Casey O’Brien, Leighton Glynn, Billy Cuddihy and Graham Keogh have stepped down from their roles ahead of the opening league game with Donegal in Echelon Park Aughrim
Wicklow hurling selector Billy Cuddihy and manager Casey O’Brien before the match against Kildare in the Kehoe Cup.
Wicklow hurling is in turmoil this morning with the news that the management team who guided the county to Nickey Rackard Cup success in 2023 have resigned from their positions with immediate effect.
It is understood that the decision made by team manager Casey O’Brien, coach Leighton Glynn and selectors Billy Cuddihy and Graham Keogh on Thursday night was arrived at following weeks of fruitless efforts to entice players to commit to the camp.
Final instructions for the Wicklow team before the off against Kildare.
A vastly changed and inexperienced Garden County side suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Kildare in the opening game of the Kehoe Cup in Bray in early January and this resulted in the team being withdrawn from the pre-season competition ahead of games against Meath and Down.
Just three players who started against Donegal in Croke Park in the Nickey Rackard Cup final were available for selection in that game against the Lilywhites.
Four of the team of 2023, John Henderson, Jack Doyle, Andrew Gilsenan Kavanagh and Mikey Boland, are currently away travelling, while the remainder of the players are said to be unable to commit for a variety of reasons.
The shock decision leaves Wicklow GAA with a serious headache over the coming days as they look to secure a new management team just 10 days out from their Allianz Hurling League Division 2B opener against Donegal in Echelon Park Aughrim.
It also leaves hurling in the county at a major crossroads, with questions to be answered as to how the situation has arisen following the high of securing the Nickey Rackard title in Croke Park last year and making a swift return to the Christy Ring Cup.
Casey O’Brien confirmed that he and the other members of his management team had resigned but declined to comment any further on the matter.
Wicklow GAA Chairman Damien Byrne said that he would not be making a comment at present but that he was fully committed to putting a plan in place to ensure that the Garden County would be competing in the National League and Christy Ring Cup.
Read More: Wicklow hurling in turmoil as Senior management team resign with immediate