Cian McCarthy on returning to Sars and balancing coaching and on-field action

The return of Cian McCarthy to the playing fields has certainly made a huge impact locally as the former Cork senior hurling star believes training and playing at the top tier is still very much in his DNA.

Son of the former late great Teddy, the Sars man recently scored a superb hat-trick in his club's league final against Aghada and he is certainly looking forward to the forthcoming championships.

There is little doubt the athleticism that his late father had has certainly been handed down as some of the catches by Cian in the final against Aghada were off the charts.

“When I returned to Sars last year and been around the lads encouraging me to get playing gave me food for thought but the fact that I was a selector slowed my decision but once I got myself back up to full fitness the hunger was fully back,” said McCarthy.

When last season finished Cian had a chat with the Sars manager Johnny Crowley and the rest is history.

“We left it open-ended to see how I could get over the winter training but if it didn’t work out it was back to my selector role but it was a test as I hadn’t been involved for seven years at this level and I had lots of catching up to do,” added Cian.

The decision was made by Cian to get back playing and that’s where it is presently as he is playing intermediate but is likely to be on the Sars senior hurling panel for the coming campaign.

“Obviously, the lads seen how I was getting through the training and I ended back on the Senior panel for a couple of games breaking my finger against Charleville so that set me back six week’s but my mind was all about keeping in shape and I continued doing a lot of road running.” 

The reward for Cian’s dedication saw him brought back on the Senior panel before the end of the league campaign that saw Sars complete four in a row with a win over Midleton in the decider.

Look I am a realist, and I am taking for what it is enjoying the training at a high level and now I realise that training at the top level is something I have really missed.

“Its great to go out and play a game of hurling but it is what you done to get to that point is what brings the performances out of you when game time comes around.” 

Homeward bound

After a few years with Passage, the loss of his father Teddy and his ambition to give something back to his lifelong club made him returned to the Promised Land.

“You can dissect it anyway you want but I started with this club from a young boy and if the playing side ends this year or I can give another year on the pitch it would great for it to end where it all started for me.

“Sars is my families club going back decades and my sons Tiernan and Joey are both playing underage so to have them witness me playing with Sars is something very special.” 

When Cian returned the welcome back was amazing.

“The old brigade that held my father in great respect have really encouraged my return and that’s great as its nice to feel wanted back in the club that you have given your life to.” 

The conveyor belt continues to produce quality hurlers at Sars and Cian was quick to praise the management.

“Johnny (Crowley) and Diarmuid (O’Sullivan) they have taken on the Intermediate and Senior teams and these lads are out almost every night of the week and have no doubt this is a huge undertaking.

“The plus of this is that we all train together with Johnny and Diarmuid getting full view of players progress and make no mistake they do reward players who are doing the business.

“In Sars every player wants to play with the top team in the club and that’s the nature of the beast so all heads will be firmly down in the coming weeks with the championships looming.” 

Gutted

As a former Cork hurling panellist, who featured in the 2013 All-Ireland hurling finals, he was slow to criticise the recent semi-final loss to Galway.

“Look the lads will be gutted as I know what it takes to compete at his level, and I would be hoping that Ben will figure out what’s gone wrong for Cork at GAA headquarters.

“Playing or managing Cork carries its own pressures and it's very easy to be a hurler on the ditch. For the loyal Cork GAA supporters, let’s hope the drought ends sooner rather than later.”