By John Haughey BBC Sport

Stephen Martin is chief executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland

Northern Ireland medals were confined to silvers for the men's bowls triples team and shooter David Beattie.

That put the country behind the Isle of Man in the medals table.

Former Olympic hockey gold medallist Stephen Martin has some clear views on why Northern Ireland is under-achieving and what could be done to improve the situation.

Martin, who played on the British team which won the 1988 Olympic gold medal, served as deputy chief executive of the British Olympic Association until last year before taking up a position as chief executive of the Olympic Council of Ireland.

The Ulsterman feels that a lack of concentration on sport in schools in the main reason why talent is not being identified in Northern Ireland.

"Primary school sport really is non-existent. Secondary schools also struggle because of poor coaching and then people wonder why we don't have talent coming through," Martin told the BBC.

Martin also believes that the government would be better served in directing the �50m that has been earmarked for Northern Ireland sport ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games at people rather than so-called elite facilities.

"If we had �50m invested over the next five years in people, athletes, coaches, support science and medical back-up, you would be a massive difference (in performance).

"We've got to get that message through to the government and the agencies. We need a cultural change here or we will be left totally behind."