3 reasons why Eoin Cadogan would want to play hurling instead of football in Cork

Niall McIntyre

Football’s loss has been hurling’s gain.

Eoin Cadogan has left the Cork footballers for the 2018 season in favour of playing with the county’s hurlers, as Tony Leen reported in the Irish Examiner on Friday, and on closer examination, it’s no real wonder he came to that decision.

This is undoubtedly a huge boost to the Rebels’ incoming hurling manager, John Meyler, and to hurling in the county as a whole.

Cork enjoyed a brilliant year in 2017. The summer ‘Rebel Rising’ saw the Leesiders become Munster senior hurling champions for the first time since 2014. In turn, it saw them stop a rot of two consecutive years of Munster first round losses and qualifier defeats in 2015 and 2016.

Important also was the county’s provincial minor triumph, and their subsequent march to the All-Ireland decider in that grade. This all boded well for the future in red.

The autumn decision of Kieran Kingston to step down from his post at the helm of the county’s hurlers, and said decision’s consequences reverberated around Cork.

It threatened to halt the progress that they had so desperately craved, and this young team had so impressively made in 2017.

Would they have to start it all again? Would it be tough to regain this momentum?

It may still be, but before the pre-season competitions for 2018 even begin, it appears the Rebel ship has been steadied, and with minimal fuss, too.

Less than 3 weeks after Kingston’s shock decision to step down, John Meyler was announced as his replacement. Meyler – the man who had oversaw the county’s under-21s in 2017, and a man steeped in GAA for the last 45 years. A man who appears to have all the credentials to continue, and to improve on the 2017 year.

Less than two months after taking over, Meyler confirmed the re-introduction of Douglas club man Eoin Cadogan to his panel. Cadogan – a man who last played in 2014, and had been with the footballers ever since.

It may have come as a surprise to some, particularly given that the new Cork football manager, Ronan McCarthy, is a club mate of Cadogan’s, but there were plenty of reasons for him to side with the hurlers.

Indeed, it seems a match made in heaven, as Cadogan’s wily head and experience will be of great use and value to Cork hurling.

1. The 2017 hurling ‘Rebel Rising’ compared to football –

There appears to be so much more hope held for Cork’s hurlers compared to their footballers for the coming year. The exciting appointment of Meyler combined with the potential of their youthful side who now have the invaluable experience of a first year in Championship hurling bodes well.

The likes of Luke Meade, Mark Coleman and Darragh Fitzgibbon enjoyed breakthrough years in 2017. They’ll be hoping to push on in 2018.

Meanwhile, though the footballers rallied to force extra-time in a proud showing against Mayo in the qualifiers, 2017 was a disappointing year, an all too familiar tale for a side that haven’t won a trophy since 2012. This lack of success, combined with Cadogan’s admission this year that the Cork footballers are never loved in their own county – even when they’re winning – makes a much more attractive proposition.

2. Steven McDonnell decision –

The corner back has been an ever-present in the team since 2011. Elected captain by Kieran Kingston in 2015, the Glen Rovers man would have been nailed on for a corner back place in next year’s team.

He’s made himself unavailable for the 2018 season. This leaves a number two Jersey hanging up and ready to wear for Cadogan, with Colm Spillane expected to keep his place at number 4 after an impressive season.