The Limerick county board has received requests from eight clubs to hold a special meeting of the county board in a bid to table a motion of no-confidence in hurling manager Justin McCarthy.

Late last week, five clubs submitted requests for a special meeting of the board to discuss the under-fire manager's position, but without any accompanying motion.

According to county PRO Helen Cross, however, all clubs are now aware of the proper procedure.

"Justin McCarthy was endorsed as Limerick senior hurling manager last December on a majority of 70-54," she said in the Irish Examiner.

"If the clubs want to re-visit that decision, then, according to General Rule, they must submit a 'Notice of Motion' to the county board - that is, a motion of no-confidence in Justin McCarthy.

"If they do so, the county board will hold that meeting as quickly as possible. On Saturday night, county secretary (Mike O'Riordan) wrote to all the clubs informing them of this, updating them on what's happening.

"He also informed them if they have any difficulty with the actual wording of the motion, he has no difficulty in helping them out. We have to do our job, he has to do his; if the wording doesn't come in properly it would be ruled out of order. I presume they will take his advice, and that they will submit that notice of motion quickly; if that happens, then as soon as we can (presumably five days' notice to all the clubs), we'll hold that meeting.

"The county board is anxious to have this sorted out as soon as possible. It's been going on since last October, it's a headache for everyone. In the best interests of Limerick hurling it has to be sorted out now."

Last night, it was confirmed that at least eight clubs will be taking the advice of the county secretary and submitting a new request for a special county board meeting, along with that Notice of Motion.



Another sad day for the gaa as clubs of players that refuse to play over dropped want this poor man out of the managers job after what he has done for hurling and the gaa . Yous should hang your heads in shame with all this player power .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 15/03/2010 20:25:11    589104

Feel sorry for McCarthy. All he wants is to manage the team and be out on a hurling pitch

dammon (Meath) - Posts: 1291 - 15/03/2010 20:44:51    589142

Dell,

when this happened in Cork last year, I was firmly on the side of the manager, but being a little closer to the scene now, it is not as clear cut. The problem is not that players were dropped. I feel there are four things to consider.

1 - How the players were dropped.

Some received text messages informing them of a players meeting/training. Some didn't. It was only after a period of time elaped from those who received the messages that those who didn't realised they had been axed.

2 - Allegations of player indiscipline.

Some of those dropped do not even drink. Allegations were made that their discipline was poor. It was a poor allegation made without any credance whatsoever. Now there are players in the panel who do drink and yes we have had problems, but of the 12 players cut from the panel, I can name you four straight off who do not drink, or drink in moderation.

3 - The elephant in the room

We were beaten by 24 points in last years all-Ireland semi final. At the first meeting with the players this was not discussed at all. In order to go forward in 2010, do you not have to review what went wrong in 2009? We played with a one man full forward line against Tipperary last year. We were savaged. That is tactics, that is the managers job. To be fair to Justin, he said players were making their own switches etc and had been working against him. Fair enough, but the players said they felt training was sub-standard and Limerick had no real gameplan.

4 - Who gets paid?

All sorts of rumours persist about managers fees/expenses. I think it is a huge problem in the GAA. The Limerick players are not paid, the manager is, in some form, be it expenses or whatnot. If you have played for Limerick for 5 years and you are dropped without a phone call or a text by a manager who is receiving expenses for his work and has only been in charge one year, does it not lead to problems?

I'm not for player power and I'm neutral in this debate. I'd love to see Justin stick around and the best players return, but I don't think it will happen. But this is not as clear cut as it seems and the 4 points I raised above, should at least show the players have some credible points. The problem for the players is after the 24 point mauling last year, people think a lot of them should be moved on anyway, so have no problem with Justin axing them like he did. But respect takes you a long way and I simply cannot believe that Justin's selectors and the county board allowed the players to be axed in this way. Rumour has it Justin was told not to call or text any player to say he was dropped as it would set a precedent for anyone being axed in future. So bloody what? If you train & play for your county you deserve respect even if you never play championship.

So although this seems like it is player power, there is a lot more to this than meets the eye and nobody is blameless in this.

slayer (Limerick) - Posts: 6628 - 16/03/2010 12:00:03    589541

However this one ends, it is going to end in disaster for Limerick hurling. They will be in division 2 (which as we have learned is a tough place to get out of with only one team coming up), will there probably be divisions in the camp, and they will not be fit or sharp enough for the inter-county season ahead. Overall a disastrous situation I would think, however it ends.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 16/03/2010 13:46:00    589681

its sad to see , it does'nt matter whos to blame , its something you dont like to see in gaelic games and it is becomming all to common in the last few years

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13659 - 16/03/2010 13:54:14    589694

It is just a complete mess now in limerick. Big Division are there now and if some of the 09 panel comeback they lads in this yrs panel who have been training since Nov some of these will have to make way.
As said above limerick will be in Div 2 next season in the league.As for the championship have no idea what could happen with that. As the gaa change the rules every yr with who is going up and down a level.

declan30 (Limerick) - Posts: 652 - 16/03/2010 17:58:47    589954

It is a tragedy in a county where hurling is already struggling to see this happening. If and when Justin is removed if the striking players do come back they will have some job to prove us all (including Justin) wrong, which I dont believe they are good enough to do.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 18/03/2010 14:30:57    591410

Nah keep him there for a bit longer...

It's prob our last chance of staying in Division one...

JMc please dont go!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 19/03/2010 15:28:35    592610

jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4696

592610 Nah keep him there for a bit longer...

It's prob our last chance of staying in Division one...

JMc please dont go!

Hahaha you're not too concerned with player welfare when relegation is at stake!!!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12494 - 19/03/2010 15:37:49    592626

Breffni39
County: Cavan
Posts: 2416

592626 jimbodub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4696

592610 Nah keep him there for a bit longer...

It's prob our last chance of staying in Division one...

JMc please dont go!

Hahaha you're not too concerned with player welfare when relegation is at stake!!!

In this circumstance.... NO... Nah as usual just trying in vain to be funny!

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 19/03/2010 15:52:47    592644

Leave Justin there and march on. Damage is done now regardless. Both parties are to blame but at least Justin is trying his best to improve Limerick hurling, are the 09 players doing the same? It's a bit rich expecting the manager to be sacked and to walk back onto the panel after being humilated by Tipp, forcing Limerick to field a largly inexperienced and understrength side in the league, probable relegation to division 2 of the NHL and a very pessismtic outlook going forward to the championship. Yes Justin treated the players badly, but the players have treated Limerick hurling worse. I'll never forgive some of them. Long way back for Limerick, another chapter to Limericks unlimited heartbreak methinks.

Mick14 (Limerick) - Posts: 766 - 19/03/2010 16:05:57    592668

slayer
County: Limerick
Posts: 1321


Great post there however if players are not good enough for the squad anymore that is up to the manager and i feel they used excuses like we where not told properly by management to get other players or buddies to get on there side .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 19/03/2010 18:22:46    592889