McGrath and Cullinane new Déise selectors

It took Waterford County Board delegates less than 10 minutes last night to formally ratify two former hurling greats as county senior selectors to replace Nicky Cashin and Br Philip Ryan whose unexpected resignations within the past week sent shock waves through the county.

Mount Sion’s Ken McGrath and Sean “The Rock’’ Cullinane from Passage East were the only names put to last night’s special board meeting, and they were officially approved without dissent after being proposed and seconded by Munster Council representative Anthony Walsh and West Divisional Board chairman Eddie Cunningham respectively.

McGrath and Cullinane were each nominated by their own clubs, and the meeting was assured of their willingness to allow their names to go forward for the positions. Board chairman Tom Cunningham thanked Cashin and Br Ryan for the services they had rendered during their time as county selectors.

However when pressed as to why they had decided to stand down, the chairman said he was unable to provide the answer to that question.

“That has been their decision, and now it’s time for us as a county board to fill the vacancies and move on from the undoubted hope and encouragement last Sunday’s thrilling victory over Galway has given us,’’ he said.

However, a former county board chairman, James Tobin, said that while he was not objecting to the ratification of McGrath and Cullinane, he felt clubs had not been given a genuine and proper opportunity to make nominations to fill the vacancies.

“All that the clubs received was a notice to attend this meeting, and it is patently wrong that they have not been given a real and proper opportunity to make their own nominations,’’ said Tobin

When the names of McGrath and Cullinane had been unanimously ratified, the East Waterford Board secretary, Tim O’Byrne, said he believed they were “on a winner’’ by adding to the selection committee two of the greatest and most experienced hurling men in the county.

McGrath and Cullinane’s appointments are for a two-year term, as is that of team manager Michael Ryan.

Meanwhile, Waterford County Board chairman Tom Cunningham has stressed that there is no question of financial pressure impacting on the preparation of teams.

He said: “We want to make it clear that there is no question of problems with gear or anything of that nature, our finances are in order and anything the players need they are getting.”