LIMERICK HURLING:WITH SOME hope emerging last night of the self-exiled Limerick hurlers returning to play under Justin McCarthy, GAA president Christy Cooney has urged them to consider their position "for the good of Limerick" and make themselves available for the remainder of the season.

With McCarthy now certain to see out his two-year term, it may be a case of now or never if any of them are to see championship action this year – or possibly ever again.

McCarthy was supported at Tuesday night’s county board on a vote of 83-47 to continue as manager for the rest of 2010, and thus takes his largely development team to Offaly this Sunday, with Kilkenny and Dublin to come to finish out the league.

Bar a dramatic improvement in form, they are poised to be relegated, and with that Cooney highlighted the importance of all members of the Limerick hurling community coming together now, despite the events of the last six months.

“The Limerick County Board has made a decision now that Justin should finish out his term this year, at least,” said Cooney. “I have said all along that it was a decision that had to be finally made by the county board. It gave clubs a lot of time to consider the exact situation.

“They heard a lot from the county players, that were on last year’s panel, from the county board, from the county board delegates. It was a democratic vote, and they voted to leave the status quo as it is, which leaves McCarthy in charge of the team going forward. I believe this should be put to bed now.

“There is an onus and responsibility on each of the players now as individuals to do what is right in the interests of the good of Limerick hurling. They have voiced their opinion quite forcefully over the past period of time over how they stood on things. They all have a choice, of course, as to whether they want to play or don’t want to play, but I would encourage them now to sit back and have a look at where things are.

“I would like them to consider their position for the good of Limerick and, if they are considered for selection, to make themselves available, if they so wish to do so, as individuals. It has gone through a very democratic process over nearly six months now, but it is time to move on.”

Given the players have reiterated their stance on several occasions, that they wouldn’t return to play under McCarthy under any circumstances, only a significant swallowing of pride will bring about any change of heart. That, said Cooney, is what all parties now need to do.

“You can’t change what has been said and I believe at this stage that there is an onus and responsibility on Justin McCarthy, as well and his management team, and the players and the county board, to begin the healing process. To get everybody back together, sit down and move forward in the interests of Limerick hurling.

“The players have to make that individual decision themselves. I heard the county chairman say the door was open to players. The responsibility now lies with the players and if McCarthy selects them they should make themselves available.

“All the bickering and the comments on either side had to stop. We have all had differences with people in the past. That is part of life. We all have to be big enough too and realise that the goodwill of Limerick hurling is more important than any individual on either side of the argument.”

Limerick results under McCarthy this season have gone from bad to worse, the most recent being the 22-point defeat at the hands of Tipperary last Sunday.

The league, said Cooney, had suffered as a result, although it wasn’t too late for Limerick to make some amends: “Now there is the chance to move that on. Whether Limerick will get to the heights that they would wish for themselves in this year’s league and championship I am not too sure, but no individual should leave any stone unturned in trying to achieve that.”

Tuesday’s vote in Limerick was something of a turning point in the player-manager stand-offs of recent years (Cork, Clare, etc) in that the vote of support ultimately went with the manager.

The GAA have largely taken a back-seat in such matters, but under the relationship with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have formulated new terms of agreement between managers and players, which they hope to bring to next month’s congress.

“I would hope with this process we will finalise a protocol fairly soon on how we will deal with these things going forward.”

Some Positive Signs

Former Limerick hurling captain Mark Foley last night hinted at a possible return of the self-exiled players if Justin McCarthy was prepared to make a phone call expressing some level of respect to their stance of the last six months.

“The players probably feel their efforts weren’t, I suppose, recognised,” said Foley. “Even a phone call at this stage would be positive from the management.”

Asked if that call was made, and what the response of the players might be, Foley replied: “Well I would hope it would be very positive. I know a lot of water has gone under the bridge since the initial cull was made, but at this stage the least any player deserves is a little bit of respect, especially players that have given a lot of service. And I think at this stage I’d like to think that the players would take it in good faith.”

McCarthy said yesterday that he’s “willing to wipe the slate clean”, that he holds no grudges, and is still willing to sit down with the players.