Cork footballers head for Algarve warm-weather training camp
The Cork senior footballers will depart for the Algarve this week for a four-day training camp at the exclusive Quinta do Lago resort used by the Irish rugby squad.
With no Allianz Football League action next weekend, Cork have taken the opportunity to fly out to The Campus facility on Wednesday for four days of warm-weather training. The Kerry footballers will use the same facility for a four-day camp later this month.
The Cork hurlers spent their break weekend training across the border in Kerry, basing themselves in Dingle. They will use a number of home-based camps. But football management is banking on the restorative benefits of a warm-weather camp at one of the top facilities in Europe.
It’s a camp where the collective mood will be much improved after timely victories over Fermanagh and Kildare that have lifted Cork out of the relegation zone in Division 2 and up into fifth place on the table. They still have to go to Navan to face Meath before entertaining promotion-chasing Armagh in their final Division 2 game.
The Campus main pitch.With a stadium-quality pitch, high-performance gym, recovery pools, changing rooms, studios, bike shed, aquatic centre and tennis courts, The Campus is a private facility in the resort’s natural setting, permitting teams train, work, rehabilitate and relax in a private and exclusive environment," the resort says.
"The Campus has the ideal facilities and conditions for warm weather training, rehabilitation and pre-season preparation. In Quinta do Lago’s five-star luxury resort, The Campus offers the most complete leisure and lifestyle experience in the Algarve."
Team spending by Cork GAA last year came in just under the €2m mark, rising from €1.61m the year previous to €1.99m in 2023. Commenting on the 24% increase in team spending at December's Cork GAA convention, county board treasurer Diarmuid Gowan said that discussions were ongoing with the various management teams to rein in escalating costs.
The Campus training facility at QDL.“The total to €1.995m is up from 1.614m in 2022, but it is reflecting the national trend, and we are at present in discussion with the various teams and backroom staff in efforts to stem the escalation of costs going into 2024,” Gowan revealed.
“The cost of running teams is constantly increasing and the expectations are ever increasing. Every county in the country is seeing these increases.
“We have committed to continue to take an in-depth review of inter-county preparation in regard to, specifically, costs, and identifying possible areas of saving without necessarily impacting on the inter-county performance.”
Speaking after the three-point win over Kildare on Sunday, Cork manager John Cleary said the fortnight’s break in competitive action “has come at a good time”. Cork’s next outing in Division 2 is a Round 6 tie away to Meath on Saturday, March 16.
“We’ve had three weeks (of games) now. Every team now can do with the break. I think we’ll be delighted to get the break,” Cleary remarked.
“Last week in particular was a very tough trip up to north Fermanagh. I was probably wiped on Monday. It took a couple of days to get over it. I think everyone now will be delighted to get a break.”
