‘Top teams must support Carbery hurling'

BY TOM LYONS

CARBERY senior hurling manager Jerry Ryan has called on all clubs in the division, especially the stronger hurling clubs, to support their local divisional team in the county series.

Carbery were well beaten by county champions Glen Rovers in a round one tie last Sunday, with Ryan admitting that many top hurlers in the division are not committing to Carbery.

‘The disappointing aspect is that we’re not getting players from the top teams in the division,’ Ryan said.

‘There was no player from divisional champions Clonakilty here (on Sunday), only one from Barryroe, two from Argideen, two from Bandon and three from Kilbrittain. Those clubs should be backboning the team. Unless those clubs support the Carbery team, these are the results you are going to get.’

Getting the support from clubs, who would then encourage their players to wear the Carbery jersey, is essential to the future success of the team, according to Ryan.

‘The top clubs should be leading Carbery hurling,’ said Ryan. 

‘You shouldn’t have to be winning games to draw in these clubs and players. 

‘When Carbery won their only title in 1994 it was the top clubs like Kilbrittain, Argideen, Barryroe and Newcestown who were driving the thing. They wanted to be involved, wanted to drive it forward. That isn’t happening today.’

Ryan was pleased with the efforts of the players who togged out against Glen Rovers last Sunday but is very aware that a lot of work is needed to bridge the gap between junior and senior.

‘It’s very disappointing. The lads on the pitch gave their best on the day. They are better than they looked out there but eight of the starting team were playing their first senior championship game, and a few of the subs as well. Three of them are just out of minor ranks and it’s a big step up from junior hurling to this level,’ he said.

‘Playing the Glen, the county champions, who are on top of their game, was a big ask for our lads. We can only bring them on by playing matches against top teams. This season we had them together for some games but unfortunately, some of the scheduled games were cancelled through no fault of ours. These games against other divisions fell through at very late notice and we couldn’t arrange anything else.’

‘We’ve one more game now, against Ballymartle, but it’s impossible to say if we can even get together between now and then. We’ll improve if we get all the best players to commit and if the clubs support us. Otherwise, it’s hard to see where we’re going with this. 

‘We have no problems at present getting numbers but it’s getting the top players to commit that is the main worry. We’ll keep the show on the road for the sake of Carbery hurling and the lads out (last Sunday) there deserve our best efforts.’