Cooney not afraid to step-in

GAA President Christy Cooney is not afraid to step-in and address the current sagas in Limerick and Clare hurling if agreements are not reached in the near future.

Cooney has revealed that a model will be put in place to try and stamp out the growing number of player-power related disputes with managers.

Cooney is quoted on hoganstand.com saying: ‘If it does threaten the league in the next period of time, and is not resolved, and there is a need for Páraic Duffy or myself to get involved in finding a solution to the process, we will do that.

'But if it can be resolved in the counties, we would very much prefer that,’ the GAA president said.

‘One of the priorities that will be there for the GPA and ourselves is to put in place a protocol, a template on how we manage this in future.

‘It is a situation that cannot continue and we have to find a way of resolving it. I prefer to have a preventive situation in place rather than a reactive one and that will be the objective.

‘It is very regrettable that this is happening in Clare and Limerick, and always - as in these cases - no one is perfect.

‘But at the end of the day, the county board have the right and responsibility to appoint a manager and we have to ensure that there is harmony after that manager is appointed and the best support system is in place to support the players.’