Cork Chairman Jerry O'Sullivan urged the striking Cork senior hurlers to return to action by issuing an open letter to the 2008 squad on Wednesday night.
O'Sullivan's 400-word statement is a direct response to media reports that the Cork hurlers were willing to engage in a mediation process with the Cork County Board and mediator Olann Kelleher, but only if Gerald McCarthy was not part of the process.
The frustration of the Cork senior hurlers towards their manager McCarthy has failed to ease, but O'Sullivan is hopeful for a resolution.
‘Like every Cork hurling person, I am focused on how we can overcome the present impasse between the players, the management and the County Board,’ he wrote.
‘I note that the players say they are willing to meet with Olann Kelleher (the mediator) again, but only if our coach Gerald McCarthy is not part of the process.’
O'Sullivan stressed that while the Cork hurlers have provided their supporters with tremendous joy over the years, Gerald McCarthy has also played vital roles both on and off the pitch.
‘This Cork team has given us great joy and success over the last few years. We are all grateful for and proud of that.
‘On the other hand our coach Gerald McCarthy has also been one of Cork's greats as a player, and has over ten years' experience in inter-county team management.
‘He has also brought the McCarthy Cup back to Leeside when in charge with Canon Michael O'Brien.’
O'Sullivan insisted that with the start of the National Hurling League rapidly approaching, this dispute must come to an end sooner rather than later.
‘Over the last two weeks the players, management and the County Board have engaged in a series of meetings over many hours with the mediator, without substantial progress being made.
‘I respectfully suggest that these meetings cannot go on forever and there must be a realisation that efforts to resolve the situation must be finalised soon.
‘The current initiative arises from a decision of the recent County Convention which represents all clubs and by extension, all players in the county. I would appeal to you to respect the wishes of the Convention and participate fully in the process.’
O'Sullivan appealed: ‘Please avail of the goodwill and expertise of the independent chairman as he tries to facilitate a resolution.
‘This hurling crisis has caused enormous hurt and distress to many Cork hurling families, and I appreciate this more than most as I have two sons on the Cork panel.
‘It is with the hand of friendship and in the spirit of openness and transparency therefore that I invite the 30 members of the 2008 hurling panel, Gerald McCarthy and the team management and the Board Executive to a meeting to be chaired by the mediator Olann Kelleher.
‘I am sure we can come to some agreement to ensure that the red jersey of the Cork hurlers will be worn with pride this summer by the best hurlers in the County.
‘If we do this then we will have taken the first small step in our march to Croke Park in September 2009.’
It is the second winter in succession for the Rebels to go on strike. Last year the Cork senior hurlers joined their football colleagues on 'the picket line' after the footballers expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of Teddy Holland as their manager.
A U-turn by the Cork County Board, which led to the appointment of Conor Counihan as Rebel football boss, ensured the striking players returned to action, but only after missing important first round National League ties.
