Underage no longer a barometer for future success

On Sunday when Kerry take on Donegal in the All-Ireland minor final, the county will be marking 20 years since previously winning the Tom Markham Cup. During that time Tyrone have won four minor titles, Laois three, Cork and Down two each but on the senior stage no county can compare with Kerry's six All-Irelands.

Under-21 level has been more reflective but even here Kerry have taken home just one All-Ireland in 16 years. The point could be argued as being disingenuous, as the county’s three wins at the grade in 1995, ’96 and ’98 produced 19 senior medallists but the minor drought has been apparently without cost.

Even that 1994 minor final defeat of Galway produced just two starting All-Ireland medallists whereas their opponents found eight players who lined out in successful All-Ireland finals.

‘Not a barometer’

“I think it has proved that it’s not a barometer any more, that success doesn’t automatically follow,” is the reaction of Pat O’Shea,

Munster

Council’s Coaching and Games Manager for Football, who managed the Kerry minors and also led the seniors to the 2007 All-Ireland.

“Tyrone are probably the best example of a county that has achieved senior success after winning at minor level and Laois are probably the best example of the teams that haven’t fulfilled their potential at senior level.

"While Kerry haven't been successful they have developed individual players who are capable of playing at a higher level and have obviously gone on to do that. For example Colm Cooper and Declan O'Sullivan are good examples of exceptionally good minors who didn't play for successful teams.

“The process of development is about developing the whole player and obviously at 17 and 18 you’re really only in the middle of that process.”

One aspect of development that has been revolutionised over the past 20 years is the field of third-level education. O’Shea says that the development of young players at institutes and universities has had significant benefits for players and their counties.

"The James O'Donoghues and Paul Geaneys are considered young but they've got their third-level experience behind them and have played in and won Sigersons but they haven't been successful at underage intercounty level."

One of the reasons for the renewed prominence of further education is the scale of the numbers enrolled compared to the past when only universities were involved in Sigerson.

“The greater take-up at third level has had an influence. I think players have been catered for far better as well. With development programmes in the counties I think there’s an awareness that if a huge amount is being invested in players at underage there has to be a continuation of that and the whole availability of sports science at third-level is something young players have been able to avail of.”

Career path

The career path from college to county is also well established, as O’Shea points out: “A few years ago

Sligo IT

won Sigerson and there was a Donegal input from players playing on Sunday. Similarly you’d DCU and Dublin,

Cork IT

and Cork.

“It has proved to be a very good grounding for a lot of players. I think there’s 11 on the [weekend’s Kerry] panel who would have played Sigerson with UCC and there’s that kind of connection. Third-level colleges are as professional in their approach as a lot of the intercounty teams.”

After winning the Sigerson in 2011, UCC coach Billy Morgan made a prophetic comment about his team, which had featured, amongst others, Peter Crowley and Johnny Buckley.

“Last year when we got to the final there were three of our players brought onto the Cork panel and I’m sure you’ll hear of a lot of these players in the future for Cork, and unfortunately a good few of them for Kerry.”