Will Derry Suspend All Ireland U-21 Semi Manager?
Talking Balls Comments
Cynics would point out that the Derry Co Board could do with charging itself with the same offence such is its perceived antipathy to anything other than ‘fudball’ in the county. What makes the move all the more surprising is the fact that McGilligan is in charge of the u-21 hurling team which has won an Ulster title for the second year in succession, beating Antrim twice in the process. The cinderella success of the team has far outshadowed the underachievements of the football teams with no underage county success for Derry since 2002. Should McGilligan be suspended he says he will consider that he has been sacked – all this with an All Ireland semi-final against Tipperary in two weeks.
Also in the dock with Brian McGilligan is Ballinderry man Niall Conway, regarded as one of the county’s up and coming coaches after taking the Derry minor team and the Tyrone’s Rock to All Ireland Finals in Croke Park in the last twelve months. Conway has annoyed the Powers that Be by citing ‘a simple case of player welfare’ as his reason for resigning. He claimed the funds and resources were not made available to him and he had to seek sponsorship himself for a weekend away.
The Derry County Board has issued a statement to clubs expressing its disappointment at the ‘public villification, totally unfounded and unwarranted. . . by some team managers in their public statements.”
A total load of balls then.
