I agree a lot with what Denis Walsh has to say about dual players. At the end of the day managers are the ones calling the shots as they don't want their players playing the other code, regardless of if they could accommodate it, its not happening. If Cork won an All Ireland this year in Hurling would this have been an issue, no team lost this year because of one player, if thats the case then what are the lads who don't play the other code going to do! There is no support at the county or higher levels for dual players, thankfully at the club level its still there but if some keep going on about the how one game effects the performance of another then eventually it will get to there too.

zinny (Wexford) - Posts: 1805 - 11/11/2014 15:36:39    1671479

I also agree with Walsh. In Cork, it was Cuthbert who made the 'no dual players' decree. In my view he's not entitled to issue dictates to grown men about what hobby they pursue.

He would have been entitled to take each player aside and say 'If you keep playing hurling, I doubt your football will be good enough. I will consider you for selection, but I just don't think you'll be up to it. Prove me wrong if you can, but I don't think you can' But dictating what they can and can't play - that's ridiculous. In their shoes, I'd automatically tell him, not JBM, what he could do with his game.

Culchie (Cork) - Posts: 799 - 11/11/2014 20:30:03    1671604

I have to agree with Cuthbert.

This is not really about telling grown men what they can or cannot do with their time. It is about getting the best out of a group of elite sportsmen trying their best to be the best they can. If I was Colm O'Neill or Brian Hurley (fellas that are completely dedicated to the Cork senior team) I'd be annoyed that my chances of an All-Ireland (however slim they might be anyway) were diminished by others that are not as committed (because they can't be to be fair-not having a go at the dual players who are extremely committed athletes who I admire an awful lot).

I am not a massive fan of Cuthbert. However in this case he is dead right in my opinion. Get 30 players together that will be around for all league and championship games.

bennybunny (Cork) - Posts: 3917 - 11/11/2014 21:17:14    1671625