ABOUT 10 years ago, Donal O’Grady told a story about Kilkenny which encapsulated their collective attitude, and which neatly underlines just how, and why, the Kilkenny machine has kept raging on ever since.
The Kilkenny border with Carlow stretches from the north of the county right down to below halfway. Along any border, especially in relation to primary schools, and particularly in low density population areas, there will always be a county crossover.
One particular school in Carlow right on the border had a very small percentage of Kilkenny kids amongst its enrolment. Yet a representative from the Kilkenny county board went to the school, asked if they could, and subsequently provided hurleys, gear and whatever other assistance they could offer. Of course, the school greatly accepted the support.
The county board didn’t have to go to that effort. The school wasn’t their responsibility. Carlow kids were going to benefit but Kilkenny always look at the bigger picture. There may have only been eight or 10 Kilkenny kids in that school but if the county board’s assistance helped one or two of those children to become better hurlers, and maybe someday play with Kilkenny, that was their job done.
That practice would be unheard off in any other county but Kilkenny are not like any other county. And that little story told by O’Grady is just one of the tiny pixels which has made up the glorious modern image of Kilkenny hurling.
Of course Kilkenny have an advantage over most counties. They focus on one game. They are not the biggest county but their size, and the unity within the county towards the greater good of Kilkenny hurling, makes it easier to track and create awareness of all players available.
Just as importantly, they transmit an image of absolute positivity, inclusivity and a desire to always promote and better Kilkenny hurling. Nobody is bigger than anybody else. Everybody, no matter where they are in the chain, is a part of the production line.
Kilkenny value everybody. Teachers who do good work in the schools are always well looked after with All-Ireland tickets by the county board every September. The teachers do it because they love the game but the county board’s gesture is an endorsement of how much they are valued within the Kilkenny system.
In Kilkenny, if something goes wrong, hard questions are always asked. Not every county asks the hard questions but the one county who should be asking the hardest questions of themselves is Antrim, given their chronic underachievement, especially in hurling.
Hard questions are everywhere; why are good young players being lost along the line? Why is the Antrim brand repeatedly falling down? How come there is not more ambition to play, and do well, for the county?
There are no easy answers but Antrim look like a county who are crying out for a director of hurling (A similar appointment for football is just as pressing). Antrim is such a huge county that a clear and centralised pathway needs to be devised ranging from child (mainly participation) to youth (participation and performance) to adult (mainly performance).
Such a pathway would have a number of different strands, covering skill and tactical development, personal development and physical development, with the latter being devised by a head of strength and conditioning.
A director would then oversee the implementation of that pathway in clubs, schools right up to county teams, all in tandem with the county’s coach education programmes.
A director should be seen as the first point of assistance, and not as a threat to anyone involved with a county team, especially managers and coaches.
That is even more important considering that liaising with managers of all county teams and games development assistants (GDAs) would be crucial in enabling a director to ensure the strict implementation of that player pathway at all levels.
As well as sitting on all county management appointment committees from U14 to senior, a director could also report to a board executive subgroup on the performance of all county teams, especially those which have underperformed.
Given the size and scale of Antrim, a director working on the ground could also advise all the relevant committees on best practice in terms of fixture planning and implementation.
Both hurling and football directors could also liaise with each other to determine common goals and programmes. That link-up would also be crucial in drawing up appropriate guidelines for dual players, a huge issue in the county.
More than anything, though, a director must have the power to ‘force’ policy through. The position should also be above county management teams at all levels. They report to the director, who reports to the county board chairman.
The director must also understand the local mindset. For example, the dual county dynamic needs to be catered for especially when the teams who have minimal football involvement get held back due to football.
A greater link also needs to be established between the schools and the clubs, where a director could assist in tracking those players, especially in Belfast where the demographic is so vast and wide.
Trying to ensure consistent games at the required levels would also come under the director’s remit. So would the development squads, and ensuring they are receiving the proper coaching to get them up to the required speed.
Antrim GAA has other significant other financial issues to address now, especially with the redevelopment of Casement Park, and the new centre at Dunsilly. Financial assistance from Croke Park to assist in such an appointment could be pursued because the bigger picture, of players and more sustained growth and development, always has to be the priority.
So many tiny little pixels make up that bigger picture, which Antrim need to focus on. And hurling and football directors would be a priceless investment for Antrim.
