TYRONE’S players won’t accept “second best” so their county board will have to cast their net wide to find a suitable replacement for Ulster Rugby-bound coach Peter Donnelly, says Cathal McCarron.
Dromore native McCarron worked with former team-mate Donnelly after he returned to the Red Hand fold as part of Mickey Harte’s backroom team in 2014. He says the Coalisland clubman, who will take up a role as Academy Athletic Development Coach with Ulster at the end of Tyrone’s Championship campaign, will leave “massive shoes to fill”.
“It’s no surprise to me (that Ulster recruited him),” said McCarron.
“He’s very into the science of training and Tyrone are going to miss him.
“There could be people out there who are well able for the job but personally I don’t know how they are going to fill his shoes.
“They are going to have to because the players aren’t going to except second best or play second fiddle. The Tyrone county board are going to have to get somebody equal to him because the players are very driven, they set very high standards and they won’t be content with anyone.
“They’ll want somebody as good as Peter if not better. I don’t know if there is anybody on his level in Tyrone but they are massive shoes to fill.”
Donnelly began his coaching career with Cavan before returning to his native Tyrone and his work with players from underage to senior level has paid handsome dividends. The senior side have qualified for a third All-Ireland semi-final in-a-row while the U20 and minor sides are All-Ireland semi-final and quarter-final action respectively on Sunday. Donnelly has played his part in that success and McCarron, who stepped away from the panel earlier this year, rates him as the best he has worked with.
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of him and the work that he puts in,” said McCarron.
“He gets the players into the best shape possible and he puts so much work into being the best he can be.
“He went over to Australia and was working with Aussie Rules clubs and he’s been doing the same with Rugby League and Rugby Union clubs. He’s always trying to better himself and become a better coach and that’s why he stands out from the rest – he’s ahead of the game in GAA circles.”
Donnelly’s new role with Ulster Rugby will be to bring U16 players on a “talent pathway” through to Ulster’s academy squad and on to senior level.
He will continue in his role with the Red Hands until the conclusion of their Championship campaign but will then transfer codes and Ulster Rugby officials say that his lack of background in the oval ball game will not have any bearing on his ability to prepare players for the highest level of club rugby.
Donnelly will succeed Matthew Godfrey as Ulster Academy Athletic Development Coach. Godfrey was promoted to replace Kevin Geary as strength and conditioning coach with the senior team.
“Peter applied for a vacancy at Ulster Rugby and was the best suited candidate for this position,” explained Ulster spokesman Richard Finlay.
“He’ll be our Academy Athletic Development Coach and he’ll work with players within Ulster Rugby’s talent pathway from U16 through to the Abbey Insurance Academy squad.
“Peter will help equip Academy players to make a successful transition into professional rugby and he will work as part of an inter-disciplinary team within the Abbey Insurance Ulster Rugby Academy.”
