Gardiner hoping for ‘fresh start’ after Murphy

JOHN GARDINER has described county board secretary Frank Murphy’s impending retirement as a “fresh start” for Cork GAA but also paid tribute to a man with whom he clashed frequently during the player strikes in the county.

Gardiner has had a ringside seat for all three player strikes this decade, having played senior hurling with the county since 2002, and he was one of the most prominent panellists during the recent showdown with the board.

Cork secretary Murphy was urged to step down by the hurlers during that dispute but declined to do so. Earlier this month he announced he would be vacating the post, probably in 2010, but possibly 12 months later.