Sport

Cork players ready to hand clubs lead role in dispute

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP: THE CORK hurlers are ready to step aside in the current dispute with the county committee and hand…

SEÁN MORAN GAA Correspondent
Fri Mar 06 2009 - 00:00

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP:THE CORK hurlers are ready to step aside in the current dispute with the county committee and hand the campaign over to the clubs. As the impasse over the reappointment of manager Gerald McCarthy for a second two-year term remains unresolved, matters have picked up momentum with club meetings declaring support for last year's senior panel, who have withdrawn from intercounty activity.

According to a players’ source, the plan at this stage is to step back at this Sunday’s meeting of the clubs in the Maryborough House Hotel, ask those present to elect a chair, who can conduct the business of how best to give voice to the feelings of representatives.

This meeting is a follow-up to a similar one the weekend before last when clubs were invited to the same venue to hear the players put their case and eventually two motions were proposed for discussion within the county’s clubs.

During the past 12 days clubs have been discussing a motion of no confidence in McCarthy and a proposal that representatives at county committee be allowed discuss significant issues with their clubs before a vote is taken.

READ MORE

The clubs supporting the players’ motions have been doing so by substantial majorities.

Yesterday the most recent votes emerged with Na Piarsaigh, club of two recent Cork captains John Gardiner and Seán Ó hAilpín, supporting the McCarthy motion by 128-8 and the consultation proposal by 130-1.

There were similarly overwhelming votes in Ballincollig and earlier in the week Nemo Rangers, the most successful football club in the country, voted no confidence in McCarthy by 185-1. Youghal, club of incoming GAA president Christy Cooney, also backed the players.

There is, however, an element of self-selection about these outcomes, as some clubs not in agreement with the players declined to attend the briefing last month or to hold special meetings.

Some clubs are split down the middle, such as Cloyne whose executive includes Dónal Óg Cusack one of the players’ leaders as well as county chair Jerry O’Sullivan.

Tonight clubs in the county are due to accept an invitation from Clonakilty to discuss possible resolutions of the matter independent of county officials and players. A large turnout is expected.

Last night more clubs were making up their minds on the issue while at Croke Park the dispute was one of the items on the agenda for the GAA’s management committee.

The meeting was believed to be considering the implications of the Cork dispute not being resolved and the impact of such issues as the county’s footballers, due to withdraw their participation at the end of the league, effectively defaulting for the championship and the hurlers being relegated to the Tier Two Christy Ring Cup.

Also last night Tyrone footballer Ryan McMenamin appealed his eight-week suspension to the Central Appeals Committee. The result of that is expected by this afternoon, as is the fate of Kilkenny All Star Eddie Brennan, who was before the Central Hearings Committee in relation to an incident in last weekend’s Waterford-Kilkenny Hurling League match, which saw him and opposing full back Declan Prendergast red-carded.

Meanwhile Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has made swingeing changes for tomorrow’s floodlit Division One match with Galway at Healy Park. The All-Ireland champions show nine changes from the team that lost to Kerry last time out.

Two of these in the half-back line have been enforced with McMenamin ruled out by suspension and Philip Jordan unavailable. Into the defence come Conor Gormley, who made a big impact against Kerry, PJ Quinn and Cathal McCarron, while John Devine replaces Johnny Curran in goal. Colin Holmes will play at midfield and, in attack, Ryan Mellon, Martin Penrose and Raymond Mulgrew come into the starting 15.

Kildare have named an unchanged line-up for their crucial Division Two game against Wexford in Newbridge on Sunday. They have three points from two games following the defeat of neighbours Laois and draw with Munster champions Cork.

Shane McCormack retains his position in goal and Kevin O’Neill, who was imperious against Cork, is at full back.

Dermot Earley and Darryl Flynn are continuing to develop an increasingly impressive midfield partnership.

TYRONE (SF v Galway): J Devine; PJ Quinn, J McMahon, M Swift; D Harte, C Gormley, C McCarron; E McGinley, C Holmes; T McGuigan, C McCullagh, R Mellon; M Penrose, S Cavanagh, R Mulgrew.

KILDARE (SF v Wexford): S McCormack; D Brennan, K O’Neill, H McGrillen; B Flanagan, M Foley, M Conway; D Flynn, D Earley; E Callaghan, P O’Neill, J Kavanagh; K Donnelly, R Sweeney, J Doyle.

WEXFORD (SF v Kildare): A Masterson; D Walsh, P Wallace, B Malone; C Morris (capt), A Doyle, D Carter; B Doyle, D Fogarty; A Flynn, S Cullen, C Byrne; C Lyng, P Colfer, M Forde.