This has all been discussed to the death on the proc forums
The simple fact is that the Cork hurling is experiencing is worst streak in its entire history. The neglect of the schools and focus on the flawed Rebel Og model is considered by everyone I know to be the main cause of that. I believe the Cork GAA top brass acknowledge this themselves and the plan is that greater emphasis is going to be placed on supporting the schools in Harty & Corn Ui Mhuiri.
Cork have proved that there is little correlation between having a successful minor team and it leading to success at senior level later- this success was almost a guarantee in years gone by.
Cork top brass also acknowledge that the change to U17 minor level was another massive mistake and Cork brass are driving the attempts at national level to get inter county minor back to U18.
Thanks for your reply.
First up, you didn't answer my question as to what are your criteria for the success or failure of Rebel Og.
You mention that Cork hurling is enduring its worst streak in history. That is certainly true at senior intercounty and senior club level. At underage level, Cork have been very successful recently. Also, Rebel Og was introduced in 2011, meaning that it's only in the last few years (since 2017, basically) that players who have come up through that system have been playing senior intercounty. In other words, most of that unsuccessful run at senior intercounty cannot be blamed on Rebel Og.
Imo one good criterion of success for an underage development system is whether it is producing good numbers of players able to contribute at senior intercounty. Right now I think Cork have more players at this level than for a couple of decades. Of course that's not solely down to Rebel Og, but it suggests to me that the system isn't a complete failure. Compare this with underage teams from a decade or so ago, who often produced only one or two players who got any serious time at senior.
You rightly point out that schools have been neglected under Rebel Og. I think that's a fair point, but that doesn't mean that Rebel Og must be scrapped in order to give schools the necessary support. I think what is required is a better balance between the two, i.e., a reform of the current system rather than tearing it up and starting again.
In the last decade or so there has been little enough correlation between successful minor teams and senior success, so this is hardly a problem unique to Cork. (Compare how Limerick's current team fared at minor with the senior results of the Waterford, KK and Galway sides that won minor All-Irelands in those years.)
