Kevin O’Donovan says Cork chairman ‘playing with facts’ over report accusations

The future of Cork GAA will be up for discussion on Friday morning when Kevin O'Donovan meets the county chairman to discuss his controversial 25-point plan discussion document.

Coaching officer O'Donovan created headlines when he distributed his blueprint at a county board meeting on Tuesday evening, however county chairman Ger Lane has accused him of passing off the work of the Games focus committee as his own. Speaking on Thursday's edition of SportsJOE's dedicated hurling podcast, The GAA Hour, O'Donovan said Lane is "playing with the facts a little bit". https://soundcloud.com/user-787320910/the-gaa-hour-with-colm-parkinson-corks-plight-and-conal-keaney-on-ger-cunningham He also said the county board's public image is harming their ability to fundraise among the business community. In the introduction to the draft discussion document, O'Donovan states the ideas were "kindly pilfered from the many great thinkers or ‘local gods’ I have been privileged to meet at pitches and committee rooms". The ideas include the appointment of directors of football and hurling, a full-time head of physical development and a player development programme for 18 to 25-year-olds to foster a 'Cork way' of playing. Speaking on The GAA Hour, O'Donovan explained why he went on a solo run Tuesday night, disputing Lane's accusations the document was "broadly based" on the focus group's own submission.

"That would be playing with the facts a little bit," he said. "Eighteen months ago there was a strategic review committee set up to come up with a plan and in 18 months there has been very little progress but I was on the steering group. "We went away and formed the focus group, put on some heavy hitters like Conor Counihan (below), John Allen and others on it. "We went to huge work throughout the winter, we has 12 consultation meetings with clubs, officers, every single person involved in coaching and games. We produced the report, presented it to the steering group and - I am on the steering group - I don't have faith the steering group will critically analyse the proposals and pass many of them."

O'Donovan said of his 25 proposals, 14 were the products of the focus group. His fear of the report being lost in bureaucracy were behind his actions on Tuesday: "Maybe I have lost faith in the procedure, so I say put it to the clubs." The development squads under O'Donovan's care won seven of seven tournaments entered in 2015, but he claims that is one tiny section of the GAA landscape and Cork are lagging far behind their main football and hurling rivals.

"In Kilkenny they have a brilliant system because they work at every level, Kerry have good schools, good clubs, good county. We have systems failure."

Following on from the poisonous strikes of the last decade and disputes such as that which raged over the redevelopment of Pairc Ui Chaoimh, O'Donovan feels Cork County Board's finances are being damaged by its reputation.

"There are huge avenues for corporate fund-raising but because of our image they won't touch us at the minute," he said. "What image comes into your head when people say 'Cork County Board'. You tell me, let's be honest. "I am not creating any image, I didn't invent this one that we have a negative image, but every time I hear Cork County Board it is in a negative context and I a member and I don't take it kindly at times."

All the rows over player power, managerial change and stadiums have taken up so much time and energy, according to O'Donovan, that basic things such as a supporters club have been overlooked in Ireland's largest and most successful GAA county.

"Babs Keating set up a supporters club 30 years ago, so for me to say this is a revolution in Cork, let's set up one now, I'd say the Tipperary lads are laughing into their sleeves. But that is where we are," said O'Donovan. "There is this inertia in the county. We had the strikes, we had the row, but now we are like the family at home at the table. We don't talk and we don't get on. We're post war but the war is still on."

On Friday morning O'Donovan will meet Lane to discuss what next for the county. Is he confident Lane will take on board his points and accept it is time to allow the clubs have a say in the future direction of hurling in the county? "I hope he is recognising the disillusionment coupled with the desire for change. I hope he recognises that and if he doesn't, I guess we will have to see how things go after that." Listen to the full interview with O'Donovan, which starts at 21 minutes. You can subscribe on iTunes here. https://soundcloud.com/user-787320910/the-gaa-hour-with-colm-parkinson-corks-plight-and-conal-keaney-on-ger-cunningham