HURLING LEAGUE:THE LIMERICK hurling impasse was given a lengthy airing at last night's county board meeting at which a number of delegates voiced their disappointment at the failure of Croke Park to get involved in a bid to solve the crisis.

Chairman Liam Lenihan strongly refuted a claim by the players who are in dispute that he, or any other officer, had tried to influence any decision by the players.

The chairman suggested that a professional mediator be sought to try to solve the crisis that began in December.

But Louis Quirke from the Ahane club received the support of many when he said that there was only two choices, either to dismiss Justin McCarthy and his management or to go along with them.

Willie Foley from Patrickswell said it was time to stop the talking and put the matter to rest.

The chairman said that he, too, was disappointed that the officers from Croke Park did not intervene.

Jack Sheehan, St Patrick’s, said that the players in dispute had stated that the meeting last night would decide the future of Limerick hurling. “It’s they who have the power of decision” he said.

Donal Morrissey, Ahane, stressed that the time for mediation was long gone. “If the players refuse to talk what happens. This is going on for six months. It needs very strong leadership and we are not getting that. We need a new management team and any manager who loses the dressingroom should leave,” he said.

He added that if the board had such confidence in Justin McCarthy they should appoint him for three years.

“The board has to take action and you should put down a motion to sort out the matter one way or another” he said.