Glen Rovers' Liam Martin on why Cork GAA must treat U21 hurling grade with more respect

Glen Rovers chairman Liam Martin is a diligent worker and is steering his club through a period of major development.

Martin, though passionate about the GAA, came out this week in full voice criticising the Cork County Board for how they are running the Cork U21 hurling championships.

“Although we had problems in Covid years, where we lost the U21 championships, for me it’s a very important grade in the gap between minor and adult hurling,” said Liam.

The U21 grade hasn’t been shown enough respect.

“We could see the board were not bothered about running off these championships, but clubs insisted on them going ahead and, for the last couple of years, they were taking place at the end of the season,” added Martin.

The U21 hurling championship is being squeezed due to the tight calendar in the GAA schedule.

“Look, I think the majority of clubs are in agreement how well the Cork championships are run, because we all have certainty in when games will be played,” Liam said.

“The U21 grade was played in late October in recent seasons and some of these games were played in the 4G pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh and clubs accepted it, as the majority of pitches couldn’t host games on their own terrain, as it was late in the season.”

TIGHT SQUEEZE

Presently, the Cork County Board have instructed the various divisions to play off the U21 championships in July, which Martin finds unacceptable.

“The problem you have is that you can play players from the age of 17 to 21 and now you have a scenario where clubs have went through their league campaign and are preparing for their senior/intermediate and junior championships in August,” Liam said.

In a month where clubs should be preparing without any interference, you now have a situation where Rebel Óg will be running off minor championships in the same weeks that they want clubs to play U21 championships.”

Extending the season should not be a problem for clubs and is far better for player welfare.

“The bottom line, for me, is that this scenario is showing little or no respect to the young people in our sport, as you are expecting a 17-year-old to play minor on a Wednesday night and go out a few days later to play U21.”

Martin said that many clubs in Cork are unhappy with the stance that the Cork County Board is taking.

“I have spoken to a number of clubs and they all feel exactly the same and there is a consensus that some clubs may end up withdrawing from the U21 championship.

“The bottom line is that, as clubs, we are expected to put our players’ welfare as the number-one priority and for dual clubs it is almost an impossibility to play these championships in July.”

Glen Rovers, like many other clubs, cooperate with inter-county teams when they are involved, but the county board is failing to show them the same respect with the rescheduling of these championships.

“The month of July is used by clubs to do their planning for August and now I feel commonsense is going out the window, with everything I have pointed out.

When meaningful games are not respected by the powers that be, I think clubs will have to look carefully in what approach they take, as, sadly, they are forgetting about the future players of our sport.”

The Blackpool club is undergoing major works.

“We are putting in a sprinkler system, as we have noticed we are getting drier summers and it does affect the playing surface and you need access to water and to have a proper playing surface you got to look after it.

“We are also upgrading the cabling for our lighting and our viewing bank is being resurfaced, with new fencing going around the pitch, so it’s busy times for us.

“We are spending a quarter of million, with some other improvements also included and, for a club like us, its crucial we make our facilities the best we can afford for players and supporters.”

On a final note, Martin said that he believes Cork are going in the right direction in this year’s hurling championship.

“You can never be displeased when you have defeated Tipperary and Limerick, but I do realise the challenge of Waterford at Walsh Park on Sunday, as we haven’t traditionally done well there, but I think this Cork team have what it takes to grind out a win.”