Parting shot at Cork players

GAELIC GAMES:BELEAGUERED CORK hurling manager Gerald McCarthy last night accused the 2008 Cork hurling panel of dishonouring the Cork jersey as he announced that he was stepping down from the position due to continuing threats and abuse to him and his family.

McCarthy revealed his decision to step down was due to personal reasons in a hard-hitting statement released last night on his behalf after he met the 2009 hurling panel and informed them that he was giving up the position of manager with immediate effect.

McCarthy met the 2009 players in Mallow where they were due to have a training session, but he left without making any comment to the waiting media other than to confirm a statement would be issued later on his behalf.

In the statement last night, McCarthy rounded on the striking 2008 hurling panel and he questioned whether they will be proven in time to be “the heroic figures that they are being made out to be in some quarters”.

Describing the desire of the ’08 panel to play for Cork as an “à la carte loyalty to the Cork jersey”, he said it contrasted utterly with the attitude of the current Cork players who had lined out for the county in the three league games.

“These young men in the face of the difficulties put before them – and they were considerable and unacceptable – know more about courage, integrity and decency than the high-profile leaders of the dispute and their equivalent strike leadership of the football panel.

“My greatest disappointment is to have to leave them and the selectorial and backroom team who have been outstanding, honourable, steadfast and at all times motivated by the highest of values,” said the five-time All -Ireland medal winner.

The Cork County Board executive met chairmen of the clubs last night to apprise them of McCarthy’s resignation and to propose that at tomorrow night’s meeting a procedure to select a new coach would be agreed. One idea being floated is that the last five All-Ireland-winning Cork coaches would form a committee to appoint McCarthy’s successor.

It was unclear last night whether the other members of McCarthy’s management team including selectors Ger Fitzgerald, Teddy McCarthy, Johnny Keane and Donie Collins are stepping down or whether they will remain on to work with the new coach.

Paul O’Connor is the initial leading candidate to replace McCarthy as Cork manager. The next league match is not until March 22nd against Clare, but the man who guided UCC to the Fitzgibbon Cup title last Saturday has already been tipped to take the returning 2008 panel into this summer’s Munster championship – which opens against Tipperary on May 31st in Thurles.

A member of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner’s club, Na Piarsaigh, O’Connor won a county title with them in 1995, training them to their third crown in 2004 but it is an excellent record with UCC, as both a player and coach, that really embellishes his reputation.

As a player he won five Fitzgibbon Cup medals, while helping them to four titles as a trainer.