Cooney: Time for Limerick players to move on

GAA president Christy Cooney has urged the exiled Limerick hurlers to show responsibility and iron out their differences with the county's senior hurling manager Justin McCarthy.

McCarthy defeated a vote of no confidence in him and his management team at last Tuesday's County Board meeting in Claughaun, and the ball seems to be in the players' court if the dispute is to be ended.

Last October, McCarthy's decision to drop 12 senior players from the Limerick panel resulted in a dozen more withdrawing their services in protest.

The stance was a controversial one but the players felt it was justified. They even issued a 1,700-word statement in January, signed by 24 players, that hit out at the current managerial regime, their lack of communication when dropping players, the allegations of poor player commitment and discipline and their overall handling of the dispute.

However, dialogue seems to be the only way in which this rumbling row can be put to bed.

With McCarthy getting an endorsement from the Limerick club delegates on Tuesday, the Corkman is set to guide his adopted county through the remaining National League fixtures and the fast-approaching Munster and All-Ireland Championship campaigns.

Giving his take on the situation, GAA president Cooney said that he would like to see both sides 'pull together' for the Limerick hurling cause, particular the players who he feels should make themselves available for selection again.

"The Limerick County Board have made a decision that Justin (McCarthy) finishes out is term at least until the end of the year and I think that there is an onus and a responsibility on the players, each as individuals, to consider their position and to do what is right in the interest of Limerick hurling," he said.

"They all have a choice, of course, of whether they want to play or not want to play, but I would encourage them now to sit back and have a look at where things are.

"The County Board and their clubs have made the decision. The County Board is made up of the clubs of all the players and I would like them to consider the position for the good of Limerick hurling and if they are selected to make themselves available.

"I think it has gone through a very democratic process and it's got massive consideration over the period of nearly six months now and I think it is time to move on.

"It's time for everyone to pull together in the interest of Limerick hurling and it's time now for the players to make themselves available if they wish to do so as individuals, or decide not if that's the case. But we have to move on."

McCarthy has offered the players an olive branch in insisting that the door remains open to any players who have withdrawn from the panel to make an immediate return.

Speaking to the Limerick Leader, he said: "A vote was taken and the delegates made their decision, but from my point of view I do not see it as a success.

"My only aim is to breach the gap and bring people back on board. We have a very young squad and it would be great to have the older players change their minds and not bear a grudge.

"Let's work together. We wouldn't bear a grudge and we would love to see them rethink individually or as a group and take the opportunity to return to the fold and work on getting Limerick hurling going forward. I would hope they realise the input they could have with our young squad."

The Shannonside youngsters have battled bravely in their opening four National League games, but have gone down to Galway, Cork, Waterford and Tipperary. Worryingly, Tipp had 22 points to spare over them at the Gaelic Grounds last Sunday.

Undoubtedly, the experience and quality of the sidelined players could help to save Limerick's Division 1 status ahead of their Munster Championship semi-final clash with Cork or Tipperary on June 20.

Cooney added: "I believe at this stage that there is an onus of responsibility on Justin McCarthy and his management team as well as the County Board and the players to begin the healing process and to get everybody back together, sit down and move forward in the interest of Limerick hurling.

"All the comments and the bickering from either side has to stop. The County Board have made the decision and now it's time for everyone to move forward.

"We all have had differences in the past with people, that's part of life, but I think we all have to big enough too to realise that Limerick hurling, and the goodwill of Limerick hurling, is more important than any individuals either side of the argument to move on."