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.