Cork boss Pat Ryan on his biggest bugbear ahead of All-Ireland final
Since 2021 the maor foirne, or runner, is not allowed in Gaelic games after it was felt that too many management teams had overstepped the mark with their use of the role but several managers have called for its return and Ryan feels that it should be facilitated to some degree going forward.
Ryan was speaking in the context of Cork's recent All-Ireland semi-final win over Dublin a a sold out Croke Park when he was unable to communicate with his players during the game.
'It's impossible,' he said. 'To be honest it's the biggest bugbear I have. You're putting in the best time you can, you want to make changes, you want to make things, and you just can't. I was shouting at Mark Coleman from 10 yards away from me.
'It was only a simple thing just to push up on a puckout and he just couldn't hear me.
'It's crazy that I think we're the only sport that you don't do it in. Maybe it was too far before, the cult of the maor foirne running onto the field all over the place and that side of it, but I think there should be a situation where you have something in place, some sort of mechanism where you can give instructions maybe two or three times a half, maybe in a game where you have a runner or something like that.
'I don't know, there's better fellas outside there than me come up with those ideas, but it's absolutely crazy that coaches can't adjust on that situation on that day. I'd say we're definitely the only sport that that have it, so I think it's amazing.'
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McCarthy regained his place after suspension, scoring 23 points (0-02 from play) in the victories over Waterford – in between winning the Munster and All-Ireland U20 titles - Laois and Galway, and had scored 1-02 (2f) as well as setting up Jason Forde's goal in his almost an hour on the pitch in the semi-final. McCarthy had picked up his first yellow in just the fourth minute, for a slap of the hurl onto Paddy Deegan's elbow as he tried to close down the Kilkenny wing-back. "There wasn't much force. But at the same time, you can't do it, it is a striking action," observed Limerick forward Tom Morrissey on The Sunday Game. "Some refs might leave it go but you're still putting yourself at risk of getting a yellow. That meant he had to be careful for the rest of the game but, with 12 minutes left and the contest finely poised, Kilkenny keeper Eoin Murphy sidestepped the Tipp man, who left his hurl hanging out to rap Murphy on the knuckles. Owens called him over and ended his afternoon prematurely. Tipperary are down to 14 men after Darragh McCarthy is shown a second yellow card. That seemed harsh. 📺Watch 📻Listen 📱 Follow — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 6, 2025 "It's only a slight little tip, but there's no need to do it," said a baffled Michael Duignan on commentary. "It's harmless enough, but when you're on a yellow you don't do that." Brendan Cummins, his U20 manager, Sheedy and Jackie Tyrrell all felt the second yellow was harsh but the concern is that McCarthy had no prospect of winning the ball with either challenge, and Cahill said he had "no complaints" with the decision. "There's no need to do it," agreed Morrissey. "On both occasions, the player wasn't about to play the ball where you could come in with the hurley. They were carrying the ball in their hand. Flicking with the hurley, the ref is going to have make a decision and you're the one who's going to miss out." Forde had already been switched onto the frees by the time of the red card, McCarthy having missed two scoreable opportunities. The 31-year-old then hit four placed balls of considerable difficulty, which were instrumental in Tipperary closing out the game. Speaking to RTÉ Sport afterwards, Cahill suggested McCarthy would not be taken off the frees: "It's great to have Jason in reserve, he's having a huge year again... I'll be backing young Darragh all day long anyway, I have no concerns in that regard." But, given O'Donoghue's match-winning impact off the bench, is there an argument to start him instead of his U20 team-mate? It would allow Forde to take over the dead-balls without drama and McCarthy could always step in as a sub if the veteran was having an off day. It might also spare him some surely inevitable attempts to test his composure. Does he risk being ineffectual if he is too worried about picking up cards to tackle? Speaking in the aftermath of being named man of the match on his SHC debut against Limerick, McCarthy gave an interview that sounded articulate and mature beyond his 19 years. "The atmosphere was class and I loved every second," he said. "Playing with the likes of John and Jason is such a privilege and it's so invaluable the experience you get from them. It's really kicking me on as a player. After the U20 triumph, he said: "To be able to put on this jersey is a massive honour. You're representing your club, your family, coaches. You're representing everyone. It does so much for so many people; it lifts the whole county, and we're in great preparations for the senior team as well." Though his second mistake this summer could have been very costly, Cahill called him "a very resilient young man" and gave every indication that he will retain his spot: "I think over the next couple of sessions, he'll arrive here in a good place." This time, the manager will hope McCarthy can be as clever on the pitch as he clearly is off it and keep his aggression on the right side of the line. If he does, he just might go one better than his idol Noel and become an All-Ireland champion in his debut season.
