Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy has responded to comments made by the county's 2008 hurling panel on Monday night which he labelled 'distasteful, grossly exaggerated and less than truthful'.
The under-fire McCarthy, whose position at the helm has now been vigorously and publicly challenged by the 30-strong panel, admitted his 'disappointment' with some of the comments and their failure to engage in discussion to resolve the issue.
He revealed: 'I have read the players' statement and while I found it self-serving and just some more of the same really, I was disappointed that they failed to answer why they haven't and won't engage to try to resolve this dispute. At this stage I am not going to respond in full to the players' statement, but I do intend to do so sometime soon.
'I can only repeat what I have said previously: does any real or perceived grievance justify the harm being done to Cork hurling?
'I must say I found some of the players' comments distasteful, grossly exaggerated and less than truthful. Most of the comments had been leaked to pet pundits at the beginning of this dispute and having already responded to them, I have no intention of doing so again.'
However, McCarthy did highlight Kevin Canty's claims that he never visited him in hospital.
McCarthy insisted: 'How any young lad could stand up at a press conference to suggest that I was unmindful of the fact that he was in hospital, when he knew that I had visited him twice (and brought him some DVDs on my second visit) is deeply shocking to me.
'Many of the other players' comments are invested with the same kind of construction and selectivity and confirm for me some of the influences that are at work here. I must say I am astonished that a simple incident like Kevin's could have its way into the public domain and play a part in this dispute.'
He added: 'I have always been aware of my responsibilities to players who are injured and have always exercised that duty of care to the best of my abilities.'
McCarthy now believes that it is the people's time to decide on this sorry episode for once and for all and he has welcomed that call.
He agreed: 'A lot of GAA people will be called on to make big calls in the next few weeks. The men and women who represent clubs are going to determine what set of values will shape Cork hurling for the future. And for me, that’s worth fighting for.'
