Offaly hurlers declare support for their striking colleagues

OFFALY’s senior hurlers have declared their support for the county’s footballers, who went on strike in mid-September.

Both squads are to meet representatives of the Offaly county board in the near future to discuss their grievances.

The footballers took the drastic step of withdrawing their services following the controversial resignation of manager Gerry Fahy as a result of a lack of support from the county board.

The county senior hurling manager, former Clare trainer Mike Mcnamara, resigned at the same time as Fahy, and he also cited poor support from the county board as a problem.

The hurling and football panels met recently to discuss the various grievances that have affected them in recent years, and those involved came to the conclusion that their experiences were very similar.

The Offaly hurling panel said in its statement that: “We recognise these difficulties and would like to state that we fully support the footballers in their action. Both the hurlers and footballers are keen to stress that ultimately, they have the interests and promotion of Offaly GAA at heart and in this regard it has been arranged that both parties will meet with the Offaly county board in the near future to try to bring about a resolution to this current situation.”

The news is less dramatic in Carlow, where Eoin Garvey has been officially ratified as the new Carlow senior hurling manager for a three-year term.

The Clareman took charge of the Carlow hurlers mid-way through this year’s National League campaign following the shock departure of Michael Walsh.

He was in charge of their one championship game, when Carlow suffered a heavy 4-19 to 0-8 defeat to Laois.

However, the Inagh native and De La Salle Bagenalstown schoolteacher is highly rated in the county, having led the Carlow minors to an All-Ireland ‘B’ title in 2002.

His appointment was ratified at the Thursday night meeting of the county board and is seen as a coup for the Barrowsiders.