Cork players and board opt for peace

In another dramatic and unexpected twist in the long-running Cork players' strike, both the county board and players' representatives agreed to a binding arbitration hearing last night under the Labour Relations Commission chief executive Kieran Mulvey, and the outcome of that process will be made known sometime today.

In a remarkably fast-tracked process, the players' representatives had earlier yesterday evening agreed to enter that process, having received the desired clarification on binding arbitration from Mulvey.

At the same time, the Cork County Board postponed their scheduled meeting, and instead also made themselves available for the arbitration hearing.

This should, at least in theory, bring an end to the lengthy and often bitter stand-off between the Cork County Board and the football and hurling panels, largely centred on the appointment of football manager Teddy Holland, and the county board insisting they appoint his selectors.

Last night was the first face-to-face meeting between the parties in recent weeks, and saw them sit down with Mulvey at a Cork hotel, after he made the journey from Dublin yesterday evening.Mulvey acted on the independent arbitration panel, and after deciding to ponder this process overnight, his decision will be announced today.