Terence Fahy knows better than most how to develop hurlers and cultivate success at underage.
Although a proud Clare man, he possesses experience of the underage set up in Kilkenny. Fahy spent nine years working in Castlecomer Community School in the North of the county.
The Whitegate man came across his fair share of quality hurlers on Noreside including four time All Ireland champion Conor Fogarty. Fahy feels that the tradition of success has helped Kilkenny players coming through the ranks believe they can win on the big stage.
“There is obviously a massive tradition in the place. Life revolves around hurling down there. It’s a small county really but the thing that ignites it is hurling. Hurling is very strong in all areas down there. The tradition is handed down and despite the success they are humble enough.”
Where does the culture of success in Kilkenny come from? Fahy’s answer is simple yet well constructed.
“The culture comes from the love of the game. That’s where it’s from. Nobody is bigger than the game down there. One of the huge things is that every primary school puts a huge emphasis on hurling. If you look at the primary schools, they are the key drivers of hurling. It’s very concentrated and robust which is very apparent in the success of the camogie team also.”
“They focus on just participating and competing. There isn’t a focus on tactics and innovation but instead on the basics of the game. They have a holistic approach from a very young age. Their players are strong physically on the ball. They can go ferociously hard with their bodies but still develop their skills from an early age. One point is that they are able to use their hips, shoulders, arms and legs to great effect and then they have the skill to secure possession.
“That then culminates in brilliant execution of basic skills in their play. They are seen as the benchmark as regards aerial play and the ability to hook or block. On top of that they will always bring a ferocious appetite for work. It is Brian Cody’s greatest legacy that they don’t pick dandy ball players.”
With Fahy at the helm, St. Joseph’s Tulla memorably upset the odds to secure the Harty Cup last year.
The comparisons between that East Clare outfit and the Castlecomer Community School side that the Whitegate man along with Pat Murphy guided to the Leinster Senior A title in 2007 are plain to see.
Two sides built on work ethic and an ability to embrace the underdog tag were able to beat the established kingpins within their province. Castlecomer’s run included a Leinster semi final triumph over the famed St Kieran’s College while they subsequently downed Kilkenny CBS in the decider.
“I can see the similarities (between St Joseph’s Tulla and Castlecomer Community School). They were two tremendously hard working teams who were very determined. They each had young players who were resolute. They had excellent goalies, quality free takers and the desire for hard work. In winter hurling that gets you a long way.”
“One other big common piece was that both teams had a massively spirited leader at the back. Adam Hogan brought the same relentless drive and belief to Tulla that Conor Fogarty brought to ‘Comer. Those two just relished taking on the big teams. They were supreme leaders at that level.”
As he pauses for thought, Fahy recalls the desire Kilkenny sides especially St Kieran’s felt when they were pitted against Munster opposition.
“Kilkenny traditionally sharpen their claws when hearing the hype around Munster hurling. It’s a serious dynamic Kieran’s run off every year. They love to beat anyone coming out of Munster and knock them back.
“They would regard the Harty Cup as an overhyped competition. They fatten off of that challenge annually.”
Despite Fahy’s praise for the honesty within Kilkenny hurling and their ability to retain their hunger, the county has recently struggled to earn success at underage level in recent times.
Kilkenny have gone nine years without claiming an All Ireland Minor crown while they have claimed one U20/21 national title since 2008. Fahy believes the secondary school system is now too concentrated on a select few which has inhibited the development of a deeper pool of players.
“You see the rising standards with Offaly, Wexford and Dublin and the arrival of Galway at Minor and U20 has diluted Kilkenny’s success. They do not have the same conveyor belt that they had up to 15 years ago, but they are still able to produce excellent players, just not as many.
“A couple of years ago a focus group looked at this fall off as it was developing. One of the issues that was weakening the system was the pull of the two big city schools. Too many hurlers were travelling into the city from the other areas of the county.”
“What has happened is that things have become centralised. The hurlers are all going to Kieran’s and Kilkenny CBS. The rural secondary schools in Callan, Castlecomer and Ballyhale were all successful until 15 years ago. Castlecomer and Callan won the ‘A’ in the noughties. Callan are now off the radar, Castlecomer are struggling in ‘B’ while Ballyhale used to win vocational All Irelands, but they have disappeared.”
“The view would be that they always had St Kieran’s and the CBS as powerhouses but when the outer schools became strong, they all chipped in one or two players each year onto the minor team and that became the difference between winning a minor All Ireland or not.”
He believes Clare’s All Ireland minor success shows the county is beginning to create a clearer pathway to lining out at the highest level.
Fahy does exercise caution though as he feels Clare hurling must continue to develop second level colleges across the county and not become too concentrated on a select few sides.
This leads him to be wary of Clare following Kilkenny or in fact any county’s lead at underage level.
“Clare are different, our tradition is different. We are able to carve out our own path. If you are copying anyone all you will ever be is a follower. That’s not our tradition. I would have great faith after looking at the minor team and the system now in place at development squad level. I do think we have ground to make up in the schools. In the primary (school) area we can make gains.”
“The secondary schools are more linked up with development squads while our S+C has become very strong right the way through. I would be worried that what happened in Kilkenny could easily happen in Clare where everything becomes centralised, and you reject the periphery. If the peripheral schools lose traction, then that would be bad for hurling in the county and unfortunately some feel this is already happening.”