Corcoran warns clubs: stop telling players not to line out with schools

CARBERY clubs have been ordered to stop telling their players not to line out with their schools in mid-week matches.

In his final address to the Carbery AGM as chairman John Corcoran revealed that the board discovered that certain clubs instructed their players not to play with their schools.

He said this practice must stop immediately.

‘The executive is acutely aware of the importance of good coaching to all clubs in the division,’ Corcoran said.

‘We are extremely fortunate to have the services of James McCarthy who is doing Trojan work in the schools and clubs throughout the division. 

‘The fruits of this great work can be seen by the amount of underage county titles that are being won while two West Cork schools are competing in the Corn Ui Mhuiri and Hamilton High School are competing in the Harty Cup for the third successive year. 

‘This board will continue to support all the current programmes and also some new initiatives. 

‘However, the board was most disappointed to learn that during the autumn that a number of clubs instructed their players not to line out with their school teams in mid-week as they had matches at the weekend. 

‘This is a practice that must stop immediately as schools and clubs must work in tandem for the promotion of Gaelic Games. It is well documented that schools have first call on their players during the school term and rightly so.

‘While one understands the dilemma that clubs face when involved in games late in the year, the Master Fixture Plan was supposed to have addressed this imbroglio. However this has not been the case and as a result we see a continual crossover of fixtures. 

‘In an ideal world all underage championships should be completed prior to schools commencing their programmes. Again much lip service is being paid to the importance of our schools but actions speak louder than words. 

‘It is also pointless bemoaning the lack of success at second level when situations as adverted to above are left go unchecked. Clubs need to encourage their players to participate at schools level and also actively assist the schools, many who are crying out for help.’

Corcoran also called on the Cork County Board to revisit its decision to turn down Carbery’s request to enter a divisional hurling team in the U21 county championship for the first time.

‘It was with a huge sense of dismay, disappointment and disgust that we learned that our attempts to enter a Carbery hurling team at U21 championship level were rebuffed,’ Corcoran said.

‘I feel strongly that the admission of Carbery would benefit hurling not only in the division but also throughout the county. It requires courage and vision to change what has been the norm for years. However, I am again calling on the county board to admit Carbery to this grade.

‘Just (last) week the national Hurling Development Committee launched a blueprint for the development of hurling. A huge opportunity now exists within Cork to think outside the box and spread the hurling gospel by admitting Carbery to the U21 championship. 

‘Surely, if other counties can co-operate – e.g. Naas playing in the Kilkenny leagues at underage levels – then Cork can cater for the promotion of the game within its county boundaries.’