GAELIC GAMES NEWS:JUSTIN McCARTHY held onto his position as Limerick senior hurling team manager last night after winning a dramatic vote of confidence at a specially convened county board meeting in Claughaun.

Delegates voted on McCarthy’s future by way of secret ballot and the Cork native survived on a margin of 70 votes to 54.

McCarthy’s victory is the latest twist in the saga which dates back to October, when the former Waterford boss decided to dispense with 12 players from his 2009 squad.

Eight others walked away in protest and the county’s big name stars have vowed not to hurl again for Limerick while McCarthy is in charge.

But now the ball is firmly back in the players’ court. Delegates backed him last night after the county board had proposed a vote of confidence in him.

The players now have two options – return to hurl for Limerick under McCarthy or continue to make themselves unavailable for selection.

McCarthy may have won last night’s battle but it is almost certain that the war will continue and may come to a head again early next year should an under-strength Limerick struggle during the National Hurling League.

County board officials put themselves out on a limb last night by deciding to publicly back McCarthy but they may now have created a situation on a par with the crisis which rocked Cork this time last year.

Last night’s meeting lasted over two hours as significantly, the county board nailed their colours firmly to the mast in their support of Justin McCarthy.

The motion required a simple majority to be passed, whereas a vote of no confidence in the manager would have required a two-thirds majority.

County board chairman Liam Lenihan revealed that 21 players were present along with their club delegates at a meeting last weekend in the latest attempt to find a breakthrough in the impasse.

A previous meeting in Ballyagran in early December, at which McCarthy was present, lasted for four hours and a motion of no confidence in the management from the Adare club was ruled out by Lenihan.

Fresh talks took place last weekend, understood to have lasted for almost three hours, and according to Lenihan, “a frank and open discussion” took place.

However, the players refused point blank to enter into negotiations with McCarthy and his management team, while mediation was also ruled out.