by Damian Lawlor

GMIT Games Development Officer Damien Curley has praised Galway's development squad structure for helping safeguard the county's hurling future.

Galway have won four All-Ireland minor titles since 2009 and are hot favourites to win again this year.

They have featured in three All-Ireland under-21s in that period winning one and as well as winning last year's senior Championship they are aiming for back to back wins in the current campaign when they host Kilkenny at Pearse Stadium this Sunday.

And Curley says the work that the county's Coaching and Games department has put in over the last number of years is help underage hurling talent climb the ladder.

"The Development Squad system is much maligned in some counties, but it's a huge success under Damien Coleman in Galway and has been a huge boost, with many former players finding their way into the structure and putting huge work in from under-14 to minor. 

"This, allied with continued good work and cooperation from the clubs and schools, has lifted the standard hugely.  In fairness, we have had a policy of keeping the base as wide as possible for as long as possible - and certainly the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge (All-Ireland under-17 series) has been a huge help here.

"We continue with 3 squads (outside of our top 24 minors) and they are guaranteed a proper games programme." 

Former Galway senior selector Curley says that his county has recognised that training levels had gone through the roof.

They are trying to address this imbalance at underage level - and the coaches can see that players skills are improving all the time.

"I think we all recognise now that the balance between games and training needs to level out in all areas - for too long it has been dozens of training sessions for one or two games.

"This is slowly beginning to change, thanks to competitions like the Celtic Challenge where a 1:1 ratio is being promoted.

"We felt in Galway that we were starved of success at senior level, with such a long gap back to 1988, despite having a plethora of minor and under-21 wins in the intervening time - so yes, it was a huge boost to finally reach the pinnacle again.  The fact that the minors achieved the ultimate prize on the same day was also a huge moment, and the enthusiasm and interest generated amongst the hurling fraternity was great to see. 

"There is a real sense that we are finally ready to compete regularly and at the "business end" at all levels.  An All-Ireland win does huge good for the confidence of a county."

Curley says Galway hurlers of the future will be more rounded and not just skilful hurlers.

"I think the big change I've seen is the education of players," he says.

"Around 10 or 15 years ago guys just came in to a set up and survived on their hurling instincts - now fellas are up to speed on the latest strength and conditioning techniques, what their nutrition should consist of, what edge can sports psychology bring to their game, what video analysis can bring. 

"A certain amount of that was always there, but it wasn't as pronounced, and certainly wasn't something you spent a lot of time at.  The skills of the game are still the same, the fitness levels have become more position specific, but players are always looking for that extra bit to give them an edge."

Curley says coaches have to be more aware of what is going on in players lives outside of hurling too.

"When you take into account the heavy sport schedule of most of our students, you also have to factor in their study schedule, work schedule and home life also.  Very often coaches can have a little bit of tunnel vision and expect them to commit to our session and forget about everything else - this simply isn't possible anymore. 

"We have to find ways to accommodate players rather than the other way around - we need to open channels of communication between the various stakeholders with the player at the centre. 

"Having said all that, I am a big fan of the third level competitions - they still (and should continue to) hold a big place in the GAA calendar and in the player pathway.

"I've always contended that if a potential county senior can hold his own in the tough conditions usually encountered in Fitzgibbon hurling, it's a pretty good indicator of how he will play in senior championship.

"Again, as part of the development process we have made efforts to promote a Culture and Values system within our Academies - from a hurling point of view this relates to being able to operate as part of a team.  Much of our coaching is now geared towards a "games-based approach" and getting players to be much more attuned to dealing with situations as they arise on the field, rather than having them to rely on the "sideline" for instruction. 

"Also, with the focus on the team we try to really promote the positives of playing with Galway, whether it be at the top level or the next levels - we would hope that anybody who gets a taste of it brings the ethos back to their clubs and try to up the levels there - not in a silly way but in a way that is productive for everyone. I feel that if the environment is inclusive and encouraging, we have a far better chance of keeping players involved and I suppose the ultimate compliment to the system would be that guys felt that they enjoyed the experience and learned something from it."

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