Banner row sees former All Star Griffin bow out

THE dispute between players and management in Clare has claimed its first victim with former All Star Tony Griffin retiring from intercounty hurling.

Griffin (28) admits that a lack of ‘confidence in the current management structure’ coupled with work commitments are the reasons behind his decision to walk away from the top flight.

The Banner’s 2009 squad remain opposed to Mike McNamara and his management team of Ollie Baker and Alan Cunningham remaining in place next year though the trio received the backing of the county board executive last week.

The squad are set to meet the board this week to express their opposition to the retention of McNamara and his selectors. However Griffin felt he had little option but to withdraw from the squad due to the debacle.

He said: “Based on this year’s experiences I do not have sufficient confidence in the current management structure and I cannot dedicate myself to something I do not fully believe in.”

But he admitted: “I take a certain amount of responsibility for our poor season in 2009 but feel justified in stating that the correct structure was not in place in order for the team to operate to its true potential. I have every faith that under the correct circumstances and, in particular, considering the successful campaign of our U21s, Clare will soon be back where we belong – at the very top.

He agreed that a new business venture was also a factor in his announcement. He said: “In February I launched a sports management business – Sports Academy International – and its continual growth will mean I will not be able to commit the necessary time to hurling that the modern game demands. I cannot give inter-county hurling anything less that my very best and my inability to commit myself totally has forced me to question my future on the field.”

Griffin continued: “An All-Ireland with my county was always my ultimate ambition and therefore leaving the game without a medal is one disappointment I will unfortunately have to take with me. It has been an eventful career.

“There were many testing times when crushing defeats in Croke Park and Thurles left me asking ‘why we do this,’ but my love for hurling and respect for my team mates brought me back, rejuvenated and eager to renew our efforts.”

For four seasons, Griffin commuted from Canada, where he was studying, to Ennis to represent Clare during the campaigns.

Two years ago Griffin undertook a 7,000km charity cycle to raise funds for cancer research and care which raised close to €1million.