Cork face second players' strike

Cork GAA has found itself confronting its second players' strike in the space of five years following the county board's decision to stick with the new rule preventing intercounty managers from choosing their own backroom teams. It promises to be another tense stand-off, just like the previous strike of 2002.

While strictly speaking it's a different issue, there's a similar theme - a power struggle between the players and the county board. Yesterday, both sides were adamant they weren't about to budge, which for the county board means pressing ahead with the new management structures, and for the players, a complete lack of co-operation with those structures.

It was hoped Tuesday's county board meeting would result in some resolution, but instead the motion to rescind the decision taken at the last meeting - to remove the manager's right to choose his own selectors - was defeated 77 votes to 35.

At the same time the county board voted unanimously to appoint Teddy Holland as the new senior football manager, to succeed Billy Morgan, who refused to go forward for another term given the new restrictions on his backroom team. It was also agreed Holland would have some say in choosing his selectors, but ultimately they would still need to be rubber-stamped by the county board.

Clearly this didn't go far enough for the players, who yesterday issued a short statement effectively confirming their intentions to strike: "We, the Cork senior hurling and football panels, informed the county board formally of our position last night. The selector/management issue has not been addressed properly. The Cork senior and football panels do not want to play any part under the system as it stands."

At the same time the Cork County Board issued a statement through their press officer, Bob Ryan: "It is the wish of the executive that this is the end of the matter. Hopefully the players will accept the democratic decision of the meeting.

"As was stated very clearly at the meeting, there is a process in place if the players have an issue. There are liaison officers with every team to deal with issues which may arise from time to time. Now that the new manager has been appointed, it is hoped his entire team will be completed as soon as possible. I would like to wish him every success in his new post. I have said before that here in Cork common sense always prevails and I would like to think that is the case with this particular issue tonight."

However, a group of 12 representatives from the Cork hurling and football panels met last night to discuss their next move, and a further statement is expected today. But their mindset will be difficult to change. One of the players indicated last night that they were sticking to their guns and, given the delicate situation at hand, would not make any further statements until they had reached agreement among themselves .

In other words, the whole situation is a mess. When the Cork players went on strike in 2002 their view was that their preparations were being damaged by limits and structures set by the county board, and they view the current situation in much the same light.

It has also left Holland in a difficult position. Handed a two-year term, he was voted in 103 votes to five, having being put forward by the seven-man selection committee of county board chairman Mick Dolan, vice-chairman Jerry O'Sullivan, secretary Frank Murphy, PRO Bob Ryan, and delegates Bob Honohan of Bishopstown, Finbarr Hennessy of Dohenys, Kieran Hegarty of Clonakilty.

Holland, a native of Ballinascarthy, is currently coach of the Clonakilty senior football team. He was previously involved with the Cork minor footballers' campaigns from 1998 to 2001, during which time the county won two Munster titles and an All-Ireland title in 2000.

The Derry team which won the All-Ireland football final in 1993 is to come together again to remember the man who managed them to that first title, Eamonn Coleman, who died earlier this year following a lengthy illness.

His life is to be celebrated on the first anniversary of his death in his home club of Ballymaguigan in south Derry.

The 1993 team will face an All-Ireland select on June 7th, 2008, and the event will double as a fundraiser for some of Coleman's favourite charities.