Duggan takes heart from ‘constructive’ Ryan meeting

Former Cork footballer Diarmuid Duggan has expressed his satisfaction with a meeting held with county board chairman Bob Ryan on Wednesday night where discussions took place on the case that has left him almost €7,000 out of pocket.

Duggan revealed details to the Irish Examiner last Monday about the medical bills of nearly €10,000 he had racked up in an effort to solve a hip injury that ended his inter-county football career.

He received a €3,000 payment from the GPA Benevolent Fund but has still been left with a €7,000 shortfall despite repeated efforts to contact the Cork county board with a view to being reimbursed.

GPA chairman Donal Óg Cusack met with Ryan on Tuesday morning to discuss the issue and revealed he is hopeful of a resolution being found.

Duggan will hear back from Ryan next week after the Cork GAA chief promised to investigate the situation further.

“I met with Bob on Wednesday night and was very satisfied with how the meeting went,” said Duggan.

“Bob promised to look into the situation and he’s going to come back to me in the next week about it. He said the county board are open to resolving the matter. I’m glad that there has now been a start made in progressing the situation.”

Ryan also spoke yesterday about the meeting, which he described as ‘cordial and constructive’.

“I have met with Diarmuid Duggan and had a very cordial and constructive meeting with him. I have agreed to further investigate the situation around his injury and his injury claim. There will be no further comment from the Cork County Board until this situation is finalised.”