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Cavan deny plans for extended absence from senior hurling

Earlier reports had suggested that the county may withdraw for a five-year period to concentrate on developing the game.

THE CAVAN COUNTY BOARD have confirmed that they will not be entering a team in senior hurling competitions this year as they seek to develop a viable structure for the growth of the game in the county.

However, the county’s GAA chairman Tom Reilly has denied that they have decided to withdraw from hurling for a five-year period as reports this morning seemed to indicate.

A article in this morning’s Irish Examiner suggested that county officials were preparing for an extended absence after it became apparent that a competitive senior team was unfeasible given the current state of the game in Cavan.

The Breffni men were forced to withdraw from this year’s Lory Meagher Cup at the weekend, conceding their game against Fermanagh after just seven players trained with the squad last week. It is estimated that selectors are currently expected to work with a pool of just 60 hurlers.

Speaking to Des Cahill on RTE Radio 1 this morning, Reilly clarified the county board’s position, claiming that there had been no formal decision to pull out of senior competition for any period of time.

“We have not made a decision to withdraw from senior hurling as such,” Reilly explained.

Our plan had been to look at the situation when competition had finished this year, but after huge beatings in this year’s Allianz Hurling League the players had not got the appetite for training and the manager informed me that he was very concerned about the number of players he would have available in Enniskillen.

“We are putting a five-year plan in place to develop underage hurling and a structure whereby competition will be more club-based. Maybe that’s where this five-year thing came into it.”

Read Terry Reilly’s report in the Irish Examiner > | Read more of Cavan chairman Tom Reilly’s response on RTE.ie >