GAELIC GAMES/Hurling development plan: The Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, has been "reliably informed" that a national hurling development manager/co-ordinator will be appointed by the GAA as soon as possible.
A deadline was not confirmed at yesterday's official launch of the hurling development plan that sees €2.6 million invested in the game. The financial breakdown has the Irish Sport Council putting up €1.25 million, the Sports Council of Northern Ireland €354,000 and the GAA €1 million.
Former All-Ireland winning Wexford manager Liam Griffin is one of the driving forces behind the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) which restructured the championship and which is actively seeking a hurling supremo.
"I'm actually pleased he wasn't appointed up to now," said Griffin. "I'd prefer nobody - and so would the HDC - in the position until such time as the right person is found for the particular job. That's absolutely imperative. At the end of the day you have to have somebody who is going to drive this and be accountable himself."
Griffin believes accountability is the key issue in the appointment, to ensure change from grassroots level upwards can be correctly achieved.
"If we are not getting value for money then it's not going to work and we in the GAA have to be accountable for where this money is going. It's got to be seen to be working and where it is not working it's got to be withdrawn. We should be saying: there's your money - make progress. If you don't make progress there is no money.
"The other thing is, I don't think it's a job for life. I think this man should be judged on results and if he doesn't get results we need to get someone else. And that's the bottom line."
The appointment should also be the final act of the present HDC, under the chairmanship of Pat Dunny, as Griffin stated: "We should have a job to do. We should deliver and we should get out. Move on and let somebody else come in.
"Through the HDC we have brought in the Christy Ring Cup and helped bring in a national hurling initiative, which needs a lot of tweaking, and will bring in a national director of hurling to give it a whole new emphasis . . . A new committee should come in and steer it."
The new initiatives for hurling sees 19 full-time and 23 part-time officers appointed throughout the country.
In Connacht, one full-time and 23 part-time personnel will be put in place with dual mandates for hurling and football under the supervision of Damien Coleman and John Tobin.
A development manager and officer have been appointed in Ulster, while each of the nine counties are in the process of appointing separate development officers.
Leinster have already announced four development administrators - in Laois/Carlow, Meath/Kildare, Wicklow/North Wexford and Offaly/Westmeath. Three representatives from each county will sit on a steering committee, which will be chaired by a member of the Leinster Council. A similar administration system will be adopted in Dublin, Kilkenny and the Louth/Longford region.
In Munster, hurling development administrators have been appointed with a special focus on Kerry and Limerick city.
Referring to the work of Minister O'Donoghue and outgoing GAA president Seán Kelly, Griffin added: "I think it's extraordinary that two Kerrymen are driving hurling to the extent that they are and I have to recognise that.
"I have been critical of Government in the past but I have to say they have recognised the special position of hurling, which a few years ago did not seem very kosher in Ireland, even to suggest hurling should have a special position. This is a new beginning for the game of hurling."
