Cork hurlers defend Setanta snub

The Cork hurlers have defended their decision not to cooperate with TV company Setanta on a DVD of this year's All-Ireland championship.

The Rebels maintain Setanta refused to make a realistic donation to their holiday fund. The players had hoped for between €5,000 and €10,000.

In a statement, they said a "commercial alliance between Setanta and the Cork squad" was rejected. Individual players had been offered money to participate, but had refused.

The statement – issued through the GPA – said players were acting on a matter of principle.

"The Cork players were aggrieved at the attitude adopted by the company towards the All-Ireland winning squad," the statement read.

Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack criticisied the company, in light of the fact that the hurlers are fundraising for a player holiday to New Zealand.

"An endorsement by the Cork hurling squad would arguably increase sales and contribute to our players' holiday fund, yet all we were offered was a small fee for player interviews," he said.

He said later: "Maybe €10,000 or €5,000, something like that. We would have given it plenty time and promoted it as much as possible."