This week brings the news that some of the Limerick hurlers are not happy with some of the management decisions regarding the initial panel selection for 2010. Put them alongside their neighbours Clare, who will apparently oust Mike McNamara from his position, the Cork hurlers who did the same less than a year ago and the Cork footballers and Waterford hurlers who protested similarly early last year and you have a growing issue within the GAA that needs to be credited for what it is and handled accordingly.
As always happens in this situation the moral high ground will immediately be sought by those that claim that wearing the jersey is an honour and that players should just play. Who knows what an honour it is to wear the jersey better than Damien Reale, Dan Shanahan, Diarmuid McMahon or Ben O’Connor? Does anybody who takes that higher ground know what it feels like to slog through November mornings in the gym and January nights on the training field just to get ready for 70 minutes in May? While we give next year’s championship the occasional thought these players use it as their only motivation to survive the professional fitness standards set for them for six months before they leave their dressing room for the first game. You don’t get to line out at 3:30 on championship day if you don’t know what it took to get you there and how much it means to those around you.
The weakest link theory stretches way beyond the skill of the players that take the field and the bench that backs them up in any modern game. It extends into nutrition, fitness, tactics, team spirit and many other facets that are entrusted to a group that won’t take the field when the time comes but who are equally as vital to the success or failure. That group needs the trust of all concerned, least of all the players who have to deliver on the combined effort come game day. It’s one thing losing to a better team and leaving your aspirations behind for another year, it’s another thing saying goodbye when you know your team’s potential has not been maximised through shortcomings in preparation or tactics.
The GAA powers that be have a choice real here. Either they accept that this is an intelligent group of people who need some say in all aspects of the effort that will culminate in them taking the field next May, or revert to type, bury their heads in the sand and claim righteousness in exercising their exclusivity in choosing the management team, because that’s the way it’s always been done.
Surely looking at what happened to Cork hurling in 2009 would be a useful exercise. Cork will likely rebound in 2010, because they have the talent and resources to do so.
Do Limerick, Clare or whatever county comes next have a year to waste?
