UCC won’t split Buckley’s loyalties

DR CROKES’ midfielder Johnny Buckley won’t be lining out for UCC in today’s Higher Education Division 1 League semi-final.

Ten days out from their Munster club SFC final against the Killarney club, the university face NUI Maynooth in Carlow’s Dr Cullen Park this afternoon. However, Buckley, a UCC student and a major contributor to their Cork county success before concentrating solely on Dr Crokes’ ambitions, won’t be on the team.

“It’s a no-brainer for us,” said college selector Dr Con Murphy. “A player’s home club is a player’s home club and we wouldn’t get in the way of that.”

Meanwhile, a number of Carlow IT’s inter-county players have taken to Twitter to complain about not being included in next year’s O’Byrne Cup.

Carlow’s Sean Gannon and former Laois footballer and Portlaoise captain Craig Rogers have complained about their exclusion from the pre-season competition. Three Dublin colleges DCU, DIT and UCD have been included in the draw along with Athlone IT. Carlow IT players were of the understanding that they had earned a spot in the O’Byrne Cup after reaching the Higher Education Senior League Division 1 quarter-finals.

Gannon tweeted: “The #gaa really have no balls. ITC qualify for the #obyrnecup and they buckle under pressure from the dub colleges! #ClosedMinded #Cowardly.”

Rogers wrote: “Absolute disgrace that Carlow IT werent allowed into #OByrneCup ahead of Athlone IT and DIT..typical #GAA terrified to break from the norm.”