Hurling wins out after Alan Cadogan spends year trying to crack two codes

Nowhere did the dual-player issue become a more pressing matter in recent months than in Cork, and when a couple of high-profile names opted for hurling part of the assumption behind their decision was it offered them a better chance of silverware.

Well, it’s still far too soon to tell – although on the first weekend of meaningful games in both codes the Cork footballers won (beating Dublin in the Allianz League), while the Cork hurlers lost (to Limerick in the Waterford Crystal final).

For Alan Cadogan it’s certainly too soon to tell, and while it would have been nice to try a bit of both for 2015, he too has opted for hurling only after juggling a bit of both codes last season, at least at under-21 level. He’s just overage for under-21 status this year, and for now Cadogan is committed solely to Jimmy Barry-Murphy’s Cork senior hurling team and also the UCC Fitzgibbon Cup team.

Not that he expects a call from Cork football manager Brian Cuthbert even if he wanted one.

“No, I don’t think the dual situation is up for debate this year, unfortunately,” says Cadogan.

“Last year I was playing hurling and football, then the hurling took over a small bit, so that scenario didn’t really arise for me. But I met him [Brian] at the start of the year, we discussed our plans, and it was a good chat.”

So, it wasn’t the full ultimatum, although there was clearly some pressure on the players to make a call on one code or the other before the manager made that call for them: Aidan Walsh and Damien Cahalane have also since opted for hurling only, while Eoin Cadogan – Alan’s older brother – has opted for football.

Tough decision

“I think maybe it was a bit of both,” says Cadogan. “It was a tough decision for the lads to pick hurling or football. When you enjoy both it’s very difficult.

“Any young fella my age would give his right hand to be involved with one intercounty team, never mind two. It was a difficult decision, but after my debut year I’d a reasonably good year in hurling, up to the Tipperary game (All-Ireland semi-final), when things unfortunately didn’t go to plan. So it would have been difficult to play football alone. ”

Nor was it on the table at UCC either, the main reason for that being Cadogan’s parents were not keen on him juggling hurling, football and his academics – especially as he’s in his final year of arts at UCC. Their Fitzgibbon Cup campaign gets under way this week, with an away game to NUIG.

“I don’t think I’d be passing my exams if I was trying both, and it’s important I focus on that as well. So, no, just sticking with the hurling this year. From my point of view it’s important to get the piece of paper at the end of my final year.

“The agreement now is Monday to Thursday is with the college, and after that you’re probably back with the county. I think from a player’s point of view it’s good that they can focus on one.

Big games

“And the management as well in that they have their full strength squad, and can focus coming into big games.

“I suppose the hurlers don’t want fellas going off playing football, and the footballers don’t want fellas going off playing hurling. So it’s good for the management, and good for the players, that they can focus solely on one.”