GPA clarify position on row

CORK UPDATE:THE GAELIC Players Association has moved to clarify its stance in relation to the Cork hurling dispute, denying that it was discriminating against the 2009 panel of players by refusing to accept them as members.

Speaking at last Saturday’s Central Council meeting in Thurles, GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell responded to a query as to the status of the 2008 county panel by stating that the players’ body hadn’t accepted any registrations from Cork pending resolution of the current impasse.

"We issued a statement last week," he explained to The Irish Timesyesterday, "but whereas we thought our position was clearly set out, some understood it, others didn't.

“Neither the 2008 nor 2009 panels will be processed for membership until the dispute is resolved, which was the only logical course of action we could take.”

It had been alleged that the 2008 panel, who are in dispute with the Cork County Board over the reappointment of manager Gerald McCarthy, had remained as members of the GPA whereas the current players, empanelled by McCarthy, had been refused admission.

Asked if any resolution to the troublesome long-running saga involving the complete withdrawal of last year’s players from inter-county hurling would mean that the 2009 panel would be accepted for GPA membership, Farrell said: “Yes. If the 2008 squad walk away that means the dispute is resolved.”

Meanwhile talks between the 2008 players and club representatives were postponed for a week from last Sunday because of the passing of Gerald McCarthy’s mother, whose removal took place yesterday evening.

* Sport Matters, a new 15-part series on Setanta Sports every Tuesday evening starts tonight. The first week’s programme is called The Mission which explores the tradition of hurling.

It will air at 10pm on the Setanta Ireland channel.