Former GAA President Nickey Brennan has accused the powers-that-be in Cork of complacency in their approach to developing young players at underage and schools level.

Following a heavy defeat to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final earlier this month, Cork face an uncertain future, with veterans such as Sean Og O hAilpin, Donal Og Cusack and Ben and Jerry O'Connor said to be considering their future as part of the county panel.

The conveyor belt of talent has slowed in recent years, with Cork having appeared in just one minor final since 2001 and failing to feature in the U-21 showpiece since they were last victorious in that competition 12 years ago.

It's a similar situation at schools level, where St Colman's Fermoy's win in the Croke Cup final of 2002 is the last success for a Cork school.

Writing in his Kilkenny People column this week, Brennan said, "Perhaps most important of all right now is the implementation of [Cork's] Strategic Plan over the coming years. This sets clear targets in coaching and games development which is aimed at ensuring every young hurler is given an opportunity to maximise his skills.

"For many years Cork schools regularly appeared in Munster and All-Ireland finals. Those glory days are now a distant memory."

He added, "For whatever reason Cork has been complacent when it came to developing its hurlers. Maybe the clubs in the country were seen as the appropriate place to develop player skills, but circumstances now demand a new and fresh approach. It has worked elsewhere, so why not in Cork?" Tweet

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