GAA president puts Cork dispute into context

GAA president Nickey Brennan has called on all parties in the Cork hurling dispute to take a more concerted view of the issues involved in light of other problems in Irish society at the moment, such as the economic crisis.

Brennan, speaking at today's launch of the Cadbury's U-21 football championship, has issued the call to those involved to take a step back and examine a solution to the impasse.

"Clearly the positions that people have taken, if there is going to be any resolution people will have to step back from the very strong positions they have taken at this point in time," he said.

"Indeed somebody or a number of people will have to say 'enough is enough', this thing needs to be considered in the wider scheme of things.

"There's a lot happening around the country at the moment that is not GAA-related but is putting a lot of people under pressure and maybe we need to put things in context.

"I suspect maybe the whole Cork situation has been taken out of context in terms of other issues happening in the country at the moment."

Cork chairman Jerry O'Sullivan stated at a county board meeting on Tuesday night that clubs are not in a position within the GAA's rulebook to host EGMs in relation to tabling motions to remove Gerald McCarthy from his position as Cork manager.

Brennan says that GAA headquarters are firmly keeping abreast of the situation on Leeside.

"We are continuing to keep abreast of the situation and are continuing to keep in touch with the various parties as you would expect us to do.

"Right now the situation is as of last night and the Co board meeting - it hasn't moved on from there. Croke Park has no magic formula it can come up with in terms of breaking the log-jam at this stage."

However, the GAA president also believes that the discussion document - while rejected by the players - may still play some role in shaping a resolution to the dispute.

"We'll continue to probe and prod and keep in touch with people and who knows?

"We still believe we put a lot of effort into the document that was presented and perhaps that or a tweaked version of it may offer something at the end of the day but we don't know."