Clough-Ballacolla manager Willie Hyland says his players were ‘wound up’ to win last Sunday’s Laois SHC final over how they have been treated by the county board.
Hyland, who won six Bob O’Keefe Cups as a player and now two as a manager, claimed the club has been shabbily treated when it comes to fixtures and disciplinary matters.
"If I'm being honest, I'm a bit disappointed at how we were treated,” he told reporters after the victory over Camross.
“We give seven lads to the county every year, and I don't think we get the same credit. From a county board point of view, we've asked for a bit of help with regard to fixtures. Our same players play Premier Intermediate and Senior. We were asked in one week this year to play three games in four days. There was nobody playing ball from a county board point of view.
"One time, I asked PJ Peacock, who was over at Abbeyleix at the time, if we could change the match to a Sunday morning. It was down for Sunday evening, so we asked for a change on Sunday morning. Abbeyleix were happy, we were happy and the referee was happy, it wasn't changed.”
The former county star also claimed Robbie Phelan was wrongly suspended for the final.
“Robbie Phelan has been treated disgracefully,” Hyland continued.
“What Robbie did that day was nothing; he was just defending himself. We played that day, we were playing against a team who were pinching and poking and saying things about players' families and their partners and their mothers. Robbie was just defending himself, and what he did was minimal. He shouldn't have been missing the county final.
"He was actually sent off in the wrong in the league game against The Harps as well. You're talking about a club that every year we're giving the most amount to the county, and we're getting no payback.
"That's why it's so sweet, lads. We were absolutely wound up to win this county final, we were so wound up. We knew all we wanted was one wrap at a final, and we wouldn't be too far away.
“I'm angry at the way we've been treated as a club.”
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