English wants provincial championships abolished

The call by Tipperary hurling manager Nicholas English for the abolition of the provincial championships was one of a number of talking points to emerge from the weekend's national coaching forum at Croke Park. English was on a panel of coaches together with Wexford All-Ireland manager Liam Griffin and former Ireland manager Colm O'Rourke.

English passed his remarks during a brief discussion on the hurling championship. "People want to see more and more games over the summer," he said. "I think the only solution is to get rid of the Munster and Leinster championships and play the championship on a superleague basis. This would guarantee about 10 games to all teams. "You might have to regularise the club scene," he added, "but that needs to be done anyway. In Tipp, we're going to be playing a minor C hurling final on the second of December this year."

He was responding to a point, forthrightly raised by Griffin. "I have never seen an organisation so hidebound with bullshit. That is not cheap point-scoring. For an example, you only have to look at the fact that the hurling championship will be the same this year as it was last year.

"We have to move with the times and respond quickly to what goes on in the real world. I read recently that of the Fortune 500 top companies of the 1950s in America, only four are left doing business. The GAA has to be able to turn like a minnow rather than like a whale."

In his key address, Griffin cited the Sony Playstation as the biggest threat to the GAA in its battle for the hearts and minds of youngsters, many of whom spend "hours in front of it".

English disagreed, inasmuch as he told the forum that he believed the threat was greater from rugby now that the sport was professional.

"The IRFU will actively target under-16s offering them the prospects of a professional career, and that's an age when kids are at their most impressionable," he said.

In support of that view, O'Rourke mentioned his experience as a schools coach. "Last year I had fellas who played rugby for the Irish and Leinster panels. They play rugby because they're better looked after. We need good people in charge of teams. They don't have to be experts, but they have to be nice to young people. That does more good than experts shouting and roaring."

There was also a panel of players giving their views on various topics. In attendance were Glenn Ryan (Kildare), David Forde (Clare), Colin Moran (Dublin), Sean de Paor (Galway) and Paudie Reale (Limerick). The most interesting aspect of this session was the discussion on the balance between fitness and skills preparation.

Perhaps the most significant comment came from Forde, who had this to say about the notoriously rigorous physical regime of Ger Loughnane. "It was pure hardship. In 1997, preparation took a huge effort but we knew we'd need it all in the summer and we put up with it. Last year the hunger wasn't as strong and the training burnt us out, because we hadn't the hunger to go through with it.

"I don't believe you need the hardship. I believe that you can get fit without killing yourself, and what you have in reserve means you have an edge going into the championship."

The football players disagreed. According to Moran: "It is necessary. You won't get by at intercounty championship level without serious levels of fitness."

Ryan said that Kildare coach Mick O'Dwyer concentrated on physical preparation. "We wouldn't have won Leinster without our fitness levels. Micko leaves skills training to the players."

Drawing on his experience participating in pre-season training with the Sydney Swans, de Paor compared football to Australian Rules. "It lasted for six weeks, which with pre-season matches gives a run-in of only three months. After experiencing that, I've rethought my own views. I don't agree with teams starting training in September for the following year's championship. But you do have to be fit to be competitive."