Cooney: outside help won’t help Treaty

GAA PRESIDENT Christy Cooney says that an external facilitator will not solve the Limerick hurling impasse.

County chairman Liam Lenihan mooted the appointment of an independent third party after the latest meeting of officials in Claughan this week and also claimed that the executive was willing to sit down with the players who are refusing to play under Justin McCarthy.

Cooney said: “With regard to Limerick, I don’t know whether an external facilitator is going to help at this stage.

“The county board have to deal with it themselves. I believe it is an internal situation.

“It is likely enough from what I read that there is going to be a motion at the next meeting for it to be discussed.

“They need to make a decision once and for all to either support the executive and confirm that Justin is there to stay or do the opposite.

“We (Croke Park) felt that we hadn’t anything to add to it. We took our soundings in Limerick and felt we hadn’t anything to bring to the table to help solve the problem. We feel it is a matter for the Limerick county board to sort.”

Croke Park decided against getting involved in the matter when it became clear that not all parties were wiling to sit down together and that was the same reason the President forwarded when asked why an external facilitator was not an option.