Cork underage GAA: Robin Murray on Rebel Óg model and changes to benefit Cork clubs

When it comes to being involved in underage development, Robin Murray has seen and done it all.

The Bishopstown clubman was part of Bord na nÓg from 1977 until 2010 before Rebel Óg was introduced and took over.

Bord na nÓg's function was to provide games in both codes at underage level in Cork City. It did expand in the 1990s where teams outside of the city joined to play in those competitions. It was hugely successful and provided a rivalry and memories that will last forever.

“Bord na nÓg was just a fantastic board, brilliant memories,” he says.

“There were great people involved, the likes of Jack Kearney, Tom Twomey, Mike English, Seán Gunning, John Smith, Seán Twomey, Jim Harrington and more. Jim was actually chairman for over 25 years. He was forward thinking and very much a club’s person. We had the majority of our finals in MTU and never charged people.

“Despite all of us from different clubs, we gelled together. The clubs were first. The games were 3pm on a Saturday and you couldn’t cherry-pick players from the team below.

“We used to start our programme of games in February, and started with football and the U12s, U13s, U14s and so on could play at the same time as there was no overlapping. Hurling then would start in April. You got a run continuously in both codes. Six to eight weeks of football and then hurling. During the summer we used to have a Lord Mayor’s competition and then resume our programme in August. It worked well and benefited everyone.” 

While that model back then worked effectively and most certainly did benefit Cork teams in the years that followed, would it work now with the split season? 

“I don’t think the split season should come into it for underage,” Murray said.

Nowadays it’s every second week at underage level and it’s very hard to get a run at both. 

"Plus, the rivalry between the clubs back then was fierce and drew huge crowds at all levels. Na Piarsaigh against the Glen above in St Vincent’s for example. There was great cooperation from everyone. Now, a city team has to drive two hours on a Wednesday to play a game against some team, Youghal for example. It’s not family friendly now.

“Clubs drove each other on in the city and all clubs improved because of it. Bord na Óg matches used to take place on Saturday afternoons, now pitches are empty on Saturday afternoons.” 

Bord na nÓg was going well or so the people in the know thought that was the case, but Rebel Óg was set up and in the end, Bord na nÓg was disbanded. 

“We felt it was in a good place, but it wasn’t all rosy in the garden,” Murray states.

REVAMP

“There were issues in terms of getting matches for U16s and led by Jim Ryng, we joined up with East-Cork to set up a league for that grade. That proved beneficial for both divisions. It was a great success.

“Towards the end of 2010, the Cork County Board wanted to reorganise the underage structure. It did need a bit of tweaking, but the city division ended up being the fall guy for a lot of it and you have seen what has happened since. 

City clubs were told that the city template would be used going forward under Rebel Óg, but it didn't happen.

“The Bord na nÓg board were happy to pass the power onto Rebel Óg as long as the city template would be used. Myself and Jim Ryng were brought onto the Rebel Óg board, but our positions were untenable as the new board wanted to go in a different direction. We also had a big disagreement over sponsorship. Mahers Sports agreed to continue, but the new board wouldn’t accept it.” 

Rebel Óg has been on the go since the 2011 campaign, and for Murray, he has huge frustrations with how the last 13 years or so have panned out.

“In the 16 years or so before Rebel Óg was founded, Cork won eight Munster minor hurling titles, since then Cork have only won two. That’s disappointing. The competitions we had in the city certainly strengthened both codes of Cork underage teams.

SOLID FOUNDATION

“If you have a very solid underage foundation, you will get success down the road. The template that Bord na nÓg had should have been continued. The large urban areas outside of Cork City now, huge populations, but are those young players playing enough games? Teams now are cherry-picking the best. Our rule was you played on the age.

“We can’t hide from the fact that there has been a demise in the city, especially the north side. But, the gradings now aren’t helping teams. It’s suiting the administrators. 

Rivalry is everything and you need to go back and experiment with players playing at their age.

“Development Squads are also an issue. Players are now classed as a Cork player from a very young age and they aren’t playing enough matches with their club. Before you had your inter-divisional blitz and your county squads would be picked from those matches. The club should be the first priority at underage level and there should be no development squads until after 16 years of age.”