Murphy quits as coach of Cork hurlers
The decision will be officially conveyed at the next meeting of the county board and comes in the wake of one of the most troubled periods in Cork hurling following the public outburst by players critical of their treatment this year. Murphy met with the full executive of the board earlier this month to give a comprehensive report of the campaign this season, which ended in defeat by Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers.
After that meeting, he announced his decision to step down as manager. Despite approaches by a number of board officials, he has not changed his mind.
Murphy is the second member of the Cork senior hurling management team to quit following the controversy which engulfed the county last month.
Team trainer Ted Owens left the position a number of weeks ago, but he categorically stated that his decision was not related to the actions of the players. He cited business and family commitments as the reason for his departure. Now with Murphy's decision to opt out midway through his two-year term of office, much interest will centre on what course of action the four remaining members of the selection committee Pat McDonnell, PJ Murphy, John Meyler and Frank Murphy will take.
A former hurler with Sarsfields and coach of back-to-back All-Ireland winning Under-21 teams, Murphy is the second successive coach to the Cork senior team to leave the position after just one year in charge. Tom Cashman, who inherited the position from Jimmy Barry-Murphy in 2001 also left after his debut season.
Subsequently, Pat McDonnell, PJ Murphy, John Meyler and Frank Murphy, as a nominee of county champions Blackrock, were appointed as the new selection committee, with Bertie Óg Murphy taking the coaching duties.
After being defeated in the League final by Kilkenny, the Cork season nosedived, as they lost to Waterford in the Munster SHC and then to Galway in the All-Ireland series. Last month, a number of squad members claimed that they had been "shabbily treated" and that they were treated like "second-class citizens" along with being "discouraged," from joining the Gaelic Players Association.
However, county board officials reacted angrily to such claims, while trainer Owens stressed that "Bertie Óg Murphy left no stone unturned in his endeavours to treat his players in a proper and professional manner."
However, Owens admitted the fact that the Cork team travelled to Derry by coach instead of flying, a major criticism by players, was "disappointing."
