Duignan and his selectors quit Meath hurling jobs

A CONFLICT over club and county interests has forced Meath hurling manager Michael Duignan and his selectors to quit only days before their vital Allianz NHL game against Antrim.

Duignan, the former Offaly All-Ireland winner, says that this move was forced on them because the County Board declined to defer games in the SFC involving up to seven of their players.

“It’s a pity it came to this,’’ he commented yesterday.

After the Board arranged a round of (football) games for the coming weekend, mostly on Saturday, Duignan requested that those involving members of their panel would not be played.

“We proposed that we would travel up and play Antrim on Saturday (which they were agreeable to) and the games could either go ahead on Sunday, or be put back,’’ he explained.

“This weekend as far as I am concerned, is the biggest match of the year for us because whoever wins has a serious chance of reaching the Division Two final. We went training Wednesday night in the belief that the games would be called off. But, that wasn’t the case. We let it be known that we were not happy with that situation and while I spoke with the Secretary and the Chairman today, there was no movement. They pointed that while one game had been put off, they couldn’t get agreement from the clubs to postpone anymore. Accordingly, the entire management team has withdrawn. But, if the matches are called off I’m happy to go back!’’

“I tried to be flexible and I know the Board has a difficulty. But, as far as I can see it’s county football number one, club football number two and whatever you’re having yourself after that!’’

Team captain Tony Browne, experienced defender Brian Flannery, and his fellow Tipperary man Andy Moloney are ruled out of tomorrow’s second phase NHL game against Derry at Walsh Park along with Eoin McGrath and Séamus Prendergast.

Add in the suspended Ken McGrath and John Mullane who remains out of bounds until June 1st, and one can readily appreciate the difficulties manager Justin McCarthy is facing.

However Brian Greene who was forced to withdraw before the loss to Limerick with a hamstring strain is selected along Fergal Hartley and Tallow’s David O’Brien. Pat Fitzgerald is recalled at midfield in the absence of the injured Browne, and he will partner Peter Queally who was substituted during the second half of the Limerick game.

In a revamped attack the most notable selection is that of Paul Flynn at full forward who is flanked by newcomers Shane Walsh and Jack Kennedy.

Meanwhile Ken McGrath is expected to make his welcome return to the action having completed a four week suspension when Waterford play Wexford in a tournament game to mark the official opening of the Fenor pitch on Monday(6.30).

Limerick have postponed naming their team for Monday’s NHL clash with Laois which forms a double header at Portlaoise involving their footballers and Wexford in the Division 2 NFL semi-final. Conor Fitzgerald, Brian Begley and Stephen Lucey however will be unavailable to Dave Keane, due to their footballing commitments.

Clare are waiting on fitness reports concerning Jamesie O'Connor, Tony Carmody and Gearoid Considine before selecting their side tonight.

O'Connor damaged a hamstring in the Cork game, while Carmody also took a knock on the hand. Considine missed the defeat by the rebels because of a knee injury.

Despite a six point defeat to Galway on Sunday last, Wexford have announced an unchanged team for next Sunday’s Allianz NHL game with Clare in Wexford Park.

There had been doubts surrounding the fitness of Dave Guiney, David ‘Doc’ O’Connor and Adrian Fenlon but the selectors have decided to include them in the team.

WEXFORD SH v Clare: D. Fitzhenry, D. Guiney, D. O'Connor, R. Mallon, D. Stamp. D. Ruth, L. Dunne, A. Fenlon, R. McCarthy, P. Codd, D. Berry, B. Goff, C. McGrath, R. Jacob, M. Jordan.

WATERFORD (SH v Derry); S. Brenner; B. Greene. T. Feeney. D. O’Brien; E. Murphy. F. Hartley. J. Murray; P. Fitzgerald. P. Queally; D. Shanahan. E. Kelly. D. Bennett; S. Walsh (Fourmilewater). P. Flynn, J. Kennedy (Ballyduff Lower).

KERRY (SH v Westmeath): T. Flynn; H.F. Twomey, C. Flaherty, I. Brick; W.J. Leen, J. McCarthy (Capt.), A. Cronin; A.N.Other, L. Boyle; B. Brick, S. Brick, M. Conway; M. Slattery, G. O’Brien, J. M. Dooley.