McCarthy admits he does not have backing of Cork hurlers

[orangeman]

Shame on the co  board and the strikers that have let it go this far! Believe me as a Galwayman  I took no pleasure in seeing Galway hammer that pathetic Cork team today! Worse it'll get for them too! Kilkenny next?? What kind of score will they run up against them?? Why the heck did the players  not accept those proposals that Croke Park offer? Mc Carthy may have resigned there and then rather than lose 3 selectors! The vote amongst the players was 9 to 3 for accepting the proposals but then they  talked about it with the rest of them  and came up with the "co board dirty tricks " story rather than admit that they were split on the issue!!Christ almighty what kind of heroes will Cork kids,  including my own,  have to look up to in a hurling sense in the future?? How many people will turn up to Semple Stadium in May against Tipp?? If  there were 2000 people there today I would be amazed! Shame on all of the parties involved in this!

Forgive me but the 2008 panel say that this is not true at all. They say that the CB / Croke Park / Gerald made this story up in an attempt to discredit them.

Shame on you.

[heffo]

Cork 1-11 Galway 4-16

Comprehensive defeat again but again fairly expected.

if I hear the word learning, good team effort..etc. I'll scream.

How about "Hey Sean og, how are you fixed for a sponsorship launch in Dublin?"

[Zulu]

We could continue to go around in circles here for another few weeks/months but the reality of what playing these young lads must be apparent to all. The rights and wrongs of this dispute hardly matter anymore and neither side can claim any high moral ground, so what it boils down to is whether Cork GAA is being best served by the current panel. The best players won't play for Gerald, the Cork supporters won't support his team and the CCB, Munster council and the GAA will all lose serious money. I wonder does Gerald or the CB believe it's worth it anymore?

[orangeman]

We could continue to go around in circles here for another few weeks/months but the reality of what playing these young lads must be apparent to all. The rights and wrongs of this dispute hardly matter anymore and neither side can claim any high moral ground, so what it boils down to is whether Cork GAA is being best served by the current panel. The best players won't play for Gerald, the Cork supporters won't support his team and the CCB, Munster council and the GAA will all lose serious money. I wonder does Gerald or the CB believe it's worth it anymore?

What are the alternatives ? I thought the Croke Park document had a lot of things going for it that could have got us over this current impasse and then let Croke Park carry out a comprehensive review of administration in Cork so that this sirt of thing could be avoided in future.

Is your alternative to sack Gerald, get rid of FM and bring back the 2008 panel under a manager that they are prepared to accept ??

[Rossfan]

.

Former Dublin manager had something to say today about the Cork fans who were staying away. Let's say he wasn't very complimentary about them.
[/quote]

Would he spend his money in a shop that sold 3rd rate goods.? Anyway dont 50,000 Dublin fans stay away from all of Dublin's hurling games?
Who in the name of God would shell out €15?  to see your third or fourth best team getting hammered ...all because a load of stubborn mules cant or wont sit down and sort things out like all civilised organisations and groups do.

[Reillers]

.

Former Dublin manager had something to say today about the Cork fans who were staying away. Let's say he wasn't very complimentary about them.

Would he spend his money in a shop that sold 3rd rate goods.? Anyway dont 50,000 Dublin fans stay away from all of Dublin's hurling games?
Who in the name of God would shell out €15?  to see your third or fourth best team getting hammered ...all because a load of stubborn mules cant or wont sit down and sort things out like all civilised organisations and groups do.
[/quote]

It's not just a matter of how much it is. It's a stance. A hell lot of fans feel as strongly as the players do about the CB. Most fans are club men as well. The loyalty to the 08 players is there for all to see.

[orangeman]

Anarchy in the GAA as managers struggle to beat the odds
Croke Park needs a coherent strategy to assist counties in the selection of team bosses, writes Martin Breheny


Saturday February 28 2009

JUST when it looked as if the Cork strike row couldn't pour any more embarrassment on the county, or indeed the GAA in general, comes news that bookmakers are now betting on various aspects of the dispute.

Perhaps the most significant is the 10/11 odds on Gerald McCarthy to be still in charge by the time Cork play Tipperary in the Munster hurling quarter-final on May 31. They opened at 1/ 2 but there appears to be an increasing number of people who believe that, by whatever means, change will occur over the coming weeks.

Whatever the eventual outcome, the damage already inflicted on Cork and the wider GAA community is immense. That there is a betting market on McCarthy's continued tenure as manager points towards a new era in Gaelic games.

But then it's a market which has been gathering momentum in recent years as managerial mayhem sweeps the land. There's scarcely a single county which hasn't had problems in this area over the last decade. Some have been more high-profile than others but it's becoming a recurring theme which should be of immense concern to the GAA.

chaos

Cork's three strikes in six years overshadow various other frictions but there have been some very unpleasant times in other counties too. The most worrying development has been the increase in the number of managers removed by player power, either directly or indirectly.

There's no doubt that this trend has the possibility to lead to total anarchy in the GAA.

If an existing panel refuses to accept a managerial appointment -- as in the Cork hurling case -- then chaos ensues. Technically, McCarthy was the incumbent manager but it was his re-appointment for a further two years which sparked the revolt.

Offaly footballers turned on Richie Connor after the first League game, prompting him to resign. For all we know, other panels could be plotting to turn on their managers over the coming weeks or months.

If the Cork dispute -- and indeed the many others (some of which are outlined on these pages) -- should teach the GAA anything it is this: the time has come to devise a managerial appointment strategy which caters for most eventualities.

The appointment of managers is one of the most important responsibilities facing any County Board yet they have no overall guidelines to help streamline the process. If a Board has a problem in relation to virtually any other issue, they can seek advice from Croke Park, yet that's not the case on managerial appointments because there are no national guidelines.

Managerial Mayhem

The Toxic ten

1 -- Cork

The Anglo Irish Bank of the GAA. In the good times they regarded themselves as the top county and conducted themselves with a corresponding swagger. Now they're toxic. Their status and credibility have been crucified as they can't even fulfil such a basic requirement as fielding their best hurling team while the footballers are threatening to pull out of the championship.

One suspects that if the County Board could return to late 2007, they wouldn't have been so stubborn in their resolve to regain power to appoint selectors. They tried it on with the footballers and were planning to do likewise with the hurlers later. It was a grab for the return of power at a time when all other counties allow their managers to choose their own selectors.

It led to last year's strike, where the settlement included awarding two player positions on the committee to select future managers. That has been a key part of the messy backdrop to the current dispute as the players insist their views were ignored.

The upshot is Cork are locked in their third strike in six years. Really, they need to examine how they do business. Like Anglo Irish, the whole scene needs a clean-out.

2 -- Offaly

A small county with big ambitions. Offaly's success rate since 1960 (four All-Ireland SH titles; nine Leinster SH titles; three All-Ireland SF titles; 10 Leinster SF titles) represents a remarkable achievement for a county with a population of 71,000. However, it hasn't been without its managerial controversies, including Babs Keating's resignation after the 1998 Leinster final defeat by Kilkenny.

However, it's the football front that has produced the most controversy. Paul O'Kelly was voted out at the end of his first season in 2004; 12 months later his replacement Gerry Fahy stood down after narrowly surviving a confidence motion (27-26). It led to a players' strike which was eventually solved after a review of all aspects of squad-County Board dealings.

In the case of both O'Kelly and Fahy, it was the Board who showed a ridiculously low level of patience, whereas it was a players' revolt which led to Richie Connor's resignation after just one League game a few weeks ago. It means that when Tom Cribben takes charge for tomorrow's League game, he will be Offaly's third manager in three League games. It's not a record to make a county proud.

3 -- Roscommon

Offaly are already on their third management of 2009 but presumably Tom Cribben will complete the year so the record for the highest number of managers in a season rests with Roscommon, who had no fewer than four in 2008.

John Maughan led them into the National League but quit after a bad run and an even worse crowd reaction. Paul Earley took them through to the end of the League before Michael Ryan was appointed for the championship. He left at the end of the summer campaign and was replaced by Fergal O'Donnell, the successful 2006 minor manager.

Last year's chaos might have been regarded as a one-off were it not the resignation of Tommy Carr during the 2005 League amid reports of player unrest.

4 -- Limerick

Tom Ryan led Limerick to the 1997 National hurling League title (the final was played in October) but was dropped as manager a few weeks later. This, despite having also presided over two Munster title successes in 1994 and 1996. His replacement, Eamonn Cregan, survived until 2002, although he did have problems that year and actually stood down for a short period in a dispute over dual players.

He was replaced in 2003 by Dave Keane, but was voted out after just one season. He was replaced by Pat Joe Whelahan, who quit during the 2005 League to be replaced by Joe McKenna, who quit during the 2006 championship after a big defeat by Clare.

He was replaced by Richie Bennis, who steered Limerick to an All-Ireland final in 2007. Bennis was keen to continue at the end of 2008 and was interviewed for a job he had already held but was passed over in favour of Justin McCarthy. Bennis later described the process as a charade.

5 -- Waterford

They may have had only one major managerial bust-up this decade but it was certainly brutal and dramatic. The squad revolted against Justin McCarthy following a heavy defeat by Clare in last year's Munster championship. He resigned a few days later. Player power had landed one of its biggest hits.

6 -- Meath

Sean Boylan's 23-year term clearly left Meath unprepared for the business of choosing managers. They appointed Eamonn Barry in late 2005 but trouble erupted immediately when the County Board executive refused to ratify his backroom team. It led to a chaotic few weeks of claim and counter-claim before a settlement was reached.

However, it set Barry off on the wrong foot and he lasted just one season before being replaced by Colm Coyle, who remained in place for two years. Finding a replacement for him also proved controversial as Luke Dempsey, the original choice of the selection committee, failed to get enough support at higher level. Dempsey withdrew and Eamonn O'Brien was later appointed.

7 -- Galway

Who would have thought when Ger Loughnane arrived in Galway with a Messiah's halo circling over him that two years later he would be voted out of office? It wasn't the first time that Galway hurling had controversial managerial appointment issues but this was certainly one of the most dramatic, not to mention divisive. Loughnane wanted to stay on but was voted out (28-26) by the Hurling Board.

8 -- Clare

Tony Considine had a controversial year in charge of his native county in 2007. An early clash with Davy Fitzgerald set the scene for a fraught season, which led to serious division in the county and which ended in a big defeat by Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Considine was voted out by an overwhelming 45-6 vote.

9 -- Donegal

A manager (Brian McIvor) who had delivered the county's first ever National League title quits as some clubs plot a no-confidence vote. A new manager (John Joe Doherty) is appointed, despite having over 40pc of the County Board vote against him; two other contenders (Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner) take the appointment process to the DRA for consideration. It doesn't exactly point to a sophisticated way of doing business.

10 -- Wexford

Last October John Meyler thought he was meeting County Board representatives to plan for 2009 but he quickly learned that his term as hurling manager was over. He had, it would appear, lost the confidence of the players, which made his position untenable. Wexford hadn't come close to Kilkenny during his two-year term in charge, but then who had?

However, Wexford did reach the 2007 All-Ireland semi-final and ran Waterford to a point in last year's quarter-final. Not enough to save Meyler once player unrest surfaced, albeit a long time after the defeat by Waterford.

- Martin Breheny

[orangeman]

Sounds like they're well organised anyway.


County Board to feel further pressure from Rebel fans in second protest



Saturday February 28 2009

CORK supporters are planning to escalate the pressure on their County Board by staging another mass public protest, this time at the county footballers' next National League match tomorrow week.

County Board officials face an embarrassing afternoon in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on March 8, as fans intend on marching together to the match and look likely to stage some sort of protest inside the venue during the NFL game against Fermanagh.

Stung by comments that questioned their numbers (estimated at 10,000) for a large street protest on February 7 and which derided some of them as "just shoppers", the Rebel fans intend on proving their credentials as regular match-goers by paying their way into the game in another concerted effort to bring pressure on the board to break the ongoing deadlock.

Organisers are using local websites to rally their troops and have called on all like-minded fans to congregate at Kennedy Park at 2pm on Sunday week and march from there to Pairc Ui Chaoimh and attend the match.

message

What further form their protest may take inside the grounds remains to be seen, but they have already called on fans to collect in one particular part of the venue where "we will have a message for the County Board".

Organisers have repeatedly stressed on message boards that "it will be a dignified and peaceful protest".

[Zulu]

We could continue to go around in circles here for another few weeks/months but the reality of what playing these young lads must be apparent to all. The rights and wrongs of this dispute hardly matter anymore and neither side can claim any high moral ground, so what it boils down to is whether Cork GAA is being best served by the current panel. The best players won't play for Gerald, the Cork supporters won't support his team and the CCB, Munster council and the GAA will all lose serious money. I wonder does Gerald or the CB believe it's worth it anymore?

What are the alternatives ? I thought the Croke Park document had a lot of things going for it that could have got us over this current impasse and then let Croke Park carry out a comprehensive review of administration in Cork so that this sirt of thing could be avoided in future.

Is your alternative to sack Gerald, get rid of FM and bring back the 2008 panel under a manager that they are prepared to accept ??

Like i said we've all given our tuppence worth already but the bottom line is that the players can't play for Gerald so by him remaining in charge ensures that Cork will have a very unsuccessful year.

[Reillers]

Sounds like they're well organised anyway.


County Board to feel further pressure from Rebel fans in second protest



Saturday February 28 2009

CORK supporters are planning to escalate the pressure on their County Board by staging another mass public protest, this time at the county footballers' next National League match tomorrow week.

County Board officials face an embarrassing afternoon in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on March 8, as fans intend on marching together to the match and look likely to stage some sort of protest inside the venue during the NFL game against Fermanagh.

Stung by comments that questioned their numbers (estimated at 10,000) for a large street protest on February 7 and which derided some of them as "just shoppers", the Rebel fans intend on proving their credentials as regular match-goers by paying their way into the game in another concerted effort to bring pressure on the board to break the ongoing deadlock.

Organisers are using local websites to rally their troops and have called on all like-minded fans to congregate at Kennedy Park at 2pm on Sunday week and march from there to Pairc Ui Chaoimh and attend the match.

message

What further form their protest may take inside the grounds remains to be seen, but they have already called on fans to collect in one particular part of the venue where "we will have a message for the County Board".

Organisers have repeatedly stressed on message boards that "it will be a dignified and peaceful protest".

How do you think we all knew about the last march? It started with the net and then it just grew. 12000 people later..sorry they were all shoppers apart from a few according to McCarthy.

[FermGael]

Right lads headin down to the Cork and Fermanagh game next sunday.
Was thinking of making up a few banners to mark this protest.
Any witty ideas?

[orangeman]

We could continue to go around in circles here for another few weeks/months but the reality of what playing these young lads must be apparent to all. The rights and wrongs of this dispute hardly matter anymore and neither side can claim any high moral ground, so what it boils down to is whether Cork GAA is being best served by the current panel. The best players won't play for Gerald, the Cork supporters won't support his team and the CCB, Munster council and the GAA will all lose serious money. I wonder does Gerald or the CB believe it's worth it anymore?

What are the alternatives ? I thought the Croke Park document had a lot of things going for it that could have got us over this current impasse and then let Croke Park carry out a comprehensive review of administration in Cork so that this sirt of thing could be avoided in future.

Is your alternative to sack Gerald, get rid of FM and bring back the 2008 panel under a manager that they are prepared to accept ??

Like i said we've all given our tuppence worth already but the bottom line is that the players can't play for Gerald so by him remaining in charge ensures that Cork will have a very unsuccessful year.

Is your alternative to sack Gerald, get rid of FM and bring back the 2008 panel under a manager that they are prepared to accept ??

Would that be your personal suggestion / solution to ending this ongoing problem ?

[Zulu]

I think Frank should go for the good of Cork GAA but if Gerald goes the 08 panel can come back and play this year so for a short term solution to get Cork back on the field then i think Gerald should go now and then get CP involved to sort things out at the end of the year.

[orangeman]

I think Frank should go for the good of Cork GAA but if Gerald goes the 08 panel can come back and play this year so for a short term solution to get Cork back on the field then i think Gerald should go now and then get CP involved to sort things out at the end of the year.

I take your point about Frank - he might move on to Croke Park with Cooney ( then again he might not ).

Gerald will go if the clubs vote him out ( which isn't as clear as some would say it is ).

Croke Park could well do their review of the administration of the GAA in Cork alright.

The 2008 panel could well return to the field of play under their "approved" manager ?.

No big sacrifices for the 2008 panel then ?.

[The GAA]

The clubs cannot "vote Gerald out"