McCarthy admits he does not have backing of Cork hurlers

[The GAA]

McCarthy declares time for talking is over
NOEL O'REILLYGerald McCarthy has ended any lingering hopes of a resolution in the ongoing Cork hurling dispute by declaring that the time for negotiating with the striking players is now over. Instead, the manager intends to work with the young players currently at his disposal in an effort to "move on".



In a lengthy statement running to over 700 words, McCarthy insisted that all potential avenues have now been exhausted. And with little sign of an end to the impasse, the embattled manager will press forward without the member's of last year's panel who refuse to play under his stewardship.

"I am not interested anymore in negotiating with last year's panel," McCarthy stated. "I have done everything possible to facilitate a solution. It's time to move on. My full attention for the next two years will be on the players who have come forward to play with Cork."

McCarthy, who outlined the efforts he and the county board had made to end the dispute in some detail, asked the Cork fans for patience in the coming months.

"This season's squad have been deprived of the help and guidance of more experienced players because of this dispute and that is a pity," he added. "The Cork public needs to support them and be patient and encouraging."

And while he has refused to enter into any further discussions with the striking players, McCarthy left the door open to any individual who may wish to return to the fold of their own volition.

"In time they [the current players] will be joined by others who want to play for their county," McCarthy concludes. "There will always be a welcome from me and my management team for any player who wants to play for Cork."

McCarthy's decision to draw a line under the matter, and potentially end the intercounty careers of so many outstanding Cork players, received the backing of the county board tonight.

In a statement of their own, the board explained that they were "extremely disappointed" talks to be chaired by Olann Kelleher had not gone ahead but insisted McCarthy "is the right man to lead Cork forward".

"We would appeal to the players to reconsider their positions but there has to be a realisation that the entire focus now must be on the preparation of the Cork senior hurling team for the forthcoming League and Championship."


Full Statement from Gerald McCarthy

The refusal of the players to meet all parties, Olann Kelleher the independent chairman, or any other independent person, simply confirms for me that there never has been any serious intent by the leaders of this dispute to try to resolve the current issues. I believe their attitude to the independent chairman whose sole interest, as a keen follower of all Cork sport, was to broker a solution, has been offhand and obstructive. I would like to thank Olann for all his efforts to resolve the issues.

Efforts by the County Board and myself to resolve this impasse have been going on since October. We have not, as some commentators have suggested, been sitting on our hands. The player representatives who last year refused to allow Kieran Mulvey and Padraic Duffy meet with all the players, also refused a similar request by me in November.

The best efforts of Jimmy Barry Murphy, Tomas Mulcahy and Dr Con Murphy came to nothing because of the players' attitude. In the past fortnight, the players refused to meet me although I had turned up to meet them. A few days later, having apparently agreed to meet with me, the players then indicated that they would not meet with selectors Teddy McCarthy and John Keane. Having changed their minds on that, they now refuse to meet under Olann Kelleher. No-one on the management team, whatever our faults, has any such illusions about our own importance.

This has been one of the saddest periods in Cork hurling. The players, having agreed to participate in a unique process outlined by Kieran Mulvey, reneged on it. The players never put forward an alternative name to mine during the five meetings of the selection process.

The players wished to interview managerial candidates. I am not aware of any sport which would allow current players to interview candidates who would become their managers or coaches. The player leaders walked out of the process and, despite giving their word to the contrary in last year's dispute, went on strike. The players want the right to veto the appointment of the county manager, and effectively appoint their own manager. They don't accept that different perspectives to their own are worthy of any consideration. And when those who claim representative status for all the players don't get exactly what they want, they walk away and reach for a placard. Does any real or perceived grievance justify the damage that has been done to Cork hurling?

I find the efforts to pressurise members of the current panel not to turn out for Cork as very hard to take. The image of senior players trying to get young players not to turn out for Cork is one that should make every hurling follower feel very uncomfortable. The players involved seem not only to wish to decide who their manager should be but would also determine who should and shouldn't play for Cork.

Some of the commentary on the dispute has been very unfair and has made no attempt to examine the issues involved. The treatment of the players as having no responsibility for their actions, on or off the field, has simply made resolution more difficult. Likewise, there is an undercurrent of undeclared conflicts of interest surrounding this dispute which has been far from "fair, decent or transparent" and which, in time, will probably emerge.

There are a few constants in my view of hurling. The overriding one is that it is an absolute honour to play for Cork and to follow the great names that went before. I am not interested anymore in negotiating with last year's panel. I have done everything possible to facilitate a solution. It's time to move on. My full attention for the next two years will be on the players who have come forward to play with Cork.

This season's squad have been deprived of the help and guidance of more experienced players because of this dispute and that is a pity. The Cork public needs to support them and be patient and encouraging. The young players are putting a huge effort into training for the National League and will go abroad in April for intensive training. In time they will be joined by others who want to play for their county. There will always be a welcome from me and my management team for any player who wants to play for Cork.

Statement from the Cork County Board

Cork County Board is extremely disappointed at the decision of the players not to engage in talks under the independent chairmanship of Olann Kelleher or, indeed, with any independent chairman. Sincere appreciation is expressed of Mr Kelleher's sustained efforts to assist in resolving the impasse.

The idea of independently chaired mediation arose at the recent county convention and followed various unsuccessful efforts by board officers and other interested parties to get the players to sit down and discuss the issues they had.

The players indicated that they would not accept the parameters set down by convention and in an attempt to break the deadlock, the county board chairman, Diarmuid O' Suilleabhain, asked that talks involving all players, the county board officers and the management team, led by Gerald McCarthy, would take place, under the independent chairman appointed at the wish of the convention. That proposition has now been rejected by the players.

The last few months have been very difficult for everyone involved, players, management and board members and have been very damaging to Cork hurling. No county can afford the loss of talented players and Cork is no exception. That is why so many efforts have been made to resolve the difficulties.

Gerald McCarthy has the board's full support. He has been an outstanding player for Cork and an outstanding and knowledgeable coach of his club, St. Finbarr's and both of Cork and Waterford. The board is convinced that he is the right man to lead Cork forward.

We would appeal to the players to reconsider their positions but there has to be a realisation that the entire focus now must be on the preparation of the Cork senior hurling team for the forthcoming League and Championship.

The sections in bold are those which, with my limited knowledge of the situation, i consider to be spin, inaccurate and cheap point scoring.

It's interesting that The CB statement has stuck closely to facts and that McCarthy has steered into emotive and unfair representations of the facts.

Impressive too that these comprehensive statements were able to be prepared and released at 21.14. when did the thing fall apart?

[The GAA]

eh why
it says the best efforts of jimmy, thomas and co murphy came to nothing because of the players attiude

also they refused to meet with gerald, teddy and john

where does it say that the players refused to meet any of the people you named?

the simplest way to discredit the statement is where McCarthy admits they agreed to meet him! the truth is the wouldn't sign up to the proposed parameters to meet all of the people named at once.

saying they wouldn't meet any of them means you are being deliberately misleading or are stoopid.

[realrebel]

are u from cork gaa
it finished over the weekend

[orangeman]

I thought that the strikers had met Kelleher a few times. Perhaps this statement refers to what happened after Gerry O'Sullivan called for both sides to sit down together ?.

Reillers - can you fill us in on this ??

You were saying that it was impressive that the statement was relaeased at 21.14 etc - but given that there was to have been a meeting and family / work commitments were being put forward as an excuse, it  must have been clear that the strikers were not going to meet.
You're not suggesting that Frank was jumping the gun ?  

[orangeman]

Where is Reillers when you need him ?? I hope he's not in a meeting preparing the next statement ! 

[The GAA]

I thought that the strikers had met Kelleher a few times. Perhaps this statement refers to what happened after Gerry O'Sullivan called for both sides to sit down together ?.

Reillers - can you fill us in on this ??

You were saying that it was impressive that the statement was relaeased at 21.14 etc - but given that there was to have been a meeting and family / work commitments were being put forward as an excuse, it  must have been clear that the strikers were not going to meet.
You're not suggesting that Frank was jumping the gun ?  

Heavans no.

Reillers could be floating face down in the Lee.

Not from cork rebel, why?

can you now admit your opening gambit this evening was at best inaccurate?

[orangeman]

I thought that the strikers had met Kelleher a few times. Perhaps this statement refers to what happened after Gerry O'Sullivan called for both sides to sit down together ?.

Reillers - can you fill us in on this ??

You were saying that it was impressive that the statement was relaeased at 21.14 etc - but given that there was to have been a meeting and family / work commitments were being put forward as an excuse, it  must have been clear that the strikers were not going to meet.
You're not suggesting that Frank was jumping the gun ?  

Heavans no.

Reillers could be floating face down in the Lee.

Not from cork rebel, why?

can you now admit your opening gambit this evening was at best inaccurate?

Don't say that !!! I know Reillers and I have traded a lot of punches over this, but he's passionate about what he believes in and fair dues to him.


I'd say it's more likely that he's lying face down in a pint of Beamish at this stage !! 


Wake up Reillers !!!! You're needed on the board.

[realrebel]

i asked because i know jimmy for over 30 years and he told me weeks ago that he tried talking to the players but they didnt want to listen to what he was saying
now what do u call that?
and it does say they in the statement they wouldnt meet gerald, teddy or john
and i will find out from con coz hes my doctor

[orangeman]

I'm surprised at them not listenong to Jimmy Barry, maybe Cork's greatest ever player -

Was JB telling them to go back or what


Given that JB managed most of these lads, I'm surprised that they wouldn't take his advice.

Dr. Con would have been a solid type as well.


Regardless of who they did or didn't talk to, the CB have decided that the time for talking is over.


I wonder will the collective training sessions in Mallow continue or will they just go back to the clubs now ?

[Reillers]

What do ye want me to say that we don't all ready no. All this fighting is for nothing, it's irrelevant. Why? Because we're going to end with the same result.
We'll suffer record losses in a row, the CB will eventually crumble under the pressure, and sack McCarthy they'll (hopefully) appoint a respectable manager who can do the job who doesn't considering pucking a ball between two for 20 mins appropriate for intercounty training, it'll probably be someone like Cunningham or Mulchay..etc. And the players will come back as we try to rebuild the remainder of the season..hopefully all of this will be solved before the Munster Championship.

....Yes, for part of it I'm living in denial, but I do believe that it's only a matter of time till McCarthy's fired. He's served his purpose. He's a terrible manager and will be fired because of that. It's just a question of will the CB have the balls to swallow their ego and get the players back.

Gerald thinks he's won this fight, he's delighted with life, he actually thinks he's won. He still doesn't realise that he's a massive, massive pawn in all of this.
He'll be fired, it's only a matter of time.

[realrebel]

reillers
it wont be cunningham anyway hes training ballygunner now
and thomas dont touch them

[orangeman]

Thank God to hear from you Reillers - we were speculating on where you'd gone.

What do you make of the statement ??


Can we have the truth about the strikers and the meeting that was to have happened ??


Why did they not meet ??
It always looked to me that the strikers never had any intention of meeting - this belief of mine was reinforced whenever you tried to say that they had family / work committments.


So what now Reillers Civil war in Cork ?? Footballers out in strike as well ?? GPA balloting their members on strike action ??



I can't see the strikers simply walking away from this.


And I genuinely believe ( always have believed ) that it's only a matter of time before some of the strikers who were not at the front of the picketline return to the fold.  I know you've said they were all in it together but I think some at least will return.

[Reillers]

reillers
it wont be cunningham anyway hes training ballygunner now
and thomas dont touch them

The first two names that came into my head. I'd actually think that Mulcahy might, he showed interest when every man and dog thought that Gerald would be sacked. Ger's happy where he is a the minute, but thinks could change.

[realrebel]

well i bet ya my house mul wont
but wouldnt the board have to pick the manager and they would pick ger cunningham, seanie or patsy

[orangeman]

What do ye want me to say that we don't all ready no. All this fighting is for nothing, it's irrelevant. Why? Because we're going to end with the same result.
We'll suffer record losses in a row, the CB will eventually crumble under the pressure, and sack McCarthy they'll (hopefully) appoint a respectable manager who can do the job who doesn't considering pucking a ball between two for 20 mins appropriate for intercounty training, it'll probably be someone like Cunningham or Mulchay..etc. And the players will come back as we try to rebuild the remainder of the season..hopefully all of this will be solved before the Munster Championship.

....Yes, for part of it I'm living in denial, but I do believe that it's only a matter of time till McCarthy's fired. He's served his purpose. He's a terrible manager and will be fired because of that. It's just a question of will the CB have the balls to swallow their ego and get the players back.

Gerald thinks he's won this fight, he's delighted with life, he actually thinks he's won. He still doesn't realise that he's a massive, massive pawn in all of this.
He'll be fired, it's only a matter of time.

I honestly don't believe that Mc Carthy thinks he has won or that the strikers have lost - he has lost, so too the players and the CB - He's managing a team now that haven't a chance of doing anything this year. I note he says he's in place now for 2 years. If these lads don'r go back and Gerald stays for two years, a lot of their careers are over, which is very, very sad. I know you've accused me of having no time for the players, but as hurlers, they're exceptional and I'd love to have seen them play this year and topple KK.