Board row convinced Shields to move to Oz

CORK defender Michael Shields confirmed yesterday that the rumpus between the Cork County Board and its inter-county hurlers and footballers played a key role in his decision to move to Australia in the new year.

Currently home for Christmas after inking a two-year rookie deal with AFL club Carlton, Shields said: “It was 90% certain that I would return to Australia, but when I came home and saw what was going on with the County Board and how Billy Morgan had been treated it made up my mind for me.”

The St. Finbarr’s man — home for the wedding of his ex-Cork and club football colleague Fionan Murray — believes the new team management and the County Board should not have gone against the wishes of the players who only have the best interest of Cork GAA at heart.

“That is not the way for Cork to win All-Irelands. I don’t think clubs realised the implications for county players of their decision to twice vote in favour of the County Board.

“I don’t think clubs realise either how much this affected players. If there is a problem with fixtures, changing the system of picking the county management team is not the way to fix it.”

Shields, who hopes that dialogue between both parties can be arranged quickly, travels to watch Roy Keane’s Sunderland this weekend with his Cork team-mates as part of their reward for winning the All-Ireland U21 football title.

With his club relegated to premier intermediate football next year, he will be a massive loss to the Togher side as they look to regain their senior status.