Meath star is convinced that playing both codes can improve your hurling and football

There is space for a dual player. There must be.

GAA dual players are a dying breed. The incredible feat of representing your county in both football and hurling was once a dream that, for very few, could become a reality. Now, it seems, it can only be a dream. Podge Collins put a nail in that coffin last year when the most high-profile modern day dual star retired his inter-county Gaelic football gloves and focused on the small ball. The final nail though was arguably James Toher’s removal from the Meath hurling panel. The then Meath hurler of the year was not allowed the freedom to showcase his ability for the Royals in both codes, but speaking on the most recent GAA Hour, Toher said that there is still the potential for dual stars if it wasn’t for the GAA’s heavily criticized scheduling.

“In my opinion there is space for a dual player, but the way the fixtures are its impossible”, he complained.

“That’s why I had to leave the football squad this year, because four out of the five league games and the first round of the championship clashed directly with the hurling.”

Toher’s criticism is just the latest complaint in a barrage of errors in the GAA calendar which has alienated Sigerson Cup and intercounty players alike. Though the Meath talisman recognised the impossibility of a dual intercounty player, he said assuredly that, with better planning, playing dual would actually benefit both codes.

“I have definitely found that your quickness in both games and your cuteness in both games benefits from playing the two”, he said. “There are definitely trade-offs and I think they would be worthwhile. It’s a pity more players don’t try to do it and force the GAA into changing fixtures or something a bit more accommodating because at the moment it’s impossible to do both.”

Also on the show, Séamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunket agreed that, without time constraints, largely due to terrible organisation by the GAA, dual players could be a beautiful reality.

“They are broadly similar games”, he said. “They complement one another and the processes are the same. We defend the same, we attack the same, open up space and all of that. The issue really here is time especially at county level “The dual player is a critical player within the team in both football and hurling and is probably the better player for it.”

Cheddar, although he is in agreement that the GAA themselves are the biggest barrier in the way of a dual player, he did note that, regardless of match schedules, time is still a major issue.

“The issue is not that it will dis-improve a dual player’s game, whether its hurling or football the issue is time. Is he there when you need him to rehearse key aspects of a game plan”

The new condensed championship formats mean that hurling will be played on some traditional football weekends and visa versa. The prospect of playing every game for your county in both codes is therefore impossible. The likes of Jimmy Barry Murphy or Alan Kerins for the big counties will not be seen for some time, but according to Cheddar the disappearance of dual players has an even greater effect of the smaller counties.

“Whether your county is strong in football or hurling, the dual payer will normally choose the game that he has a better chance of success in and hence the lesser game in that county usually suffers”, he frowned. “In those counties where either game is weaker, then you just don’t have number of quality players and the loss of a dual layer like that is really, really felt at the weaker game.”

Listen to the full interview and much more from The GAA Hour Hurling Show right here. https://soundcloud.com/sportsjoe-gaa-hour/james-toher-interview-dual-debate-over-and-davy-fitz-underrated This article was written by Mícheál Ó Scannáil.