UCC finishing school just part of an ‘ideal pathway’ for Cork stars

John Grainger isn't sure he'd agree that third-level hurling has actually taken over from minor and under-20 but he's largely in agreement with The Irish Times hurling analyst Nicky English – an old UCC team-mate from the medals-laden 1980s – that the advanced education sector is a critical part of the development process for intercounty hurlers.

“If you can cut it at Fitzgibbon or Sigerson you can cut it at intercounty,” says Grainger. “I’m not sure that it has taken over from minor and under-20 grades because I see the colleges as a kind of finishing school for kids. It starts when they go to the club at five years old and learn how to hold the hurley.

“The ideal pathway for Munster lads would be play in the Harty Cup, play county minor and under-20, or as it was under-21, and you then evolved into Fitzgibbon and then you were seasoned enough.”

It’s a pathway that has guided most of the Cork panel, as they prepare for Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Limerick. Ten of them are currently students in UCC and around 20 of them have played Fitzgibbon Cup for the college.

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Grainger, who is UCC GAA development officer, goes through the list of those on the Cork panel who have won Fitzgibbons: "Coleman has two, so does Fitzgibbon. Harnedy. Robbie O'Flynn. Jack O'Connor has one . . ." – and on it goes like a liturgy. "Billy Hennessy, Tadhg Deasy, Shane Hurley of the extended panel . . ."

It’s an impressive total of young players, who have cut their teeth with the college. Of course it’s not restricted to Cork. UCC is a magnet for surrounding counties, including Sunday’s opponents.

“One of the nicest things I got last year,” he recalls, “was a picture after Limerick had beaten Waterford in last year’s All-Ireland final. Within half an hour of their winning the All-Ireland there was a photo of the six lads in their Limerick jerseys and they’d all played with UCC.”

There would have a similar memento had Waterford come out on top. "Jamie Barron would have organised something!"

He illustrates how versatile and adaptable the modern player is and how that’s part of the finishing process by looking at two of the county’s top performing players from the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Kilkenny.

Mark Coleman has been moved to centre back all season but with varying demands and Robert Downey came in at full back when Damien Cahalane got appendicitis.

“Blarney won the premier intermediate championship last year and Mark Coleman played at wing forward, number 10. He’s an intelligent hurler and has played centre back for us in Fitzgibbon or sometimes as a sweeper.

"Rob Downey has played at full back for us and the Glen but overall positions aren't as important as they were. It's all about match-ups and how you counter the opposition.

“You’re not just a right half forward. You have licence to roam and show your skill. That’s what I like about it. It’s kind of a game of chess at this level and intercounty – you’re trying to drag players out, get someone out of the full-back line and test them.”

Grainger says that promising players are always on the radar and reputations are conformed pretty quickly and occasionally unheralded hurlers or at least those from smaller clubs can blossom.

"You'll always know the good hurler when they come in: Mark Coleman and Darragh Fitzgibbbon came in we know they were talented players. Séamus Harnedy came in and no one outside of St Ita's knew about him but he stuck at it and won Fitzgibbons in 2012 and 2013. He hasn't won his All-Ireland yet but let's see what happens."

Life in UCC is intended to be balanced and fun. Hurling isn’t supposed the defining experience.

“People contact you and say that they’d like to win a Fitzgibbon with UCC but we’re not interested in that. If your sole reason for going to third-level is to win a Fitzgibbon, your priorities are wrong. You’re here to get your degree and experience the buzz of socialising and meeting people.”

Hurling is a valuable part of college life not the raison d’etre.

He is cautious about the weekend and conscious that the UCC community isn’t all about Cork but that’s where’s he from so he takes comfort from the county’s history of upsetting the odds in All-Ireland finals.

“An older generation will remember they did it in 1966 and 1990. They did it again in 1999. Cork have a reputation of going in as underdogs with fast players, good players and they’re dangerous. Will that work next Sunday? They’re playing the best team in the country.”