If you support the Cork players in their strike or not isn't the point for this rant. The point is that their motive behind striking is right. The players want to win All Irelands and Munster titles for Cork, be it football or hurling.
If you play for Cork you're expected to win. That's just the way it is. Granted people are going to say this is more Cork arrogance, but screw them!! In terms of GAA honours the supporters and players in Cork have the right to feel arrogant if they want. There's nothing wrong with being confident. Confidence breeds success.With 113 titles at all levels in football and hurling, we have earned that right (as you may have guessed I am from Cork).But i digress...
This strike is the same as the one in 2002, with the exact same principles. The player's are once again fighting for better player conditions, a lack of confidence in the management structure and a county board, who resemble the dark side from Star Wars, yearning for complete power.But on the basis of what happened after the 2002 strike (Cork won three out of the next four Munster championships and reached four consecutive All-Ireland finals, winning two) the player's strike was proven right. The player's were left with no option but to go out and prove they were right to stike by winning a few All Irelands. Hopefully the same will follow after this strike ends. But only time will tell.
The man i feel most sorry is Teddy Holland, the Cork football manager(for the time being anyway). Teddy served as a Cork senior and U-21 selector and managed the Cork minor footballers to two Munster titles and an All-Ireland in 2000. Unfortunetly for Teddy he took up the post of senior football manager while the players were protesting about the process of appointing selectors. Some people might think it was a foolish and naive thing to do but in retrospect he had no choice. Teddy has being involved with football in Cork for over 30 years and finally the chance presents itself for him to manage at the highest level. You may only get one chance to fulfill this ambition so you have to take it. If he had said no to the job he would have alienated himself from the Cork County Board members who put his name forward.
Personally I think Teddy Holland was made a scape goat by the blazers in the Cork County Board who must have seen this strike coming after the departure of Billy Morgan. The row was well under way before Teddy was appointed manager. The Cork County Board needed the heat taken off them for awhile so they appointed the first person who would accept the job.Teddy was that man. Personally i think the player's had no issue with Teddy before he took the post. Before being the key word here. Once he accepted the job Teddy alienated himself from the players and was seen to be in cahoots with the County Board.
So who knows what is going to happen. The possibility of a Hurling and Football All Ireland Campaign without Cork could happen. On both sides off the equation (players and County Board) are some very strong willed and proud individuals. Are the County Board going to reverse a decision they have made twice? If the players give in the strike is pointless.
Ironically the Cork arrogance i mentioned above may come back to haunt us. Whoever represents Cork on the field will be expected to win by the Cork public, which may come at a cost of losing some of the most established and experienced players on both panels. Whatever happens the whole scenario has left a nasty taste in everybodies mouth....well everybody in Cork that is!
If you play for Cork you're expected to win. That's just the way it is. Granted people are going to say this is more Cork arrogance, but screw them!! In terms of GAA honours the supporters and players in Cork have the right to feel arrogant if they want. There's nothing wrong with being confident. Confidence breeds success.With 113 titles at all levels in football and hurling, we have earned that right (as you may have guessed I am from Cork).But i digress...
This strike is the same as the one in 2002, with the exact same principles. The player's are once again fighting for better player conditions, a lack of confidence in the management structure and a county board, who resemble the dark side from Star Wars, yearning for complete power.But on the basis of what happened after the 2002 strike (Cork won three out of the next four Munster championships and reached four consecutive All-Ireland finals, winning two) the player's strike was proven right. The player's were left with no option but to go out and prove they were right to stike by winning a few All Irelands. Hopefully the same will follow after this strike ends. But only time will tell.
The man i feel most sorry is Teddy Holland, the Cork football manager(for the time being anyway). Teddy served as a Cork senior and U-21 selector and managed the Cork minor footballers to two Munster titles and an All-Ireland in 2000. Unfortunetly for Teddy he took up the post of senior football manager while the players were protesting about the process of appointing selectors. Some people might think it was a foolish and naive thing to do but in retrospect he had no choice. Teddy has being involved with football in Cork for over 30 years and finally the chance presents itself for him to manage at the highest level. You may only get one chance to fulfill this ambition so you have to take it. If he had said no to the job he would have alienated himself from the Cork County Board members who put his name forward.
Personally I think Teddy Holland was made a scape goat by the blazers in the Cork County Board who must have seen this strike coming after the departure of Billy Morgan. The row was well under way before Teddy was appointed manager. The Cork County Board needed the heat taken off them for awhile so they appointed the first person who would accept the job.Teddy was that man. Personally i think the player's had no issue with Teddy before he took the post. Before being the key word here. Once he accepted the job Teddy alienated himself from the players and was seen to be in cahoots with the County Board.
So who knows what is going to happen. The possibility of a Hurling and Football All Ireland Campaign without Cork could happen. On both sides off the equation (players and County Board) are some very strong willed and proud individuals. Are the County Board going to reverse a decision they have made twice? If the players give in the strike is pointless.
Ironically the Cork arrogance i mentioned above may come back to haunt us. Whoever represents Cork on the field will be expected to win by the Cork public, which may come at a cost of losing some of the most established and experienced players on both panels. Whatever happens the whole scenario has left a nasty taste in everybodies mouth....well everybody in Cork that is!
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