Players stand by Laois manager

LAOIS hurling officials have rejected claims that key players have withdrawn their services from Dinny Cahill’s senior squad in disillusionment.

The county has shipped three heavy defeats by Kilkenny, Antrim and Galway in Division 1B of the NHL as Cahill continues with his policy of fielding experimental sides in what is his first season in charge.

With games against Limerick and Tipperary completing their league schedule, it now seems certain that their ability to maintain their top flight status will hinge on a play-off with Down next month.

Though Laois have flattered to deceive at championship level for some time now they had previously been extremely competitive in the league under former manager Paudie Butler.

Cahill has even come under fire at county board level where the hurling chairman publicly questioned his decision to substitute one particular player during the opener against Kilkenny.

Reports last week suggested that such levels of dissatisfaction had spread to players, with Leinster midfielder James Young reportedly quitting the panel.

Players were rumoured to be unhappy with the lack of hurling in training, with attendances at squad sessions supposedly suffering hugely as a result, particularly in the wake of the 16-point defeat by Galway.

Pat Hally, hurling secretary, yesterday contradicted the reports of doom and gloom in the Laois camp, claiming that “people are looking at the results so far and jumping to conclusions”.

Young, it transpires, has damaged ankle ligaments that will keep him out of next week’s game against Limerick and possibly the following fixture against Tipperary as well.

Hally went on to say that the only player who had left the panel was Trumera’s Joey Coogan who did so for personal reasons.

“There have been 35, 37 players at training the last few weeks,” said Hally. “Dinny is running the rule over all the players. Everyone is getting a chance. It isn’t a closed panel and won’t be until after the league. Training is as good as it ever was.”

Cahill’s plans for the championship were given a boost in recent weeks with the return from retirement of Castletown’s Paul Cuddy.

A regular in the side since his debut in 1997, there are suggestions that brother David, who also quit the inter-county scene in 2005, may follow suit in the weeks to come.