No rest for Cork champions

All-Ireland Club Championships: As the GAA focus now firmly shifts from the county to the club scene, the thoughts likewise shift to the next set of All-Ireland champions. That process officially began in London yesterday with the launch of the AIB All-Ireland Club Championships, which culminate in the hurling and football finals next St Patrick's Day.

With a taste of summer still in the London air, that March date seemed a long time away, yet for the county champions seeking to embark on another campaign the thrill starts now. Still among them are the reigning hurling champions, Newtownshandrum, who this Sunday meet Cloyne as part of a Cork semi-final double bill at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Just like any senior county team, Newtownshandrum face the added pressure of winning All-Ireland titles back to back. Jerry O'Connor, present in London yesterday along with his twin brother and club and county captain, Ben, admitted it wasn't a task they were finding easy.

"It's very, very hard," said O'Connor, who remains doubtful of even playing on Sunday because of a hamstring injury.

"After winning the All-Ireland last year we have found it hard to get motivated again. We've gone as high as we can with the club, and so far this year we have been struggling, and you kind of see lads are sluggish at training and finding it hard to get going.

"But now we're at the semi-final stage, we know we're only two hours away from another title. Hopefully we can up our game this weekend, but this is going to be a very tough game against Cloyne. They were beaten last year in the semi-final, and the first year we came up senior they beat us. So I think we owe them one for that.

"And this is big business. With the double-header in Páirc Uí Chaoimh we're expecting well over 20,000. But the club championship has always been well supported in Cork. It's always great to run out onto the field with players you grew up with."

Yet O'Connor wasn't ruling anything out. Just like Cork proved this year, anything can happen when a team find their true momentum: "It's the sort of thing where your confidence grows with each game. If we can beat them it would mean an awful lot, and being the best in Cork again."

No matter what happens on Sunday and beyond, O'Connor's thoughts will soon shift back to Cork, and another All-Ireland defence. Before that process begins, Cork have to find a new manager, with Donal O'Grady's decision to step down after two years having left a gaping hole in the county set-up.

"Donal is going to be a huge loss," said O'Connor. "But he's done his bit and put in a huge effort. A huge personal effort, and also with the backroom team. He'll be very hard to replace, but I suppose we were expecting him to go.

"But thanks to him we have an All-Ireland medal now after two years. We did of course hope he would stay, but once Donal had made up his mind that was it. I don't think any one of us even tried to talk him around it, because we have too much respect for him to do that. He put in his effort and we won handy enough in the end, so you can't ask any more than that."

The suggestion that Cork look towards one of the current selectors met mixed reaction: "I suppose it would be good to keep in within the management that have been there all along, but it depends. It's a tough job and you don't know who would be willing to take it on. But whoever comes in we'll be fully behind them, and give them exactly the same commitment we gave Donal."

O'Connor will always feel special gratitude to O'Grady, who switched him to midfield in what would prove an inspired move.

"Well, he did, and I enjoyed that. When I played in the half-forward line you were kind of out on the wing a lot, and hoping the ball might come in. At midfield you can kind of run yourself into the game, even if you're not getting as much ball. And you're not tied down as much."

Also at hand for yesterday's launch was GAA president SeáKelly, who pointed out that London remains one of the most important strongholds of GAA outside Ireland. Then his thoughts switched to the continuing issue of indiscipline on the playing field, which has already raised its head in the early stages of county championships.

"I would hope our attempts would be more of a pre-emptive strike than anything," said Kelly. "Sometimes things happen and you react to them afterwards, but if you can prevent them in advance you send out a better warning. Of course we would be asking people to refrain and be responsible, and if that gets into their head the management and the players won't go beyond it.

"I know some things were highlighted this year, and as a result other things were highlighted even more. And the only way to stop that is to ensure the incidents don't happen in the first place."

Kelly also announced details of the new junior and intermediate club championship - featuring only junior and intermediate clubs - which will also have its final day out next March.

AIB said they would be adding 500,000 to their efforts to increase the profile of the championship. Football champions Caltra of Galway, who were represented yesterday by the Meehan brothers Noel and Michael, were surprisingly beaten in the county championship - meaning at least one trophy will be headed in a new direction next March.