Staunton admits walkout decision ‘not taken lightly’
CORA STAUNTON last night admitted that the decision to leave the Mayo panel alongside several team-mates “hadn’t been taken lightly”.
The star forward added that nobody would be going into further detail ahead of the county’s opening All-Ireland qualifier against Cavan tomorrow.
“That’s sport for you - difficult. You know, I really haven’t much to say. I suppose there are 14 of us involved at the moment; 12 members of the panel and two selectors. As a group, I have to respect their wishes that we stay quiet,” said Staunton, speaking at a Sky Sports event in Dublin last night.
“As a group, I have to respect their wishes that we stay quiet,” she added. “I don’t want to go into it because there are 14 of us involved, and I have to respect that we’ve sat and we’ve talking and I can’t comment on anything. With the girls’ match on Saturday I can’t comment on anything.
RESPECT
“Normally I’d be very open to the media and talk to them, but out of respect to the whole group, I can’t comment on anything really.
“We didn’t make this decision lightly and we never would.”
Earlier yesterday, the Mayo Ladies County Board gave its full support to manager Peter Leahy.
The board’s statement said they were satisfied that Leahy had adhered to the training guidelines and structures laid out when he took charge of the team, and it has informed the remaining 28 squad members that the management team have their “full support”.
The statement says: “In the light of media speculation about unspecified ‘personal and sensitive’ issues, the board feels it important to state that the senior management team has adhered to all protocols and guidelines set out at the beginning of their tenure.
“The board has made players and management aware that they have our full support going forward and we will continue to work with all parties to find an amicable resolution.”
The remaining Mayo squad trained during the week and Leahy has since named his team with 10 of the those that started the Connacht final defeat to Galway set to start tomorrow’s game.