HURLING NEWS:THE GALWAY hurling crisis claimed its first victim last night when Miko Ryan – the longest serving GAA officer in the county – resigned as chairman of the Hurling Board.

His resignation was delivered to the chairman of the Galway County Board, Gerry Larkin, shortly before its management committee met to consider a number of issues surrounding Ryan.

The staging of the Galway senior hurling final on Sunday week is in doubt as Mullagh – disgruntled with losing a controversial semi-final and now facing 48-week suspensions being handed out to three of their players for abusing a referee – consider an objection based on Ryan chairing the fixtures committee which organised their clash with Loughrea while under suspension.

Ryan recently served the remaining 16 days on an eight-week ban imposed during the summer after he was involved in altercation on the sideline during Galway’s Leinster championship defeat to Kilkenny.

Ryan last night resigned from his position before the management committee met to consider a six-month suspension on him for acting while under suspension.

The Craughwell clubman, who was elected unopposed for 12 of his 13 years in charge, said it was time to end the rows which have dogged Galway hurling in recent years.

“I certainly haven’t enjoyed my involvement over the last year and I do not wish, at this time, to give the reasons for my resignation.

“I have always strived to put the interests of Galway hurling first. I believe that now is the right time for clubs to select people who will work together, openly and honestly as hurling board officers and bring to an end the divisiveness of the past year.”

Meanwhile, embattled Clare senior hurling manager Mike McNamara is planning to meet disgruntled players before the weekend in an attempt to resolve the impasse which has rocked the county.

McNamara delivered a passionate address to a full county board meeting on Tuesday evening as he continues to battle reported player unrest.

McNamara will deliver a review of the 2009 campaign to the next county board meeting and, in the meantime, the former Offaly manager is planning to meet the players.

According to well-placed sources in Clare, some of the issues raised by players can be solved, but others are more complex. Team management are also unhappy they have been cast in the role of villains when the players struggled to make an impact on the field in 2009.

During the course of his address to delegates on Tuesday evening, McNamara spoke about putting an end to “cliques” in Clare hurling.