This article is from page 104 of the 2009-04-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 104 JPG
, Do- herty cut loose on stay-away players over broken promises, lack of com- mitment, turning up for gear and then saying “good luck” by walking away from the team.
“We have brought people in — I’ve spoken to people that have promised me that they’ll come in and they’ve turned around and walked away, for what reason I have no idea,’ Doherty revealed.
“ve tried to ring them, players have tried to get in touch with them.
It’s crazy stuff. Some players have got the gear, the boots and then said good luck.
“T’m disillusioned with it. I asked an under 21 player this year to come into our set-up. He said yes to me. I rang him afterwards to say where training was on — the same lad was in a pub and he cut the phone off. I know that for a fact,” he added.
He launched his broadside at the close of Clare’s National League campaign in Cusack Park on Satur- day – winning outing by 3-21 to I-7, but a game that served to expose a lack of numbers at the disposal of the Doherty and his fellow selectors Ki- eran Kelleher and James Hanrahan.
Only 19 players were togged for the game – a Shortage of players owing
to injuries, players who have walked away or declined repeated offers to join the panel.
Clare used 33 players during their eight-match National League pro- gramme, but a host of those play- ers are no longer part of the panel. These include Stephen Monaghan (Wolfe Tones), Keith Whelan (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, Stephen Moloney and Ian McInerney (Kil- murry Ibrickane).
Meanwhile, other high profile play- ers from the county champions’ side like Mark Killeen, Michael Hogan and Brendan Moloney were invited on to the panel but declined.
“What is it with some people? Ok we re in Division 4 but we want to get out of Division 4. We need help,”
said Doherty. “Within the county we need the players who are playing for clubs to stand up and say ‘let’s get Clare out of Division 4, let’s give the management team a chance of get- ting Clare out of Division 4’,” said Die) oua
“If we had options on the bench and had a full deck to play, then you’d have a shout. Then if we didn’t suc- ceed you could say the management aren’t up to it.
“Players should be putting them- selves forward and saying ‘yes I’m available for Clare’. They’re not do- ing it and I’m scratching my head wondering why. We’re well short of a full deck at the moment,’ he added.