In the past month, much has been said and written about what has gone wrong with the promotion of hurling in certain counties.
But Mark Stephenson is a man who knows what can go right – if time, planning and resources are allowed.
Hurling in Louth – along with Fermanagh, Cavan, Longford, and Leitrim – has been thrust in the spotlight with the threat of Lory Meagher Cup action only from 2025 onwards.
After some heated and passionate debate over recent weeks, the GAA's Central Council tomorrow is expected to reject that proposal. There has been talk that a five-year plan to grow new clubs could instead be encouraged and it's what happens next that appeals to Waterford native Stephenson, who has spent the last 40 years promoting hurling in the Wee County.
The game has regressed in Louth. Only three clubs contest the county senior championship when, until relatively recently, it was six.
It means that the greatest challenge for a club like St Fechin’s is to get enough meaningful fixtures for their players.
With that in mind, they compete at underage level in Meath, their seniors play in the Leinster Club Hurling League, as well as the Cú Chulainn League; a competition in which they landed the Division 2 title this season, beating Naomh Eoin from Sligo in the final.
A teacher at St Joseph's CBS Drogheda before retirement, Stephenson is renowned for his association with athletics and promoting hurling. The Kilmeaden native hurled with Wolfe Tones and has been living in the Termonfeckin area since 1985.
Along with former Kilkenny hurler Tom Ryan, he helped start the hurling teams at the previously football only St Fechin's in 1997 and then club chairperson John Savage shared the vision for the game to grow there.
They started out with 60 lads on the first night of training and the youngsters of the village took to the game instantly. More coaching and teams were added, and a summer camp was established in 1998.
In 2003, the club fielded an adult hurling team for the first time and also made their bow in the Louth senior hurling championship. They have now won it five times, completing three-in-a-row in August.
To this day St Fechin's are a shining example that hurling can survive and thrive.
"We know how to start clubs and we know what it takes, and we are willing to talk to anyone who wants help," Stephenson says.
"And moving on from this weekend there are a number of things that can drive our great game on.
"The GAA brought in the Táin Óg League, the Cú Chulainn League and the Leinster Club League – all three of those competitions are working excellently. They give us games; they provide us with meaningful fixtures and a chance to have fun."
Indeed, last year, 192 teams entered the Táin Óg League. This was a 57% increase on the numbers of 2021.
Croke Park sent equipment packs totalling 750 helmets, 500 hurleys, and 6,200 sliotars to 85 clubs from the 15 counties that entered.
Last year’s Cú Chulainn League was the inaugural year of the competition with 54 teams from 31 clubs taking part and these teams also received equipment packs for participation, up to €1,500 worth of gear depending on how many age grades they competed in.
The growth of these competitions and the support from central level signals what can be achieved.
"Those competitions are huge for us, and they are working brilliantly," Stephenson says.
"A couple more things could help further. The Celtic Challenge (under-17 developmental competition) was massive for us. Six of our current senior squad came from that panel. The more counties buy into that the better.
"We also need the All-Ireland 'C’ competition brought back at Under-20 level. Again, this would be massive for us.
"And we need time. Time doesn’t cost money. But we need it. By that I mean we need at least one dedicated night in the county for hurling only. We don’t need to be looking over our shoulders every week to see four of our best hurlers being brought off to a football blitz on the night they are supposed to be playing Cú Chulainn hurling.
"For that one dedicated night a week to be enforced, we need a hurling development committee with some power to feed into the county board.
"Apply that template to any of the other counties in this area, implement the above and we are already in a much healthier position.
"It will take more than five years to form a new club, get it off the ground and keep it going but if the above is enforced we would be absolutely thrilled."
"You grow up wanting to wear the jersey of the place you live in"
Stephenson is not convinced that amalgamations or regional teams will help the matter.
"No, it’s all about identity for club and county. You grow up wanting to wear the jersey of the place you live in.
"Players have to want to keep coming back to wear that jersey – that’s how powerful a club identity is. In my view it’s not as strong playing for an amalgamation. That’s not the answer here even though others feel it would help grow the game.
"What is the answer is a central plan. Croke Park directing to provincial councils and from there to the counties and then to the clubs.
"But what we must realise is that the feedback must go back the other way too. Clubs have to feed back what is working and change every few years to adopt with the times and society.
"Implement the new plan after Christmas but improve it and see what could work better.
"Great men like Tom Ryan that I know have founded clubs and kept them going. There are others I know. I am willing to help anyone who needs to start a hurling club.
"As I say, the Táin, Cú Chulainn and Leinster Club leagues are great ideas from the GAA and they are working excellently. Play those finals in Croke Park and make a welter of excitement.
"Promote the Celtic Challenge and restore the All-Ireland ‘C’. Play the Rackard, Ring and Meagher Cup finals before bigger games in Croke Park. Let the Louth hurling fan mingle with the Kilkenny hurling fan and be proud to.
"Introduce Hurling Development Committees in counties and give them some clout. We need more people promoting the game in our counties, clubs and schools.
"But all of the above can be achieved. It is tangible and realistic. It is practical. And it allows us to dream, to dream of competing in our county jerseys. We will do all we can to make sure that dream is not taken away."
