Cork U-20 Hurlers 2025

[Redneck]

Not always sunshine and rainbows. Can’t win every year, cork hurling is on the up and the future is bright. Wouldn’t worry too much about this years u20 team…

 

[JimmyBarrySmurph]

The senior team is full of players from those victorious u20 teams.

And how many All Irelands have the senior team won in the last 5, 10 or 20 years?????
We on average would have 5-6 AIs in that period.

No point continuing this discussion I feel. You think it’s successful! That’s fine

 

[Killyoursons]

You are contradicting yourself or maybe not explaining yourself.
If you think the current system is good enough then fair enough, that’s your opinion.
Results don’t support your view.

Ok, let me explain a little more. The current senior panel is full of players who have come through development squads. That panel is the strongest Cork have had since 2005, and is imo second at present only to Limerick's (whose panel is backboned by one of the greatest generations of players hurling has ever seen).

You ask if I think the current system is 'good enough'. Well, underage development is overall working pretty well imo. But of course underage development isn't enough by itself to win anything at senior. A lot of other factors are relevant - senior management, whether there are any outstanding rival teams, whether key players can step up in crucial matches, and often luck (e.g. injuries, refereeing calls). The point is that underage development by itself can only help to deliver good players - for those players to form a team which wins at senior requires a number of other things to fall into place. I think Cork are v close to putting the jigsaw together. We'll soon see whether or not it is enough.

 

[Killyoursons]

What about the coaches track record?

I think it's v mixed tbh. But I don't think this group of players have gone backwards this year under this management team. I would say overall they have improved.

 

[red&blue]

I think it's v mixed tbh. But I don't think this group of players have gone backwards this year under this management team. I would say overall they have improved.

I never said the players went backwards this year, the coaching they are getting has held them back and as a county trying to make a breakthrough at senior level on the back of 15 years of underage development we need to continually ensure that our underage coaches are of the highest calibre , especially at u20 level

 

[The Dagda]

And how many All Irelands have the senior team won in the last 5, 10 or 20 years?????
We on average would have 5-6 AIs in that period.

No point continuing this discussion I feel. You think it’s successful! That’s fine

Because they weren't winning at underage.
You know that Corks teams were always backboned by lads who won at u21.

 

[Killyoursons]

I never said the players went backwards this year, the coaching they are getting has held them back and as a county trying to make a breakthrough at senior level on the back of 15 years of underage development we need to continually ensure that our underage coaches are of the highest calibre , especially at u20 level

I think it's pretty debatable whether he has held them back. Their performance last Wednesday was a good bit ahead of anything I'd seen from the minors in 2022 or 2023. If course, they might well have improved in any case - but the question is whether they would have improved even more under a different coach / management team, and that's just speculation either way.

Sane question to you as I put to Corky: who would you like to see over the U20s next year?

 

[Dinger]

AFAIK we haven't yet seen a Cork underage team that's fully gone through the new player Development Cycle. It's a pretty recent programme.
Possibly next year's minors will be the first cohort to have done so.

I think I heard that at a coaching conference earlier this year.

 

[JimmyBarrySmurph]

AFAIK we haven't yet seen a Cork underage team that's fully gone through the new player Development Cycle. It's a pretty recent programme.
Possibly next year's minors will be the first cohort to have done so.

I think I heard that at a coaching conference earlier this year.

This is the 15th season of Rebel Og.
Players are now coming towards retiring that would have started with Rebel Og.

In that conference they must have been talking about something else. Maybe the first cycle of minors under Counihans 5 year plan?

 

[Hallbopping]

This is the 15th season of Rebel Og.
Players are now coming towards retiring that would have started with Rebel Og.

In that conference they must have been talking about something else. Maybe the first cycle of minors under Counihans 5 year plan?

Not quite sure your maths add up there. Rebel Óg competitions start at U12 so a player who started with Rebel Óg in 2010 wouldn’t even be 30 yet.