1. If Intensity is the key to Hurling Success; How does Ulster Measure Up?

2. Who are we, and what do we do? Micky McCullough (Ulster GAA, Regional Hurling Development Officer); Kevin McGuigan (Ulster GAA, Sport Scientist)

3. The Project Who; – Ulster Senior Inter-County Team, Munster Senior Inter-County Team, Leinster Senior University Team, Ulster Minor Colleges Team; What; – Measured physical performance of each team during match play; When; – October 2012 – Sunday 20 th January 2013; Where; – Belfast, Emly, County Tipperary, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, Dr.Cullen Park, Carlow; Why; – To either prove or dispel the theory that; Southern Hurlers are faster; Southern Hurlers are fitter; Southern Hurlers are more skilful.

4. Understanding Our Title What do we mean by intensity? – Physical Intensity; – Mental Intensity; – Emotional Intensity; – Skill execution speed; – Skill execution success; What do we mean by Hurling Success; – NHL Division? – Provincial Success? – All Ireland Division (Liam McCarthy, Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard, Lory Meagher)? – All Ireland Success? – Annual Progression?

5. Measuring Physical Intensity The Sport Science; – GPS Analysis Distance; Speed Thresholds; High Intensity Distance; Accelerations / Decelerations; Number of efforts / average distance; An endless list; – Heart Rate Analysis Maximum Heart Rate (BPM); Average Heart Rate (BPM); Average Heart Rate (%)

6. How did we measure physical outputs? We pre-selected 10 players to analyse for each match – Full Back, Left Corner Back, Right Half Back, Centre Back, Midfield x 2, Centre Forward, Left Half Forward, Right Corner Forward, Full Forward; Players wore a GPS & HR monitor throughout a single match; Records were only taken of the active game time for each player; Real time analysis was observed, with all sessions analysed retrospectively for the purposes of this project.

7. Video: Is there a difference here?

8. Audience: What will the difference be?

9. Results: Distance

10. Results: Distance / Minute

12. Results: High Intensity Running

13. Results: Top Speed

14. Results: Accelerations / Decelerations

15. Results: Accelerations / Decelerations Ulster v Munster

16. Results: Accelerations / Decelerations Ulster Minor v UCD

17. Results: Heart Rate Outputs

18. Skill Execution Speed A small cross section study focused on Antrim & Galway in their respective provincial finals; Same 3 Positions; Leinster Senior Hurling Championship – 0.9 seconds; What does this tell us? Ulster Senior Hurling Chamionship – 1.8 seconds; How does it feel? How does this relate to intensity?

19. How important is BELIEF? Which comes first: BELIEF or INTENSITY? Is belief in our team mates / set up / management / linked to our intensity of performance? If so, which comes first; – The belief in our team and what we are doing; OR – Is it only through seeing everyone’s intensity that we come to believe in what we’re doing?

20. What does this mean for Ulster Hurling? Do we match Leinster / Munster / Galway teams for intensity? Are other factors to blame – mental approach? Are there ways that we can improve our intensity? How can your training change to improve intensity?

21. To Summarise What do we mean by intensity? – Physical Intensity; How do we compare? – Mental Intensity; Have we made the step up? – Emotional Intensity; We just don’t believe ! – Skill execution speed; Are we off the mark? – Skill execution success; Can this be measured another day?

22. Finally – Speed up; – Increase work rate; – Pressurise EVERYTHING; – Raise expectations; – BELIEVE – All these can be addressed and improved. – If we always do what we’ve always done, we’ll always get what we always got!

23. Questions?