Duignan applauds Meath boycott
A full hurling board meeting took place on Sunday night and delegates showed a united front in voting unanimously not to fulfil the hurling ties.
Duignan and his selectors resigned before their clash with Antrim the previous week because senior football championship fixtures had been pencilled in during the run up to the league tie.
It’s a long-standing problem in the county, stretching back as far as Duignan’s first year in charge last year when his preparations were hit badly.
The situation was inflamed last week when the opening round of hurling fixtures were pencilled in to be played just days before Sunday’s clash with Westmeath.
Initially, it was the clubs with inter-county players that boycotted the fixtures but all clubs rowed in by the weekend.
Duignan says the stand had to be taken and even believes the move may prompt other counties into action.
“I think this can be a test case for every other so-called weaker hurling county where the code is not getting a fair deal,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny star DJ Carey will be fit and available for selection for next Monday’s Allianz NHL final against Tipperary.
The Young Ireland’s club man was forced to withdraw prior to the meeting with Wexford on Sunday after picking up a slight injury in training. However his absence was purely for precautionary reasons.
“DJ will definitely be available to us for the final,” team boss Brian Cody said. “We thought about introducing him at different stages of the second half but in the end decided against it.”
However, corner-back James Ryall is definitely out after sustaining a knock at the weekend.
Cody claimed last Sunday’s game was further compelling proof that there are a lot of teams in genuine contention for championship honours this year, and that it is a nonsense to suggest the Cats are already “home and hosed”.
“When will people believe my message that there is only a puck of a ball between seven and perhaps even eight teams,” he said.
As Wexford continue their preparations for a return visit to Nowlan Park on June 8 for a Leinster championship showdown with Offaly, their manager John Conran said they will have taken considerable encouragement from their display against the league and All-Ireland champions.
“Since our hammering by Tipperary in the league, all the players have shown tremendous character, and never more than in Nowlan Park last Sunday,” Conran said.
Waterford defender Brian Greene is rated as doubtful to make the Munster champions’ first round clash with
Kerry on Sunday week. Man-of-the-match Greene pulled up with a hamstring injury during Waterford’s league win over Offaly in Birr on Sunday.
Team boss Justin McCarthy confirmed: “Brian Greene’s hamstring is a worry but it all depends on how bad it is. He could be out for two weeks or it could be three weeks. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
McCarthy is also sweating over the fitness of centre-back Fergal Hartley, who injured an ankle against Offaly.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
