GAA fans hail Pat Ryan for ‘refreshingly honest' explanation as to why he goes against the grain of modern managers
Unlike just about every other team across inter-county football and hurling, the Rebels actually line out on matchday with the same starting XV as is named a few days in advance.
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Ryan doesn't buy into the supposed value of naming a phoney team
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Declan Dalton returns in place of the injured Seamus Harnedy this weekend
It's only a small thing but is appreciated by GAA supporters nonetheless given his peers are so uber-secretive around their starting teams.
He detailed: "You can't keep anything in Cork anyway! I don't want to be telling the players, 'Don't say this now to anyone.'
"They have to go home and tell their mam and dad are they playing, are they not playing. Your friends, you're getting texts. I find that's only putting more pressure on them for the following week."
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In Cork, where the hurling team are under a constant microscope, Ryan reckons keeping secrets from the public would be a futile exercise.
He said: "I'm not going to question any manager who wants to put in dummy teams or doesn't want to put in dummy teams.
"But realistically, bar probably Limerick, I think everything gets out of every other dressing room.
"If you look at Nickie Quaid this year, nobody knew that was coming. That shows how tight they are and that's probably a challenge for all of us to be.
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"Our training sessions aren't closed-doors either really – to a degree. We don't want to invite 25,000 people down.
"We often get a mother coming up with her kids looking for autographs and she's sitting on the side of the field.
Palestine GAA players watch camogie match on laptop
"Look, this isn't my team. This is the Cork public's team and it's the players' team more than anything. We try and be as straightforward as we can."
The above clip has been well-received by GAA enthusiasts up and down the country. Journalists are obviously going to find his directness especially welcome.
Among the quote-tweets praising Ryan, host of the BBC's GAA Social podcast Thomas Nibblock posted: "What a refreshingly honest clip.
"Nothing spectacular, or earth shattering- just a fair winded answer to a question. Can't wait to Saturday. 5pm, BBC2."
Similarly Derrick added: "Pat Ryan is one of the most genuine & sincere men you'll find. This is proper honest and straight talking stuff, which is sadly becoming a rarity."
SEMI SELECTION
On Thursday Ryan
Niall O'Leary comes back into the defence after coming off the bench in the
Robert Downey replaces the injured Cormac O'Brien (quad) at centre-back and Declan Dalton comes into the firing line for Séamus Harnedy, who is
Ger Millerick returns to the bench after
CORK: P Collins; N O'Leary, E Downey, S O'Donoghue; C Joyce, R Downey, M Coleman; T O'Mahony, D Fitzgibbon; D Healy, S Barrett, D Dalton; P Horgan, A Connnolly, B Hayes.
DUBLIN
:
S Brennan; J Bellew, P Smyth, C McHugh; P Doyle, C Burke, A Dunphy; C Donohoe, B Hayes; R McBride, F Whitely, D Power; S Currie, R Hayes, C O'Sullivan.
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