Waterford hurling boss Michael Ryan says he was left with no option but to drop Eoin Kelly from his squad.

Speaking on WLR FM yesterday, the new manager said he was prepared to include the two-time All Star in his squad, despite concerns over fitness, until he refused to meet the management for a fitness assessment. However, Ryan insists the door remains open for the Passage player's possible return to the fold.

"We met with Eoin Kelly in October, as we did a number of other players," Ryan said.

"He was then brought in and given a fitness assessment and a gym programme for seven weeks. At the end of seven weeks, he was called in, as the rest of the players were, and given a fitness test by (physical trainer) Pat Flanagan.

"The results of that test were disappointing, to be honest about it. I then contacted Eoin and I said to him that we were going to invite him to join the panel for the month of January and see would that make any difference, on one condition that he came in and met us.

"He refused to meet us and I said to him very specifically: 'Eoin, do you realise by not meeting us the consequences of your decision?'

"He said: 'I do'. I said: 'Okay, will you think about that overnight and I'll come back and talk to you tomorrow.' So I rang him again the following day and again, Eoin said that he hadn't changed his mind. That was exactly as he felt.

"So, in effect, Eoin Kelly has effectively ruled himself out of the squad for the moment."

The former De La Salle manager went on to say: "The only man that can sort this out is Eoin. I said to him that the system didn't appear to have worked for the last three years; he wasn't at his best.

"He actually said himself that he hadn't been at his best. The challenge for us as a management team is to get the best out of every player. The panel is completely and absolutely open-ended. If Eoin goes back, does his work and is performing well for his club, we'll look at the situation.

"There's no problem about that. And I think that his career is far from finished - but it's entirely up to himself. The door is always open - it's open for Eoin Kelly and every other hurler in Waterford."

Kelly, meanwhile, has expressed disappointment at the management's decision.

Also speaking to WLR Radio, he said: "I have to respect the manager and selectors' decision - they no longer feel I'm in their plans for 2012. I'm disappointed to be gone after 11 years but I have to respect their decision and I wish them all the best of luck for the coming year.

"I'm not going to get into the jigs and reels of what happened. I don't want to be causing any problems or anything like that. He (Ryan) felt, I suppose, that I wasn't up to another year - he made his decision and I have to respect that."

The former Deise captain continued: "I loved always playing for Waterford and if the opportunity arises again, of course I'll grab it with both hands. But at the moment, it's not there so I can't do anything about it." Tweet

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