Rebel hurlers train at revamped Mourneabbey
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Thursday February 05 2009
THERE has been a resolute dismissal by Mallow GAA Club and the county board that the Cork senior hurlers were not allowed train at the Carrigoon complex last weekend.
The hurlers, embroiled in an increasingly bitter battle with the county board, have trained several times at the Mallow GAA complex. However, in new move for the team, they trained at Mourneabbey GAA club last Saturday week, and have continued to train there this week.
An unconfirmed allegation made to The Corkman claimed they had been refused permission to train atthe faciliity. However, this has been resolutely scotched by both Mallow GAA and the county board.
A huge crowd gathered in Mourneabbey to watch the team train in the community pitch that had floodlights worth €130,000 installed just last week. However, chairman of Mourneabbey GAA club John Roche confirmed that there are not any more plans in place for the Cork hurlers to train in the pitch.
Mourneabbey GAA club was contacted with a request to allow the Cork hurlers train at their pitch almost two weeks ago. A community meeting was held where the majority sanctioned the team to train in the pitch for the first time.
"People had different views," said John Roche. "The majority thought that the team should be left train; some felt that we should not go against the county board."
Meanwhile, Frank Nyhan, vice-president of Mallow GAA club, stated that rumours the Cork hurlers were refused permission to train are 'definitely not true'. The hurlers trained at Mallow GAA club on several occasions before Christmas.
The Corkman also made contact with Bob Ryan, vice chairman of the county board, who also said: "It is a matter for the management at Carrigoon who they allow in to play. It has absolutely nothing to do with the county board."
- LOUISE MCCARTHY AND MARIA HERLIHY
