HURLING CORK STAND-OFF: THE REBELLING Cork hurlers will stage a public meeting next Sunday to voice their opinions over the continuing stalemate between the 2008 panel, the county board and team manager Gerald McCarthy whom the board continue to support.

Without making any definitive statement on the absent players’ future, the board and McCarthy informed the media on Tuesday that the focus is now on preparing players who are willing to represent Cork under the current management for the National League and forthcoming championship.

Negotiations with the players, whose senior members have been ever-present since winning the 1999 All-Ireland, broke down after they refused to deal with independent chairman Olann Kelleher – a respected Cork solicitor brought in to broker an agreement.

Kelleher declined to reveal his reasons for resigning yesterday, stating he was bound by a confidentiality clause. However, it has become apparent the players were unwilling to convene under his chairmanship after attempts to bring Gerald McCarthy into the discussions.

“In fairness to Olann Kelleher, he worked very hard at it and we very much appreciate it, but it just didn’t come about and he had no alternative I suppose but to step aside from the process,” said county board chairman Jerry O’Sullivan. “That is the end of that particular process as far as we’re concerned.

“We had been endeavouring along with everybody involved to arrange a meeting since around Christmas and we failed to make any significant progress so it could have gone on forever. It could go on for weeks, it could go on for months and it was really going nowhere.”

The players are adamant they would not hold discussions while McCarthy was present but did agree to meet members of his management team. They have long stated an unwillingness to play under the man who replaced John Allen in 2007.

All Cork club chairmen and the media will be invited to Sunday’s meeting, a venue is expected to be announced later today, in an attempt to win over public support to the players after a wave of comment from the board and McCarthy was recently been met with silence.

The 2008 panel continue to train, an indication that they are unified, under Seanie McGrath and Jerry Wallace at Na Piarsaigh and Mourneabbey GAA clubs.

It has been suggested in some quarters the current squad available to McCarthy is at best a third string as players from the clubs of Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and John Gardiner (Na Piarsaigh), the O’Connor twins, Ben and Jerry (Newtownshandrum), and Cloyne’s Donal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid and Paudie O’Sullivan show solidarity towards their fellow Cork hurlers.

The current impasse has become increasingly difficult for O’Sullivan as he is Diarmuid and Paudie’s father. After recently making an impassioned and public call for unity, O’Sullivan now feels he is left with no choice but to support Gerald McCarthy’s tenure.

“It is difficult,” continued O’Sullivan last night. “They have their point of view and I have mine. Obviously we’re not going to fall out over it. My wish is that every hurler would be available to Cork and that of course would include Diarmuid and Paudie.”

As it stands, McCarthy’s role as manager for two more years remains the stumbling block. All that seems to have occurred in recent days is both sides have become further entrenched behind opposite viewpoints.

The situation looks increasingly irretrievable from certain player perspectives. In November Ó hAilpín categorically stated he felt McCarthy was inadequate for the job and that it is a greater scheme by the county board to seek revenge for past grievances.

“Players are not going playing under Ger – it’s as simple as that. They are not going back. Ger is a bit of a problem but he is a by-product of what is going on. It is literally the county board . . . this is revenge time for them to settle old scores.

“What I can’t understand is how they can justify Ger’s reappointment for another two years. Surely the best interests of the Cork hurlers, looking at the last two years, we have been way off the mark. Stuff that we fought for in (the) 2002 (strike) and which gave us a great running template for three or four years, all of that has eroded, evaporated.”

O’Sullivan continues to disagree with this assertion: “Managing any intercounty team is a tough task nowadays, but Gerald is well able for the job. As a county board now we have to give our full backing.”