Cork trio remain silent

AN EMPHATIC "no comment" approach was adopted yesterday by the three Cork senior hurling selectors, including manger Jimmy Barry Murphy, in response to the county board's decision to revert back to a five-member selection committee.

The muted response was hardly surprising given that Barry Murphy and co-selectors Tom Cashman and Fred Sheedy are perceived to have had the new format "sprung on them out of the blue".

The county board voted 42-39 in favour of a proposal for a return to the old format of a five-member committee at its meeting on Monday night.

Since then, there have been growing fears among hurling followers within the county that Barry Murphy will "walk away" from such a set-up.

Barry Murphy said yesterday: "I cannot comment at this stage". It is understood that the present committee believes that the good working relationships built up could be upset by the recruitment of an additional two selectors.

The outgoing three-man committee accept the county board's decision, but may not be prepared to serve on an enlarged committee.

The outgoing trio are to meet county board officials, but given the close nature of the split vote on Monday, the board's decision is highly unlikely to be overturned.

One way or another, the actual personnel of the new committee cannot be known until after the county hurling final in September as one of the extra members will be drawn from the county champions, with the other from the board.

At present, the clubs with whom the three outgoing selectors are affiliated, namely St Finbarr's, Blackrock and champions Avondhu are still involved in the championship title race.