New boss Ger Manley looking forward to putting his print on Cork camogie

Former Inniscarra, Midleton and Cork hurler was a key member of the All-Ireland winning backroom this season and now takes the helm for 2024
New boss Ger Manley looking forward to putting his print on Cork camogie

Ger Manley during his time with the Cork minor hurlers. Picture: Matt Browne/SPORTSFILE

GER MANLEY is no stranger to coaching and managing hurling and camogie teams throughout the country. 

He now finds himself in the high-profile job of managing Cork’s senior camogie team for a minimum of two years with the potential of an extension. 

His rise up the ranks may seem rapid but the first team he coached was Fr O’Neill's camogie team back in 2001. They won their first senior title in 2002 after Ger had been with them for the initial six months but had to step away for work reasons. 

He had previously been asked by Paudie Murray to join Cork’s setup, but it was two years ago when Matthew Twomey asked him again to come in as a selector and coach that he accepted the position.

Cork manager Matthew Twomey with selector Ger Manley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Cork manager Matthew Twomey with selector Ger Manley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

"I was out for the first six weeks of 2022 after an operation so when I came in it was more or less set up and I was doing bits and pieces. "Davy was the coach at the time and there was a big management team there whereas this year there was a more compact management team and so I had a lot more involvement. 

"Grand, you need lots of people to do stuff but in particular with coaching and picking a team you don’t need that many because too many voices, too many different opinions... and I thought this year Matthew had it spot on and I think that’s the way we’re going to go again next year. 

"There’ll be one or two new faces to help but it’ll be very similar overall to last year."

Ger knew from the outset of 2023 that they had something good. 

"I think girls see things better. I saw that this year especially, like Liam Cronin was such an exceptional coach and the girls saw it.

"They had it sussed early and the feedback we were getting from them was excellent. That’s very important. 

I came up in the era where you were told to do things and you got on with it. There was no voice but now the players have a voice. 

ELITE

"People don’t realise that the girls are elite sportspeople. They’re at it five or six nights a week, they do everything towards it, and I just thought this year they were phenomenal. 

Cork's Ger Manley and Ronan Dwane attempt to block down Waterford player James O'Connor at Páirc Uí Rinn in 1997. Picture: Dan Linehan
Cork's Ger Manley and Ronan Dwane attempt to block down Waterford player James O'Connor at Páirc Uí Rinn in 1997. Picture: Dan Linehan

"Look, we had our ups and downs, but we knew we were coming. The Munster semi-final summed it up for us. After that, we got better and better and we got our injured players back.

"There’s strength in the squad and I thought we were very strong when the year finished. It's huge playing your first final and Waterford will be there again next year. Galway are going to be strong;

Kilkenny have a big turnover but they’ve players coming up, Tipp are coming but I think we’ve some very good players coming up as well."

The club championship has been very competitive.

"The first year I was only getting to know the players, the different rules, some of which are mind-boggling. 

"They have changed for the better and are changing for the better but there’s one or two there like the sideline cut, which is crazy stuff, and the free puck. 

"That day is gone, that’s a football rule. It’s going to make it too easy. The physical game is coming again, it was very physical back in your day, then it eased off and it’s coming again. 

Former Mallow manager Ger Manley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Former Mallow manager Ger Manley. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

"The girls want the physical aspect. In 2022 I felt we left two matches after us to be honest, the league and All-Ireland finals, whereas this year Galway were a small bit better than us in the league final but when we got our players back you could see us the day above in Athenry, our conversion rate was very poor but we came away knowing that if we got that up we’d be there. 

"We got it up to about 70% in the next couple of matches and that’s the difference. You don’t win with 30% conversion.

"There’s a feel-good about camogie in Cork and we’re working on that, with a Night at the Greyhound track on December 9 for a training fund."

As regards 2024 Ger is looking forward to seeing what that brings.

"There needs to be a link between the intermediate and senior squads. If players are eligible, they should be playing intermediate. 

"I would like to bring in a female selector/coach. You have to, an ex-player. I think it’s good for the girls to have that, to see that they’re interested. 

"I don’t know why more former players aren’t involved. I find them very clued in. We’ll pick a panel for the league and reassess after that."

Second in command in Cork Prison, Ger isn’t daunted by the role.

"Ah, I suppose I’ve been managing before. I’ve been a manager in work for the last eight or nine years. I’m well used to dealing with situations.

"Much wouldn’t faze me really. I’m used to managing and the thing is your team, getting the right team around you and I think we have the majority of them in place from last year. 

Camogie standards have gone up hugely and I think Matthew brought that on the last two years and it’s for us to maintain the standard, but I think we have to also improve it. 

"That’s the bottom line. There’s only one winner and our aim is to win the All-Ireland. There’s a target on our back now, we’re the team to beat."

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