In sync, the club scene at elite level has become increasingly attractive to coaches and managers with intercounty experience because the gap in attitudes between ambitious club players and intercounty players has never been smaller. I think [club] players now are reacting to that.”Tipperary is a vivid example of how the landscape has changed. There are club players now that would have an understanding of concepts that 10 years ago they wouldn’t have had a clue of. If clubs are importing intercounty expertise and attitudes and training programmes, are they also importing the stony-faced joylessness? This year he led Portarlington to another football title in Laois and he marvels at elite club players now, and their appetite for improvement.

Source: The Irish Times November 08, 2025 09:25 UTC