The players of Clare, Tipperary, Limerick and Waterford say they will go on strike if the Munster Championship remains seeded in 2015.
In a statement released on behalf of the players of all panels last night they say they understand the rules cannot be changed for next year but as a form of protest they want their county boards to withdraw them from Mc Grath Cup and will not part take in the inter provincial Championship.
The draw for next years provincial Championship takes place tonight.
Statement in full
The Waterford, Clare, Tipperary and Limerick senior football panels would like to formally express our serious disappointment at the Munster Council’s decision to seed the Munster SFC 2014 without any consultation with county squads.
We are aggrieved that this decision, which seriously disadvantages our counties’ provincial championship prospects, was also taken without certain counties being properly mandated to vote. We also believe the decision to seed the Munster football championship affects the wider All-Ireland series in an unfair manner.
We understand that we are now restricted by the rules for the 2014 season but we will be approaching our respective county executives in the four counties to seek assurances that the decision will be revisited next year.
As a form of immediate protest against this decision, and respecting the views of our squad members, the four squads have asked their counties to withdraw from the 2014 McGrath Cup. Also we will be asking our players to consider not making themselves available for the 2014 Railway Cup football series. In recent years players from the four counties have helped backbone the Munster Railway Cup side.
Players from the four squads will then convene a meeting before the National league 2014 to assess the situation going forward.
All four squads are also united in saying that if the seeding arrangement isn't reversed next year through the formal channels that the current papanelists will not participate in the 2015 Munster championship.
We would like to thank the people inside and outside our counties for the support and good wishes since this decision was taken.
