Hurling is wide open but some coaches need to iron out their spring issues ahead of summer

WHEN the back door system was introduced, I was always opposed. There was this myth that it would give the weaker teams a chance. All it does is give the stronger teams two chances. The new round robin in Munster and Leinster does all the same and more. Consistency is the key to success. This idea that you can switch the on/off button is another myth. In judging where teams are at looking ahead to the summer, all we can go on is spring form. Otherwise we’re only guessing. What we’ve seen of Galway is worrying for the All-Ireland champions. It’s easy to hide behind the excuse that they had a busy time celebrating, or have been in heavy training ahead of their All-Ireland title defence. They are going to find it a real battle in the group stage of the Leinster Championship to finish in the top two in the group of five and return to a provincial final. In terms of the toughest jobs going at the moment, there is a reason I have Waterford top of the list. Some supporters have taken it that I am anti-Waterford when in actual fact that they are the one team that I’d love to have. They have unbelievable talent. Look at the generation who have come through to senior after winning minor and Under-21 All-Irelands — a generation that includes the likes of Austin Gleeson and Patrick Curran. To be able to integrate them with Noel Connors, Kevin Moran and Brick Walsh means Derek McGrath (left) has the ideal mix. But after talking about struggling in the League, they did just that. All teams should take a leaf out of Brian Cody’s book. Win and keep winning. Don’t drop your standards. Look where it has got Kilkenny in his 20 seasons in charge. So which managers have the most difficult tasks ahead of the summer?

1 DEREK McGRATH (WATERFORD)

What makes it the toughest job around, first of all, is that Derek McGrath’s team have dropped down into Division 1B after a very, very poor League campaign. The loss of form of his key players is a huge problem to overcome.

He took a leave of absence from work last year to concentrate fully on the overall team performance, which was a huge call for him to make.

McGrath (left) has been very stubborn and stuck his head in the sand and gone down the road of a sweeper system. But there is no need for a sweeper system with the talent he has at his disposal. Especially as it has had the knock-on effect of undermining his firepower up front.

It must be very frustrating for players. That is the mountain he has built himself to climb.

2 DONAL MOLONEY/GERRY O’CONNOR (CLARE)

The joint management team had huge success at underage level.

The three All-Ireland Under-21 titles were won independently and with real style.

But the same magic doesn’t seem to be there at senior level. They haven’t kicked on, given the immense skill in the team. Players like Tony Kelly, David McInerney, Conor McGrath, Shane O’Donnell, and such an underrated player like John Conlon. After a bright League they didn’t fulfil their potential, losing to Limerick in the quarter-final.

But for the free-taking of Peter Duggan, they would have been annihilated. The defence is very porous and the supply inside can be non-existent. Things look a right mess.

3 JOHN MEYLER (CORK)

The Rebels boss has a huge challenge in front of him. All we can look at is recent form and the League form was pathetic. There has been a certain level of success underage and Mark Coleman, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Shane Kingston and new defender Tim O’Mahony are all top hurlers. Eoin Cadogan is also back in the mix and, up front, they have some tremendous finishers.

A bit of blood and bandage has to return, though. It’s wishful thinking to imagine it will all come good when the ground hardens.

4 DAVY FITZGERALD (WEXFORD)

Kilkenny burst the bubble big time in the League semi-final. Up until then, Davy Fitzgerald had the wind at his back, had the big spenders behind him, and had his team on a winning run.

Against an inexperienced Kilkenny team, it was the way they were defeated that showed a serious weakness. Davy will need all his skills as a manager to get them back. One loss won’t be the demise of Wexford. But the momentum has been broken.

The most encouraging aspect has been the emergence of Rory O’Connor and Jack O’Connor and, crucially, Fitzgerald has leaders in defence in Shaun Murphy, Liam Ryan and Matthew O’Hanlon.

5 JOHN KIELY (LIMERICK)

They got the rub of the green in coming out of a very weak Division 1B.

With a no-show by Galway in Salthill, they went up to Division 1A next year. It’s all about building on the U21 All-Ireland success but there’s a danger of expecting maybe too much, too young.

People here are talking about AllIrelands. Reality will have to strike.

Given the weight of expectation, there is huge pressure on. I’d be exercising caution. Kiely has brought on a lot of young players who have performed well — Kyle Hayes, Cian Lynch, and Sean Finn to name a few — but not yet consistently in the white heat of Championship competition.

One big plus has been Aaron Gillane, the find of the year.