Cloyne reject reports of club split

CLOYNE GAA club has refuted media reports suggesting the club is split as a result of the ongoing impasse in Cork hurling. The club executive issued a statement yesterday evening which also stressed that the motion it put before the Cork county board was not intended to be critical of the board or its executive.

The statement reads: “The executive committee of Cloyne hurling and football club wish to clarify some matters which have arisen in media reports over recent days.

“The first concerns its notice of motion before the Cork county GAA board last night, which has been portrayed as being critical of the board or its executive. This portrayal is totally at odds with the intention of the club executive.

“There was unanimous agreement by the entirety of the executive present that there was a need to address the representation of clubs and members at board level, both in relation to the current impasse with the Cork senior hurling panel of 2008 and generally. No mention was made at the club executive meeting of any previous votes of the Cork county GAA board on any matter nor was any criticism made of any such decisions or votes.”

The statement goes on to deal with allegations that the club was “fractured” as a result of the dispute between the county board and the 2008 Cork senior hurling panel.

“The second relates to an allegation that this club is fractured and divided as a result of orchestrated campaigns by various members, in connection with the dispute between the Cork county GAA board and the senior hurlers of 2008. The club executive, including county chairman Jerry O’Sullivan, Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O’Sullivan and guest member Paudie O’Sullivan, have met on Monday night on an urgent basis to refute this outrageous allegation. The executive committee wish to confirm that at no point, has any vote ever been taken within the executive in relation to this matter and the club has remained neutral on the issue throughout.”

The club acknowledged there were “different views” within its membership regarding the crisis in Cork hurling but stressed its pride in members who have risen to national prominence.

“There are obviously different views held within the club and the executive in relation to the Cork impasse. We welcome these different views and encourage active debate on all such matters. The club executive would like to point out that this statement is being issued at the behest of the entire executive committee and its guest member. We would like to state our absolute abhorrence at the attack on our club and a number of its members, both named and unnamed, carried in elements of the national press in recent days.

“We are absolutely satisfied that none of the individuals mentioned or referred to have ever been involved in any campaign to further an agenda relating to the Cork hurling impasse either inside, or at the expense of, our club. All of these individuals have given enormous service to the Club on and off the field for many years. They are people of the highest calibre and integrity and are highly regarded throughout our Club and Community. We are very proud as a club of all our members who represent our club at divisional and county level and beyond, on and off the field.

“The club has begun an ambitious development plan to add to the fine facilities we already enjoy and the club continues to receive and rely on the full backing of its loyal supporters in those endeavours.”

Meanwhile the response to the Cork hurlers’ statement that they are issuing invitations to the chairpersons of all the clubs of Cork to meet with them has been received positively but tinged with a little caution by the leaders of the six senior city units.

St. Finbarr’s Chairman Sean McCarthy said he would gladly accept any invitation. He said: “I’m in favour of any kind of dialogue. All we have been subjected to up to now is hearsay and I believe open discussions would be good for everybody.”

Na Piarsaigh Chairman Denis O’Neill said it would be injudicious of him to comment on the issue. He said: “I am not sure what the players have in mind and I will wait until I receive the invitation before discussing the matter further.”

Glen Rovers Chairman Tony Callinan said that if all the chairpersons received a formal invitation from the players his club would hold a special meeting to discuss the situation.

Bishopstown Chairman Toddy Cuthbert said that with players from his club involved on both sides he would prefer not to comment. He added: “if I do receive an invitation I will talk to our Executive.”

Blackrock Chairman Colm O’Flaherty said that his club have not discussed the matter yet but would do so on receipt of an invitation.

Douglas Secretary Eamonn Dorney, standing in for indisposed Chairman Joe Barry, said that if a meeting would help to push things forward he would welcome it. “I cannot see anything wrong in sitting around a table and having a frank discussion about the whole affair. Obviously however, we would have to be careful and our club would have to debate the issue if an invitation to meet with the Cork players is received”.