Clare camp presents united front in player discipline row
In a statement issued by Clare’s joint captain Cian Dillon and distributed through county board PRO Sean O’Halloran, the Banner County’s players and management claimed there were “numerous inaccuracies” reported about the controversy prompted by an interview given by O’Halloran to The Irish Times.
O’Halloran said he had been humiliated by the punishment dished out by manager Davy Fitzgerald after the pair were reported by a backroom team member for socialising before a game.
They subsequently decided to leave the panel after refusing to carry out their punishment but not before O’Halloran aired his grievances with their treatment.
It is understood the group have been angered by several comments intimating that individuals isolated O’Halloran and O’Connell. The remarks have been particularly cutting for Fitzgerald who has spoken out about his own experiences of being bullied during his childhood.
The panel discussed the matter before training in Sixmilebridge on Tuesday before the statement was released after 6pm yesterday evening.
Fitzgerald and his management were fully endorsed by the players and it was maintained the group remain very much “united” and will “continue to enjoy working hard for Clare hurling”.
The squad claimed there were satisfied with how the disciplinary breach was handled and now intend moving on.
It had been reported the GPA would investigate O’Halloran’s claims but there might be a potential difficulty seeing as Fitzgerald is also a member of the players body as he is a former inter-county hurler.
The statement reads as follows: “The Clare senior hurling panel and management have met on the recent disciplinary issues that have been aired in the public domain. All involved are happy that the matter was dealt with fairly.
“While there are numerous inaccuracies reported in the media, on social media and in a former player’s (O’Halloran) statement, the matter is now closed and we, as a group, are all happy to move forward, united and to continue to enjoy working hard for Clare hurling.”
The statement was signed by joint captains Dillon and Patrick Donnellan, on behalf of the players, and Fitzgerald, selectors Louis Mulqueen and Michael Browne on behalf of team management.
O’Halloran was man-of-the-match in the 2013 All-Ireland U21 final and O’Connell had been a member of the senior squad since 2010.
Against Dublin last Saturday, Clare claimed their first victory of the Allianz League campaign just hours after O’Halloran’s explosive interview had been published. They face Kilkenny at Nowlan Park next Sunday needing a victory to keep alive hopes of staving off a relegation play-off.
A victory coupled with a Galway win against Dublin in Parnell Park would see them remain in Division 1A next year.
Fail to beat Kilkenny and Clare will face Brian Cody’s side in a relegation play-off on March 29. Venue for that game is likely to be decided by the toss of a coin, as it was last year when Dublin and Waterford faced each other in Walsh Park.
Last Sunday, Brendan Bugler posted a pointed tweet about where the panel’s allegiances lay. He wrote: “That 2nd half performance was exceptional today by the lads. Hopefully it (sic) kick start the year. #Togetherness.” The message then featured on that evening’s League Sunday programme on RTÉ.
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