National Ladies’ Football League Division Two
WHAT had been a solid league campaign by Cavan’s senior footballers came to a premature end yesterday after they pulled out of their final round league game with Tyrone.
Although little was resting on the game, with both sides situated firmly in mid-table, it was expected to be a keenly contested encounter, with both managers looking to bring momentum into the summer months. Cavan had their noses ahead of Tyrone in the table, sitting with nine points against the Red Hands’ six.
However, with less than 12 hours to go until throw-in at Newtownstewart, Tyrone were informed that Cavan would not be able to fulfil the fixture due to the “unavailability of players”. Yesterday morning, the Cavan panel released a statement via the Gaelic Players’ Association saying they pulled the plug on the game due to an ongoing dispute with the Breffni county board.
In the statement, the Cavan footballers claimed that “a written agreement that we signed up to in good faith with our county board has not been honoured” and that they had “made numerous attempts to have the minimum standards set out in the agreement adhered to but unfortunately this has not happened”.
“While there has been positive engagement since the issues involved were brought to light, we now want to see it backed up by action and these minimum standards finally implemented.”
Earlier last week, Cavan captain Neasa Byrd confirmed that strike action was being considered over the players’ claims that the county board was not paying agreed expenses. This was viewed as a breach of a charter recently signed off on by the county board, players and the GPA.
“We are not prepared to play until the issues have been fully resolved as we have been let down as regards promises and commitments previously,” the Cavan players’ statement added.
“We communicated our position to the county board executive yesterday. We have subsequently been informed and are aware of the potential consequences of not playing.
“We want what’s best for ourselves and girls playing club football in Cavan now who will some day line out for our county. The girls and women in Cavan deserve to have promises kept and to be treated with respect. It's imperative we protect those who are most vulnerable, including student members of our squad.
“We are proud to represent our county and pull on the Cavan jersey. Taking a decision to withdraw from a game is not something we do lightly. However, given the current circumstances, we feel we do not have any other option.
“We hope you, the clubs and supporters of ladies’ football in our county will understand our decision. We hope the issues can be resolved to allow us get back to what we want to do, represent our great county.”
The Cavan players’ statement also apologised to their counterparts from Tyrone for any inconvenience caused.
While Red Hand manager Sean O’Kane and his charges will now turn their attentions to the Ulster intermediate championship opener with Monaghan, the situation in Cavan is far from certain.
While the management team of Gerry Moane and Barry Grimes is understood to have the full support of the squad, it remains to be seen how quickly a lasting resolution to the dispute between the players and county board can be put in place.
