CIT double bid unites Cork players and strikers
Tuesday March 03 2009
MEMBERS of the current Cork hurling squad and several of last year's striking players will line out together again this week in the only good news story for Rebel hurling right now.
They are all happy team-mates for Cork Institute of Technology and, after last weekend's historic first Sigerson Cup victory, CIT are now chasing a big third-level colleges' double in the Fitzgibbon Cup SH semi-finals in Dublin on Friday.
Cork IT's hurlers include Cathal Naughton, Brian Corry and John O'Callaghan, who were part of Cork's 2008 panel and are still refusing to line out for Gerald McCarthy.
Their college team-mates include Chris Murphy, Adrian Mannix, Eoghan Cronin, Tony Murphy and Ger O'Driscoll of McCarthy's so-called Cork 'development' side in the current NHL.
Cronin got a dramatic late injury-time winner to knock out UCD in the college's blue riband last week and a couple of days later scored 0-2 against Galway in the NHL.
Cork IT, managed by Frank Flannery this season, have only once before reached a Fitzgibbon Cup final, back in 2003.
Their side contained marquee names like John Gardiner and Ronan Curran that year when they were coached by ex-Wexford boss John Meyler and they lost to a WIT team that included Setanta O hAilpin.
Both colleges are involved again in this year's Fitzgibbon semi-finals, which also include UCC and are hosted by Trinity College.
But standing between CIT are a start-studded University of Limerick side, led by Offaly's Brian Carroll.
Despite chasing both titles CIT, who are dominated by local players, have no dual stars, though Chris Murphy and Colm O'Neill are two with the talent to double up.
But the college's GAA Development Officer Keith Ricken, who also managed the footballers to last weekend's historic victory, said they have discouraged players from playing both in order to prioritise their study commitments.
"Obviously we are thrilled with our Sigerson victory, it was very special especially when we were hosting it," Ricken said. "And we can go to Dublin now this weekend with nothing to worry about except playing."
Yet as Cork's past and current hurlers remain united college team-mates, no breakthrough seems imminent in the county impasse and their supporters are planning to stage a mass protest demonstration at the footballers' NFL Division 2 clash with Fermanagh this Sunday.
Current hurling captain Ray Ryan, whose brother Pat is a former county star, revealed last weekend that he has been subjected personally to verbal abuse and called 'captain scab' in public for lining out.
"I don't think (the 2008 panel) are on strike for self gain, but they have made a mistake," Ryan said.
"At the end of the day, they should want to represent Cork and that's all we're doing.
"It's sport, and people are taking this way too far.
"We're just a bunch of guys playing hurling for Cork."
- Cliona Foley
