Mark Coleman is the very best in the business.
The Blarney boy is already being tipped as the leading candidate for Hurler of the Year. He’s done his claims for the highest gong in hurling no harm over the last four days, winning two Munster titles and one man-of-the-match award in half a week’s work.
For a 20-year-old that’s fair tipping but this is what Mark Coleman does.
He burst onto the scene as a sturdy 19-year-old in his maiden season with the Rebel seniors in 2017, becoming one of the youngest players to pick up an All-Star by the end of it.
And he’s hit the ground flying in 2018 too.
The Rebel diamond’s general play in the half back line is what sets him apart. Primarily a wing back, his reading of the game is so sharp that he’ll sweep across the pitch and hurl the field from anywhere anyway.
With a stone-cold killer of a first touch, a humongous belt of the ball and dazzling feet, he has it all and he knows how to use his great gifts.
Another dangerous aspect of his game is his ability to cut a line ball over the bar from any distance out. His sidelines have been turning heads for a full year now, and a full 12 months ago we gave an in-depth, step by step guide to his technique.
On Sunday, Coleman hit Clare with a trademark snipe from the sideline
Sideline cut, what a skill…Mark Coleman showing how it should be done in Thurles today @officialgaa pic.twitter.com/jUgdn6yFel
— Darragh Crowley (@DarraghCrowley2) July 1, 2018
On Wednesday, he took Tipperary for same.
Sublime stickwork from Mark Coleman for this sideline for @OfficialCorkGAA pic.twitter.com/h2aGvV0Cg6
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 4, 2018
Lads are calling for a line ball to be worth two points – when a man like Coleman is slotting with such ease and consistency, that’d be some punishment to bring in for an opportunity that often only arises by virtue of a deflection that could just as easily have went the other way.
Anyway, just one day after lifting the Munster senior cup, it was far from resting on his laurels the youngster was on Monday. Instead he was spreading the gospel to the next generation of Leeside hurlers at the White’s Cross GAA club Cúl Camp.
Coleman answered every question they threw at him but the one that drew the most attention was his placement of the sliotar for a sideline. Often, you’ll see lads messing at the turf and they don’t really know what they’re doing.
The Corkman clearly does. He advises finding a strong tuft of grass. Twist it until you’ve sorted a height for the sliotar to sit on. Then, the placement of the sliotar comes into it.
“You catch a piece of grass, you grab it and twist it and you try make a ‘T’ shape. You make sure the grass is as strong as possible so you can place it up high then for the best connection.”
“I place it down, and try hit it under that rim. Everyone hits it differently but that’s the way I do it anyway, and I face it towards goal, and then I have a whack of it.”
The rim Coleman is talking about is this one, the first rounded one.
Then you have to get down low, genuflect with your back leg and whack out through it.
“I think it’s important then to get down as low as you can. Get your back knee down to the ground. The more you practice, the more you’ll develop your own routine.”
That man Darragh Fitzgibbon had a similar schedule to Coleman and he was also visiting Cúl Camps in between the finals.
Day 3 of @BoherbueGaa Cúl Camp!
🌞✅
💯 Children ✅
Coaches ✅
🍦🚐 ✅
Fun ✅@CorkGAACoaching @Boherjuvenile @PatSpratt1
Great to have Darragh Fitzgibbon @OfficialCorkGAA calling to Camp this morning & so generous of his time. pic.twitter.com/3TihQrpuIO— Steven Lynch (@ashtevie) July 4, 2018
These lads will go far.
