Cork board says players rejected talks

There has been a further development in the row that's splitting Cork hurling, after the county board released a statement expressing their disappointment at the lack of talks aimed at resolving the issue.

Your View: Cork Hurling Dispute

The Cork senior hurling panel are refusing to play for their county in protest at Gerald McCarthy being named manager of the team and the way in which he was appointed.

In recent weeks, there had been signs from the players that they were willing to enter into talks with the County Board Executive and the Cork management team, under an independent chairman.

However, a statement from the county board claims that the players are unwilling to enter such talks.

The statement read: 'The idea of independently chaired mediation arose at the recent County Convention and followed various unsuccessful efforts by board officers and other interested parties to get the players to sit down and discuss the issues they had.

'The players indicated that they would not accept the parameters set down by convention and in an attempt to break the deadlock, the board chairman, Diarmuid O' Suilleabhain, asked that talks involving all players, the County Board Officers and the management team, led by Gerald McCarthy, would take place, under the independent chairman appointed at the wish of the convention.

'That proposition has now been rejected by the players.'

The statement also confirmed that the board remain fully behind McCarthy as manager of the senior hurling team.

'Gerald McCarthy has the board's full support. He has been an outstanding player for Cork and an outstanding and knowledgeable coach of his club, St Finbarr's, and both of Cork and Waterford. The board is convinced that he is the right man to lead Cork forward,' the statement said.