are people who are working at the coalface with their clubs, whether it is senior, minor, Under 20 or Noel [Furlong’s] group coming up from development squads, that can only be positive. Great camaraderie among us all.
“I worked with Kieran in 2016 and 2017 and I have been in charge of Under 14 development squads, and I built up a relationship with Kieran then – his son was involved. Donal Óg I know since 1994 when we played in a Harty Cup final.
“Noel is from Carrigtwohill, I have hurled against him. We are all going in the one direction. Everyone wants to put their shoulder to the wheel, I don’t think anyone wants to be a Big Time Charlie.”
Ryan has been involved in many back-room set-ups over the years so his view on what the Under 20s are is key to where he sees the side position itself going forward If you look at our management teams, they are people who are working at the coalface with their clubs whether it is senior or minor
– Pat Ryan
and the drop from Under 21 to Under 20 is significant according to the man charged with bringing national success to this age group.
“They are a year behind in regards hurling, their own development and some of them are probably a year behind from a strength and conditioning point of view. We will have a broad base to work from – from 18 to 20-year olds. We will have to take different groups at different stages of their development from a physical point of view.
“From fellas coming out of doing their Leaving Cert at 18 and coming out of an under 17 grade and putting them up against fellas who are 20 and might have two to three years conditioning under them.
“That will be my remit and I think Aidan O’Connell will be a huge addition. If you take it from the last three years, that is 75 players that you have to keep an eye on. The majority of them will have to be put on strength and conditioning programmes.
“Any player that would come into our group, we need to make them better hurlers for themselves and for their clubs, and we will get the knock on from that. Anyone who comes into the Cork panel has to go back to their club a better player, a better athlete, better conditioned, better attitude and to be delivering for their club as well.
“Unless we get our players playing well for their clubs, it has a negative effect. That is one issue we will be trying to drive into them.”
Next up for Ryan is to finish the backroom team and get to work on his plans for the next campaign, but there is no rest for the wicked so almost immediately there will be work for the players to do.
“We are sorting out the rest of our management team. With regard to strength and conditioning, we are dealing with Aidan about that and support staff. We will be led by what the seniors are doing. From our perspective, fellas will be playing Harty and Freshers, it will be after Christmas before we get back on the field.
“We will be outlining strength and conditioning programmes and physical testing so they will get a three-month block into them before Christmas.”