Cork board not forced into ref climbdown

Croke Park top-brass did not dictate the Cork County Board issue a clarification to referee Pádraig Hughes for suggesting the Armagh referee cost their footballers an All-Ireland semi-final berth.

Cork PRO Edmond Forrest yesterday confirmed the board executive had last week sent a letter to Hughes clarifying a statement they issued on Monday, August 3, which insinuated the Armagh official was partly to blame for their championship elimination.

Forrest insisted there was no pressure forthcoming from GAA hierarchy to contact Hughes, rather the desire of the Cork County Board to set the record straight, as they believed part of their statement had been taken out of context.