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Someone with no baggage and no bias!
Probably should go without saying, but we need to get the fundamentals right which starts with a manager that has the clarity to recognise what players could bring to the setup and have the courage of his own convictions to start afresh and select players not on what they’ve done previously rather on what they’re doing now.
Brian Cody put trust in a number of players that had been overlooked for county underage teams and also didn’t select players for teams based on reputations or feats achieved last year or earlier, no his selection was based on current form.
Surely there’s players playing club hurling in Kilkenny that haven’t yet been given the opportunity to perform on the big stage that could bring something to the team.
A Strong Man Manager
There’s players at different stages of their playing careers, whilst there’s also players dealing with plenty outside of the game, college, careers, marriages, fatherhood, loss, suffering, financial struggles, wanderlust.
There’s plenty going on, the manager needs to have awareness of each personality and recognise when fella’s need an arm round the shoulder, when they need a break, when they could do with a pep talk, when they might need some support off the pitch.
Finding someone that can understand people, relate to people, make them feel valued: it will go a long eay to building bonds and building trust within the group – again fundamental building blocks that need to be given huge care, attention and nourishment.
Someone who understands both Kilkenny’s DNA & the modern game of hurling
It’s really important we get someone who has an appreciation of both of these worlds.
It is no good getting someone who is dogmatic about Kilkenny’s traditional style of hurling with no recognition for the modern game as this could set us back a number of years in the long run.
Likewise getting in someone with no regard for Kilkenny’s DNA and all consumed with the modern game could do untold damage to the future of Kilkenny hurling by attempting to completely change our style, whereby our identity could be lost, setting us back even further.
Every summer when the weather picks up for a few days and people start heading for the local watering hole, there’s always warnings issued with 2 basic pieces of advice:
1. Don’t overestimate your own ability.
2. Don’t underestimate the conditions.
It feels like Kilkenny are getting into choppy waters and getting someone who heeds these warnings is required to ensure we don’t drown.
A Strong Communicator
There are so many stakeholders, so many opportunities to rub someone up the wrong way, to say too much, not say enough, cause friction, create doubt, lose a cohort…
We need a leader that unites the County Board, Backroom team, squad of players and supporters through strong, consistent and unequivocal messages and communication.
If we appoint someone that’s watery, unclear, inconsistent, well we’ll be on a hiding to nothing from the get-go.
Someone who can produce a team on the day to bring the battle to the opposition
This is hugely important, especially in the current format of the Leinster Championship.
Can our new manager get Kilkenny to perform to the right level in Salthill a week after dismantling the previous year’s Joe McDonagh winners?
Can he get the opponent to play the game on our terms rather than us having to react all the time?
If we come through Leinster unscathed, can we get the balance right between physical training and recovery so that the players hit Croke Park on All-Ireland semi-final day as ready as they can be to produce a high-intensity championship performance?
The ability to adapt tactics quickly in-play
This is such a fast paced game that when the opposition make a tweak it can turn the flow of the game against you and the clock is ticking, while damage is being done, until your manager counteracts that tweak with a tweak of his own.
These tweaks can be required multiple times in a single match and at critical junctures, fail to get them right and the game can get away from you!
It is critical that the new Kilkenny supremo has the nous and temperament and proven track record in being able to quickly identify and remedy the reason behind opposition purple patches.
Contenders:
Henry Shefflin
As a player King Henry typified and led the great Kilkenny teams of the first 15 years of this century.
He has more senior All-Ireland medals as a GAA player than any other individual, racking up 10 wins in a glittering career.
His midas touch followed him into management where he won County, Leinster and All-Ireland titles with Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Although a stint with Thomastown didn’t prove to be fruitful and then given all that Kilkenny had given to Shefflin he decided to wear the colours of another county and oppose his home county and his old boss Brian Cody, even famously refusing to shake Cody’s hand while donning the maroon and white of Galway.
His stint in charge of the Tribesmen didn’t do Henry any favours and hasn’t done anything to endorse a reputation of a manager that gets the most out of his charges, nor has his year back in Kilkenny with the U20’s.
Verdict: Would not be a good choice, he would likely do himself and the county more damage by taking on this job at this time.
Brian Dowling
His track record is impressive with St. Kierans College, Kilkenny Camogie and Kildare.
He has had great success with all 3 which bodes well for translating this success onto the bigger stage.
He has the added advantage of knowing all of the players that have come through St. Kierans College for the last while, he seems to be tactically aware in this modern game and can get teams to produce big performances.
I think it’s only a matter of time before he takes charge of the Kilkenny team, so the big question has to be is now the right time?
Verdict: Although I’d love it to be the right time for Brian Dowling to take over, something tells me he might feel himself that he needs another few years honing his profession before he would take on the biggest job.
I feel if he came in now, it could end up like Ruben Amorim at Man United where it was just a little too early for him and it could fizzle out in a couple of years, however I think if we waited until he has matured as a manager I could see him being at the helm for a decade and bringing plenty of success too.
Ultimately I feel if Brian Dowling himself feels he’s 100% ready to take it on, give it to him.
If he’s a bit uneasy or feels it’s too soon, don’t force it on him, be patient, his time will come.
Tom Mullally
Has had notable successes with Clara, Mount Leinster Rangers and Naas at Club level, whilst also leading Carlow to Joe McDonagh success.
He ticks a lot of the boxes, is a strong communicator and understands the modern game as well as the modern player.
He is available and with Wexford and Waterford also on the lookout for a manager he will be making a few shortlists, do we really want him to be in an opposing dugout?
Verdict: I think he’s been plying his trade and building up his knowledge of the game for long enough and is mature enough and ready to take on this challenge.
David Herity
Also had a stint with Kildare and was part of the successful Tipperary backroom team last year.
Is building his knowledge of the game year on year and could well follow in the footsteps of Ollie Walsh and Kevin Fennelly in managing the Cats some day, but how about now?
Verdict: Wouldn’t rule it out, but might be a better option to bring him into a backroom team for now and prepare him for the top job diwn the line.
Brian Hogan
What an introduction to management! Leading O’ Loughlin Gaels to County and Leinster titles in his first year in charge.
He obviously has something about him.
Again maybe one for the future?
Verdict: Others more qualified, but if others turned it down, there would be worse choices and bigger gambles than giving it to the big man.
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