IMBOSSIBLE

All-Ireland winning coach calls for support structures for managers at top level due to intense pressures involved in the modern game

- BY KARL O'KANE

CIAN O'NEILL has called for support structures for county GAA managers due to the stresses involved in the game.

O'Neill is supervising a Masters study into the 'Health, Well being and Perceived Stressors of Elite Level Gaelic Games Managers and Coaches.

As Head of Sport, Leisure and Childhood Studies at MTU Cork - and with 21 successive years of involvement at county level under his belt - O'Neill (right) is perfectly positioned to understand the full range of pressures at the top level.

O'Neill, who coached Kerry to this year's All-Ireland title, is a former Kildare manager. He has also coached Tipperary hurlers to an All-Ireland, as well as working with Mayo, Galway and Cork footballers.

The Moorefield man says what keeps drawing him back into coaching is “connections and relationships,” but there are “a lot of challenges, difficulties, stressors, really great days but really dark times as well.”

In a wide ranging interview, he told the Indo GAA podcast:

“I'd like to see some coherent structures and supports for county managers and coaches. Similar to what the GPA do for players. Many managers and coaches are ex-players.

“All they can do is make it available.