From bad to worse

WHITHER Cork hurling? Grotesque, unbelievable, bizarre and unprecedented though it might be, yesterday's "withdrawal of service" by the 30 strong senior panel can only escalate, not resolve the festering conflict between the panel, selectors and County Board executive.

Clearly, in taking the unprecedented move to break off negotiations and announce a GAA players strike, the Cork hurlers believe they have exhausted all available options with the executive of the Board. From their perspective, they were tired of "window dressing."

"It is something we don't want," said Allstar forward Joe Deane. "It is probably the hardest decision I have had to make in my life. I think that people don't realise how hard this has been for the players. We thrashed things out at a four hour meeting on Thursday night and felt that we had no other option."