The increasing demands of intercounty management were acutely captured yesterday by Cork's All-Ireland hurling winning manager John Allen, who for the first time expanded on his decision to step down after this year's final loss to Kilkenny.
"I just felt that my brain was almost dead from the constant thinking about hurling," said Allen. "It was one dimensional in that it was either hurling or nothing and I just felt I wanted to sit back and see if there was another life outside there, apart from hurling and management.
"Prior to taking over as manager in 2005 I had been a selector for two years and I would have been involved with players before and after every game. So I had a fairly big input all the time. So I felt it was time to move on and let a fresh face and a fresh voice to come into the dressingroom and the training field. There comes a time when I think that players become sick of listening to your voice after one or two years, never mind five or six."
Allen proved a seamless replacement to Donal O'Grady, who led Cork to All-Ireland success in 2004, with Allen following suit in 2005. Part of the pressure, he admitted, was Cork's constant presence as All-Ireland contenders: "That is there no matter what happens. With the Cork hurlers there is this expectancy as much or more than others. So on the shoulders of the manager rests that type of burden, if you like, even though players win matches.
"I suppose the profile of manager is a bit exaggerated but that is the way it is right now, and I think that perhaps the manager's time at the top is going to be shorter. And given the fact that all your championship games now are on television it means there is an added pressure there as you are in the spotlight all the time."
The touchy subject of payments to managers was also addressed by Allen, with Cork widely known as one of the counties that don't offer any financial incentives.
"If I thought I was being rewarded or greatly rewarded I would feel it as a pressure that I would have to deliver where as this way, with Cork, you do it for the love of it and if you are good enough to achieve, fine and you move on," he said.
"But there is no doubt it's a huge honour, and not for a moment would I say I was not delighted to be asked to manage the Cork hurlers. It has been hugely successful but there is definitely a price in terms of your own privacy and what you put into the whole thing mentally.
Allen was speaking at the launch yesterday of the AIB Community Challenge, where every club entered in the provincial championships can contest prizes ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 towards club equipment, based on the level of support they get from their local communities and fan base.
Meanwhile, an announcement is expected today from the Mayo County Board following a lengthy meeting with football team manager Mickey Moran last night. Moran's number two John Morrison resigned last week.
There have been strong indications in recent days that Mayo are keen for a change in management, with board secretary Sean Feeney yesterday reiterating in the Mayo News that Moran and Morrison were appointed as a partnership - fuelling speculation that they would also fall together.
Former Offaly star Johnny Dooley is to coach Westmeath hurlers next year.
