You know I don't disagree with this but still, countries like Holland, Norway, Scotland (none qualified) and Turkey (who did but who have bombed so far) all have everything we'd only dream of.
I had a chat recently with a guy at Athletics Ireland as I'm writing an article on Irish running for my club's magazine. Despite huge numbers now participating, running is a participation culture not an excellence culture. therea re hundreds of events nationwide to enter but so many now that our best guys don't race our best guys as often as they can. At all distances our top runners aren't running the times of our 1980s runners. Even if you discount the legends like Coughlan and Treacy, at marathon level we're still 3 minutes behind Dick Hooper. Perhaps the hunger just isn't there. The AI guy says that we have good coaches but none of the great coaches that make a difference.
In rugby, I posted a comment by Jim O'Callaghan saying that the success of the pro game is killing the rank and file weekend rugby culture as everyone is attending rather than playing.
My point is simply that it's a damned hard puzzle to solve.
I have always said that a joined up game is what we need first and foremost. The schoolboy clubs are still producing good players. Stephen Hunt said he was impressed by recent Kennedy Cup performances. But after that we lose control. In many cases that's OK if they go to good UK clubs.
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