Cork GAA admit five-year football plan failed

The Cork County Board have circulated a detailed report on the five-year football plan that was discussed at the Cork football crisis meeting at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh two weeks ago.

A review of the five-year football plan that ended last year got the meeting underway when Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan went through it.

While it has been criticised by many supporters on Leeside, a plan that didn’t quite set out what it was to achieve, the county board did see positives, but also acknowledged failures in objectives including inter-county success and winning back public support for football teams.

Cork GAA CEO Kevin O'Donovan. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

"While there was significant progress in coach education countywide, it was noted that there was a failure to engage the football coaching community to the same extent as their hurling counterparts, as well as a clear and present requirement to connect more with former players.

"A key aim of the football plan was to restore the Cork County Board to profitability which was clearly achieved due to management of costs and commercial expansion. The objective of annual operational budgets with a breakdown on spend was also in place by the end of the plan.

The Cork players before playing Meath back in January. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

"Meanwhile, the planned expansion of Cairde Chorcaí was superseded by the founding of One Cork and significant commercial expansion with new partners confirmed across several areas along with multiple fundraising campaigns.

"As a result, no funding request by senior football management was refused across the duration of the plan. The following two appointments were also made in support of these goals; Commercial Director and Finance Manager."

The lack of a proper training base for Cork teams in both codes has been an issue with some time and it's something the board are looking at.

"While there was a clear improvement in terms of the provision of gym facilities and with engagement with regional facilities having been secured in clubs, there remained a shortage of grass pitches for inter-county teams. The support of MTU in this regard was noteworthy, while the pursuit of a Centre of Excellence is a clear objective of the current strategic plan.

Cork senior football manager John Cleary. Picture: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

"While the plan proposed the broadening of the base of development squads, a later consensus emerged in terms of narrowing the focus to have a more significant coaching effect on a lesser group of players annually.

"A central venue for the training of all underage teams is on hold until a Centre of Excellence comes to fruition. A number of post-graduate positions are now in place to support the high-performance unit in support of talent development."

The Cork senior footballers endured another mid-table finish in Division 2 of the league this year. They then fell at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage for a second season on the bounce.

"The hopes that the plan would lead to Cork football returning to the top table at senior level were not realised. That said, with the Cork senior footballers losing to Kerry and Tyrone in 2018 by 17 and 16 points, respectively, some would argue that results have indeed stabilised.

Tyrone's Ronan O'Neill scores his side's second goal despite goalkeeper Mark White of Cork best efforts in 2018. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

"That said, there is a worrying downward trend in many of our underage football results and the long-awaited return to Division 1 football has not been achieved. Meanwhile, excellent championship performances against a number of Division 1 teams have been spoiled by poor performances versus lower-ranked opposition.

"One positive to emerge from the football plan at this level was the formation of a senior development squad which has provided a pipeline to the senior squad, with a number of new debutants emerging in the past year.

"Finally, following a review of the plan by members of the original committee at the conclusion of the relevant period in 2024, the following recommendations emerged; Further broadening of development squads - review of divisions/colleges participation in county championships - continued focus on the senior development squad - expansion of training hubs across the county and reform and restructuring of the county coaching committee.

Cork captain Graham Canty lifts the Sam Maguire trophy in 2010. The last time the Rebels won the All-Ireland. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

"In summary, it can be agreed that while most of the actions in the plan were completed, the overarching objectives of success at inter-county level and greater engagement by the public in support of teams were not achieved." the report concluded.

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