Offaly chairman Padraig Boland has defended Brian Whelahan's management after it was claimed that 14 players dropped themselves off the county senior hurling panel this year.

The claim was made by Clara delegate and All-Ireland final referee Brian Gavin at last week's county board meeting. Shinrone's Billy Feighery weighed into the debate by claiming a number of players won't be re-joining the squad next year.

"There are three sides to every story. The management's, the players' and the truth," Boland is quoted in this week's Tullamore Tribune.

"There are issues, but there are also some guys hurling with Offaly and if you had Brian Cody, Anthony Daly and Davy Fitzgerald in charge, you still couldn't manage them. We had a couple of guys who walked off at a very late stage and I would question that.

"Some didn't have issues with the management but they had issues with the commitment of other Offaly players. There are disgruntled people on every panel."

The chairman added: "I have a problem with how much dirty linen we wash in public, more so than any other county. It doesn't do us any service. I have no problem with criticism but there is a place to make it. I would say raise the issues with someone who can do something about it."

The meeting was informed that former Offaly All-Ireland winning coach Diarmuid Healy will head up a committee to examine all aspects of hurling in the county. The committee will also consist of former Offaly hurling stars Pat O'Connor, Damien Martin, Pat Cleary and Martin Hanamy, and will be chaired by Banagher businessman Kieran Keenaghan. Tweet

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