Pray democracy is finally coming to the Cork GAA

The players group have made a brave stand and are leading the way. They deserve the support of every follower and club that value the truth, writes JOHN ALLEN

THE LAST time I wrote on the topic of the striking Cork hurlers I finished with what might now be a very telling sentence, “Maybe a proper revolution is needed this time”. This revolution has been needed for years but no individual or group has been brave or maybe foolish enough to attempt change in the Cork GAA board.

The older members of the group of striking players were never on for settling for second best and at the end of 2002, after a very bitter stand-off with the board, they brought about a change in, to use a topical term, terms and conditions which helped smooth the way to a period of high achievement over the following four years.

These were special years for the very loyal Rebel supporters. A new generation of Cork follower began to acknowledge the beauty, grace, skill and speed of this wonderful Irish game.

The players blossomed and gave some outstanding displays. For all those lucky enough to be involved, these were the “days of our lives”. The performances, victories and losses (even) were much appreciated by the very enthusiastic support that travelled in their thousands – with or without tickets.

Who will ever forget the scramble for tickets before the Munster finals? Who will forget the delays getting to Killarney in ’04 or that legend Brian Corcoran putting the final nail in the Kilkenny coffin, while on his knees that same year?

The loss to the Déise in that year’s Munster final epic will long stay in the memory, as will the resurrection against Clare in the ’05 All-Ireland semi or the wonderful save from above the crossbar by Dónal Óg in the following year’s semi-final. Yes, these were the days of our lives.

From the first post-strike session with the players on a bitterly cold January 2003 morning it was very obvious that, while manager Dónal O Grady was a strict disciplinarian, he was also very sensitive to the players’ needs. Let me also add there were never any outrageous demands.

I’ve been lucky enough to have been involved with many successful teams over the past 30 years but this group of hurlers, in my opinion, ticked all the boxes. They are diligent, hard working and people of honour. Whatever needed to be done to play and win for Cork was always the priority. They are the most self-motivated group you’re ever likely too meet.

They treated all in the management with the utmost respect, a respect that was reciprocated. The group worked well together and enjoyed four quite successful years even though Kilkenny did undo our three-in-a-row dream.

At various times the rumour and innuendo mill carried stories of the players running affairs in 2005/’06 and this was part of the reason they couldn’t buy into the new regime of Gerald McCarthy .

Yes, the players were given an input into the tactics for the championship games. Yes, Dónal Óg had an input into the plans for the pucks out (after all he did take these very important free pucks). Yes, we were always sensitive to player concerns.

No, the players never had any input into who was on the panel. No, the players never had any input into team selections. No the players never had any input into changes made on match days. No the players hadn’t any input into the training drills, either devising or executing them.

So how did it all come unstuck?

Well, the decision not to continue with members of the previous management for season ’07 was the beginning of what now looks like the end. That has been well documented as has the next major stand-off last winter.

But here we are again in a similar position. I’ve already laid the blame at the board executive’s door. It’s still lying there though, unacknowledged.

They, the board executive, five in number, sat down with the players, two in number, to decide on who would wear the mantle of Cork senior hurling manager for 2009. The five, who must have known all wasn’t well in the camp over the previous two years, decided the previous incumbent would be contacted to ascertain his further interest in the post. Having received a positive response the five decided his name would be top of a list of potential candidates. He would then be offered the post and if he accepted (which they knew he would) then the job was his. Now I know there were five meetings but that is the essence of what took place, as far as I’m aware.

In other words there was no point in the players nominating candidates. In fact, with the total lack of courtesy and respect shown to the same players, the meetings were a waste of time and an insult to the people of integrity representing the players.

All that has been played out in the media since is a result of that decision to totally disregard the wishes of the players. This split in Cork GAA is the board’s legacy. They have engineered this crisis and nurtured it.

McCarthy, the 30 Cork players and the development squad have come in for scathing comment from all quarters. Did the board learn any lessons from last year’s stand-off? Obviously not.

I’ve said before I don’t think the players should have any representative on the committee which chooses the manager. Of course their wishes should be considered – as is done in most clubs and counties.

Are the board executive, now, going to preside over this Pyrrhic victory and feel democracy was upheld to the letter of the law? What is democratic about not allowing any other candidate be interviewed for the job? Why were the board delegates not made aware the players’ representatives had a major problem with the reappointment of Gerald McCarthy? What was the point in having two players’ reps on the committee if the strongly held wishes and opinions of the squad they represented would be totally ignored?

But maybe the tide is beginning to turn. The clubs of the county might be about to take back the power which they have been without for many years now.

It’s gone on long enough. The charade has to stop. We’ve waited long enough for a solution. The board executive is responsible for this calamity but Gerald McCarthy is the fall guy.

This is not about player power. It’s about integrity, honesty, truth and transparency. Sadly these now don’t exist between the players and the executive. Gerald McCarthy has been used. He has lost the dressingroom and cannot hope to succeed with a team who don’t want to play for him.

The revolution is gathering momentum. The malaise that is eating away at board level needs to be addressed before it does any further damage. The ’08 players group have made a very brave stand and are leading the way. They deserve the support of every follower and club that value the truth. Gandhi said: “Almost anything you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”

The time for change for the better is now.