Tuesday, August 20, 2013

 

They say a week is a long time in politics, then what about the GAA?

There we were in Croke Park basking in the glory of the Déise minors’ great win over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final when the word came through about a players’ meeting at which they had decided that they didn’t want Michael Ryan as manager for 2014 and then came the word that the Fourmilewater man had decided that he would not be putting his name forward for a third year as Waterford boss.

Monday through Thursday saw plenty of mileage on this in the National papers. John Mullane used his Irish Independent column to ‘swear on his children’s lives’ that he had nothing to do with the meeting of the players, despite going on radio on Monday and saying that he thought Donal Og Cusack would be a great manager for Waterford. He also stated in his column that he would definitely not be making a playing return to the Déise fold in 2014.

In the same paper Martin Breheny had a right go off the players, putting it mildly, and in the Irish Examiner and at least twice on WLR FM, former Waterford county board chairman and clubmate of Michael Ryan, Paddy Joe Ryan told us how the people of Fourmilewater were horrified and questioned if those people could ever support Waterford again after what had been done to Michael Ryan.

In my view the players have come in for an awful lot of unwarranted negative comment in all this. I have always found them to be a decent and honourable group of men and maybe that should be remembered in all this.

All this time there was no word from the man in the eye of the storm, Michael Ryan, that was until he gave side of the story exclusively to Marty Morrissey on RTE’s Championship Matters programme on Thursday.

Sure enough he did and by the end of the interview it seemed that despite all that had gone on and his reasons for saying he wouldn’t be going forward for manager for next year, namely that the players didn’t want him, it seemed that Marty and support from the likes of Jimmy Barry Murphy and Ger Loughnane had persuaded him to think again and now he seems to be considering letting his name go forward for the role once again.

I must say I am confused by Michael Ryan’s interview and Paddy Joe Ryan’s interventions.

These are honest and good GAA men, of that there can be no doubt. Both men have given great service the national games in Waterford and to the GAA itself and I have no doubt that they are genuinely extremely disappointed with the way things have transpired but a couple of things cannot be forgotten or clouded by the emotion of the whole thing.

Firstly, why would Michael Ryan even consider or reconsider putting his name forward to be manager of the Waterford team in 2014 when the players have made it perfectly clear that they don’t want him. As we have seen from previous high profiles cases like this in Cork and Limerick, once you have lost the players then there is no way back. A waste of time.

Secondly, it doesn’t really matter what Jimmy Barry Murphy, Ger Loughnane, Paddy Joe Ryan, Ollie Moran, Martin Breheny or whoever thinks about the situation. The only people that matter are those who will be appointed by the County Board to choose the next manager. It should also be pointed out that Michael Ryan’s tenure as Waterford boss ended with that extra-time defeat to Kilkenny, it’s not as if the players are trying to oust an incumbent boss.

Personally I think Michael Ryan should allow his name go forward and then let the powers that be select the best person for the job. Here are the leading contenders for the job.

 

Derek McGrath1/2

The red-hot favourite. Led De La Salle College to Harty Cup and All-Ireland success in 2007 & 2008 before going on to mange De La Salle to win the County SHC title last season.

 

 

Jason Ryan 9/2

Another De La Salle clubman. Best known as a former Waterford footballer and more recently as the Wexford football boss and this year as a selector with Kildare.

 

Michael Ryan  5/1

Wasn’t in the betting until after his appearance on RTE’s Championship Matters on Thursday night when he seemed to re-enter the race to be Waterford’s manager next season.

 

Peter Queally 5/1

A Munster SHC winning midfielder, the Ballydurn man served as a selector with Davy Fitz in 2008/09 before going on to become Déise U-21 manager this year. 

 

Kevin Ryan    5/1

The Mount Sion man was one of the leading contenders two years ago when Michael Ryan got the job. Has inter-county managerial experience with Carlow and Antrim hurlers.

 

Ken McGrath   7/1

One of this counties’ greatest ever hurlers, retired in 2011 and then came on board with Michael Ryan as a selector in 2012. But wasn’t involved in 2013 due to work.

 

Donal Og Cusack      8/1

A three time All-Ireland SHC medal winner with Cork, his name has been mentioned over recent weeks. Led his club, Cloyne, to three Co. finals as a coach and now Sunday Game expert.

 

James O’Connor       9/1

A member of the 1992 All-Ireland winning U-21 Déise team who went on to play senior with Decies. Managerial highlight is winning the 2011 Cork Co. SHC title with Carrigtwohill

 

Fergal Hartley       12/1

A Waterford hurling legend. Brilliant centre-back, the Ballygunner man came into inter-county management as U-21 boss over recent years, not involved at any level in 2013.

 

Sean Power    16/1

Another Mount Sion clubman, Sean is in his first year as manager of the Waterford minor hurlers and is currently preparing that panel for the All-Ireland final on September 8.

 

Ray Murphy    25/1

Came into Michael Ryan’s setup after Ken McGrath left late last year. Before that he served as a selector and manager of the De La Salle senior hurling team.

 

Stephen Frampton       25/1

Former Waterford captain and super wing-back. Was a Munster selector this year but his managerial background is all with Ballygunner and mostly at underage level.

 

Donal O’Grady25/1

Was well touted for this job after the exits of Justin McCarthy and then Davy Fitzgerald and now with his many media commitments it’s hard to see this Cork man in the frame.

 

Liam Sheedy   25/1

Like Donal O’Grady, an All-Ireland winning manager who currently isn’t in charge of a county team. But also like O’Grady, unlikely to have time to give the commitment needed.

 

Tony Browne   28/1

Former Hurler of the Year and all-round Waterford hurling legend. Playing for Waterford seniors since 1992. Turned 40 in July and is still playing. Might be a player next year.

 

Mark Cooney   28/1

The Waterford intermediate camogie manager who has previously been involved as a selector with both the De La Salle college and club teams with Derek McGrath.

 

Jim Greene    33/1

Another former Déise great who has gone on to win countless County senior hurling titles as manager of Mount Sion. Has never hid his desire to be Waterford boss at some stage.

 

John Mullane  50/1

Called time on his glittering career as a star Waterford forward back in January and since then has got lots of media work. Said this week he won’t return to play but would he manage?

* All odds courtesy of Paddy Power. In this week’s Waterford Sport in the Waterford News & Star, Phil Fanning gives his views on the whole Waterford managerial situation.