Laois decline Christy Ring Cup invitation
CRISIS-HIT Laois hurlers have already lost one McCarthy (manager Teddy) but they have vowed to stay in another, the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
This news comes after they were asked by Croke Park if they wanted to drop down to Christy Ring Cup level next year -- and follows another embarrassing development this week.
Only eight senior players turned up for a review meeting in Portlaoise on Monday night, a chilling indication of local apathy after a summer which saw them lose to Dublin by 22 points (in Leinster) and Limerick by 25 (in the qualifiers).
Teddy McCarthy, the Cork dual legend, duly stepped down after just one season. He had only come on board after Kilkenny's Brendan Fennelly also walked after a year, fresh from a 34-point qualifier mauling by Cork.
This week's gathering was organised by former Laois star Paul Cuddy and minor manager Seamus Plunkett, who agreed to act as intermediaries between the squad and the county board.
It is now planned that Cuddy and Plunkett will meet smaller groups of players before formulating ideas to put to the county executive.
Laois county board secretary Niall Handy has confirmed that Laois will definitely remain in the 'A' championship next year.
