Justin decision next month

WATERFORD GAA chiefs will meet next month to decide whether or not to reappoint Justin McCarthy as manager of the county’s senior hurlers.

McCarthy’s term ended after the All-Ireland SHC semi-final defeat to Limerick but he and his management team of Nicky Cashin, Seamie Hannon and Michael Ryan have expressed a desire to remain in their roles.

Chairman Pat Flynn, secretary Seamas Grant, vice chairman Pat Grant and treasurer Michael Hogan will form a subcommittee to consider the options available and will outline their recommendations on appointments to the October 8 board meeting.

Asked by Tallow delegate Liam Moroney if there were plans to interview people other than the present management team, the chairman said it would be for the subcommittee to decide.

Mount Sion chairman Phil Fanning said that originally the management/selection committee this year comprised five members until the resignation of Kevin Ryan, who took up a coaching post with a club in Wexford. For whatever reason, he added, the vacancy caused by Ryan’s resignation had not been filled.

“I would personally favour a three-man selection committee,” Mr Fanning said, “but I would also prefer to have five selectors rather than the present four. There is also a serious geographical imbalance in that there is no selector from the eastern end of the county’’.

Seamas Quirke (De La Salle) said the board should consider going back to a five-man selection committee when making its final decision.

John Kiely remains odds-on favourite to remain as manager of the county football side, a matter which will also be discussed on October 8.

Meantime, county treasurer Michael Hogan disclosed to the meeting that the final costs of preparing the various county teams this year will reach half a million euro.

However, on the credit side the county’s first National Hurling League title win since 1963 netted them a record €161,000, the treasurer confirmed, and with an allocation of €41,000 from participation in the football league, Waterford’s financial tally from both leagues was €205,000.