Clubs frustrated by 'minor stumbling block' in hurling row

Cork GAA club delegates expressed their disgust and frustration at last night's county board meeting at Páirc Uí Chaoimh over what some see as a small stumbling block in the bid to resolve the Cork hurling dispute.

An emergency meeting of the Cork County Board and its delegates was called after a meeting involving Cork native and GAA President elect Christy Cooney, Director General Pauric Duffy, Cork 2008 senior hurling panel members, Gerald McCarthy and Cork GAA officials broke down in the early hours of Friday morning.

Cork Chairman Gerry O'Sullivan revealed that both McCarthy and the Cork County Board had agreed to go with the document brought to the meeting by Cooney and Duffy in a bid to resolve the impasse.

However the sticking point for the players was point two of the document, which was released to the media yesterday afternoon and outlined that McCarthy could appoint an additional member to his management.

"In recognition of this cooperation, the senior hurling team manager will appoint an additional member to his coaching team and an additional selector to assist in the preparation of the team for the 2009 season. The people appointed to these roles will be acceptable to all parties," the document read.

With the players failing to attend the Páirc Uí Chaoimh meeting, their case was put forward by Blarney delegate Alan White.

He said that the players wanted three new selectors appointed along with a new coach, but that McCarthy could remain in place.

This was met with an air of surprise by O'Sullivan and the County Board executive, following which comment was taken from the floor.

A lot of delegates expressed their disappointment that such a small stumbling block could not be overcome, while others outlined their disgust that McCarthy was dragged through all of this during a week in which he was still grieving the death of his mother.

O'Sullivan reiterated that the selectors had been "democratically appointed" and added that the "players are now moving goalposts. Last October they wouldn't play under Ger but at the eleventh hour they changed their minds."

He again implored the players to come back, with O'Sullivan's comments echoed by County Board official Bob Ryan.

The Cork 2008 hurling panel are set to meet with club chairmen at a meeting tomorrow in a bid to end the impasse which is nearing its sixth month.