Inside Track: Managements have a job to do – so too have hacks

There was a time when I had to do after-match interviews in my capacity as a full-time GAA scribbler. Not so much for this paper, but the nationals, a couple of which I used to pen a few words.

“About 500 words, with quotes from the managers. Get the copy to us as quickly as possible,” would be the word midweek before a match.

That last piece caused me a bit of bother on one occasion. Louth were playing Westmeath in a National League match in Haggardstown one Saturday night. I was stringing for a Sunday paper and had a 9 o’clock deadline.

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The game was timed for 7.30. Allowing for half-time, that wouldn‘t give me any time to seek out a manager, and about 15 minutes, at best, to piece the words together.

I got a wee bit on edge when I saw that Pat McEneaney wasn’t that pushed about getting the teams under orders at the appointed time, and again when the teams were slow about coming out for the second half.

When the call came from through from London at 8.55, I was able to buy a little time: “They haven’t finished yet.”

Shane Lennon was on form that night – coming in with a decent tally, giving me a ready-made first couple of paragraphs, highlighted the Kilkerley full-forward feat.

The rest fell fairly quickly into place, allowing me to have an answer when a second call came from the sports desk.

I always felt managers had no appreciation for the pressure the hacks were under when they sought a few words, especially those writing for following day publications.

I said that to Kieran McGeeney one day after the Kildare team he was managing at the time played Louth in Drogheda. All I got was a dirty look. I wouldn’t mind, but his team was after winning.

All of which brings me to the piece Paul Welsh wrote last week. Paul, in his first season writing on Louth GAA affairs having previously covered the Down scene, complained about the refusal of the Louth team management to be interviewed prior to last Sunday’s game in Cork.

Seemingly, it had been the practice before each league match so far this season for Ger Brennan to answer questions, giving an update on players’ wellbeing etc on the Monday prior to a game.

I should say I’ve never been involved. Had I been, I’d have wanted to know if the team, when it was released, would be the one to line out on the Sunday.

In none of the five games Louth played prior to last Sunday’s was the line-out the same as that which appeared on the programme.

I’m surprised with this piece of cooperation being withdrawn. (I’m sure there was the usual chat after Sunday’s game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.)

Post-match interviews give a manager the chance to put his slant on things, especially as the questions are not usually very probing, most of those posing them under pressure to get copy away.

As for the pre-match get-togethers, they’re beneficial mostly to those who are asking the questions, and by extension to the readers and listeners who’ll be digesting the information when it comes out on the radio, or appears in print.

It would be a pity if normal service is not resumed. From what I know, there’s always been a good relationship between the purveyors of news and the present and past Louth management. I would sincerely hope that a change was not because something critical had been written or commented upon.