GAA CLUBS in Cork last night overwhelmingly backed the striking Cork 2008 hurlers who have refused to play under coach Gerald McCarthy and in the process set themselves on a collision course with the county board who have refused to recognise any votes calling for McCarthy’s removal.

Delegates from the Cork clubs met the 2008 hurlers last night and voted by 193 votes to 0 with 44 abstentions to support a proposal calling for McCarthy’s removal after being mandated to do so by their clubs who had held egms to discuss the issue.

The clubs also overwhelmingly backed a second proposal from the 2008 players that club delegates to the board would be allowed time to discuss with their clubs any proposals of major importance before votes are taken at county board level.

At last night’s meeting, delegates voted by some 187 to 0 with 48 abstentions to back this motion which was similar to a proposal from the Cloyne club which had been defeated at a meeting of the county board earlier this year.

Last night’s overwhelming endorsement of the stand taken by the 2008 hurlers looks certain to plunge Cork GAA into a period of turmoil and uncertainty as county board chairman Jerry O’Sullivan has repeatedly stressed that the votes coming from club egms have no standing in law.

The county board has already deferred tomorrow night’s fortnightly board meeting and has arranged instead to have an information meeting with all club chairmen which looks sure to prove highly contentious now given last night’s vote by the clubs in favour of the players.

It’s understood that in addition to those abstaining at last night’s meeting at the Maryborough House Hotel, over 20 delegates did not vote on each of last night’s motions because their clubs had not been able to organise egms to decide what way they should vote on both motions.

However, The Irish Times understands that former Cork All-Ireland medallist Tomás Ryan from Dripsey was elected to chair last night’s meeting and both sets of votes were scrutinised and validated by an independent overseer from solicitors AL Goodbody.

Last night’s result was warmly welcomed by members of the Cork 2008 hurling panel such as 2008 captain John Gardiner, Donal Óg Cusack, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Tom Kenny, who were joined at the meeting by several members of the football team including Graham Canty and Anthony Lynch.

After the meeting Gardiner warmly welcomed the result of the votes and said it was a significant day for democracy in the GAA in Cork as clubs had now taken control of the issue and would seek to have both motions recognised at county board level.

“We’re very happy with the result – our main goal at the start of this thing was to see democracy in Cork GAA and we believe that if that is democracy tonight, then we will be back playing as soon as possible – very soon in fact.

“The people have spoken at grassroots level – it’s obvious democracy wasn’t working but from here on if the people of Cork at grassroots level and the clubs get their way, then these motions will be carried on Tuesday and we’ll be back playing hopefully.

“And that’s been our goal all along – all we’ve ever said from the start is to play for Cork and hand over a better system to the people coming after us – the clubs have spoken in our favour, the people of Cork have spoken and surely now the county board will have to listen.”

Asked if the players knew whether any such motions require a two thirds majority to overturn existing motions and be adopted at county board level, Cusack pointed out that both motions were backed by over 75 per cent of club delegates at last night’s meeting.

The Irish Times learned that the clubs later decided to put a motion at the information meeting with the county board tomorrow night seeking a special county convention to allow clubs vote at board level on the two motions passed at last night’s meeting.

Earlier yesterday, thousands of Cork hurling fans braved sleeting rain and biting winds to march in support of the striking hurlers as they carried their protest to the gates of Páirc Uí Chaoimh where they handed in a letter calling on the Cork board to resolve the issue.

Gardai estimated that over 3,000 fans gathered at Kennedy Park at lunch hour yesterday for a brief rally before they marched to Páirc Uí Chaoimh where the Cork footballers were playing Fermanagh in a National League game.

Unlike the rally in Patrick Street last month, when Gardiner addressed the fans, yesterday’s protest was not addressed by any of the striking Cork hurlers.

Among those on the protest march was 2005 All-Ireland winning Cork coach John Allen.