Better communication and an honest approach would improve dual clubs - Hurling Officer report

In his first report to the annual GAA Convention, Hurling Officer, Cormac Hartnett, has some interesting views on the way dual clubs are operating and stresses the need for more communication.

Hartnett was appointed for the first time last year and is keen to have an imput to the dual academy which is being set up.
The report touches on the difficulties which hurling has to deal with, especially in dual clubs.

"The hurling sectors of many clubs are small, sometimes a little overwhelmed but also often guilty of poor communication and of ploughing only their own furrow.

"Communication could improve within clubs; within sub committees/sub boards and more honest and flexible debates had re the operation of both codes.

"I have spent a considerable amount of time with the coaching officer, the interim academy lead and Roger Keenan as appointed by Croke park, in putting together governance documents regarding the new Donegal Academy , a dual football and hurling academy with the best interests of its players central thereto, and it seems to me that these principles should be employed within our clubs," says Hartnett in the report.

"Real progress at underage is measured more in levels of participation and retention of players and usually not in winning (although of course it is an important part but should not be overinflated).

"There needs to be a honest approach to coordination within clubs as to how duality is promoted and protected and how to retain and improve upon levels of participation.

"Most people concur that our organisation, our clubs and our underage players are better anchored to our club, better developed athletically and better players in both codes , by dint of their participation in both codes.

"Some clubs manage it well, some do not, but all players bar senior inter county players should be able to participate at all grades at club level. Clubs who manage duality well are seeing benefits in both codes; clubs who effectively, maybe without actively saying so, divide their players into either hurlers or footballers are effectively undermining themselves from within.

"I suggest that in 2024 an honest, county board led discussion take place about the two codes within clubs, their integration, protection and promotion to the bettering of both and also the incentivising of clubs who have not yet commenced hurling in their club.

"Half of our clubs in the county have a hurling involvement, some through regularisation. This is an area requiring investment of time.

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"I feel confident that through debate, no voice, nor concern should be left unaddressed and we will have stronger clubs through players being doubly anchored by participation in both codes. A player is much less likely to leave a club if he enjoys both. It is of course perfectly acceptable for a player to prefer one code over the other and indeed most do, but the commitment to both and the enjoyment from both is what I feel is the underestimated point.

"The academy launch and it's moving forth into 2024 is one of great excitement and expectation . Hopefully we will see good development there and also, as said, County board led debate as to how we might improve cohesion on the same basis within clubs," says Hartnett in his report to Convention.