DUBLIN GOALKEEPER ALAN Nolan has voiced his “frustration” and “disappointment” after he was axed from the county’s senior hurling panel.
Nolan, 30, was one of two experienced players let go by manager Ger Cunningham last week.
Versatile Simon Lambert was also cut from Cunningham’s squad, and has since accused the former Cork goalkeeper of “disrespect”.
Nolan has now given his version of events and while insisting that he’s not in any way bitter about the decision, he described the move as “puzzling.”
St Brigid’s clubman Nolan said: “When Ger was first appointed, I was looking forward to working with a man of such goalkeeping experience.
“I played the entire National League campaign in 2015, and also in the two Leinster championship games against Galway, but lost my place after that.
“I played no further part in the championship but did make the recent trip to Boston for the Fenway Hurling Classic against Galway.
“On that matter, I wish to clarify that this decision to let me go is not related in any way to disciplinary matters arising from that game, as Ger probably had made up his mind that I was surplus to requirements before the trip to the US.
I’m also disappointed that my name was singled out in the media from the 22 players involved in the so-called Boston brawl.
“However, what’s even more disappointing was learning that I will not be involved with the Dublin team next year.
“I’m more annoyed than anything else. I understand that panels change, that’s part of hurling.
“I’m not the first person to be dropped and I won’t be the last.
“But having given ten years of service to the Dublin team, it all to be undone like this is frustrating.
“I made my debut in 2006 but had to work desperately hard to break into the championship team.
“When I did, I derived huge personal satisfaction from the season I had in 2014, when I got the chance to express myself.
“Being nominated for an Allstar was a lovely bonus at the end of the year and I was eager to build on that progress.
I felt I did well this year but to be now be cut adrift, essentially going from number 1 to nowhere, has come as a huge blow and I find it puzzling.”
Gary Maguire reclaimed his place in goal following Dublin’s heavy defeat to Galway and now looks set to be reinstated as the long term number one.
With Conor Dooley, who can also play outfield, on board as back-up, Nolan has been left out in the cold.
Nolan added: “Ger told me that I didn’t take being dropped after the Galway replay too well.
“I said ‘Ger, I was seven years waiting to get my game and now this happens. I think anybody in my position would have felt exactly the same.’
“Naturally, it was disappointing to lose my place but I continued to work hard in training and endeavoured to push Gary as hard as I possibly could to ensure that he was in peak condition for the games against Laois, Limerick and Waterford.
I’m only human. I was working so hard for those seven years to get my chance and then suddenly it was taken away from me again.
“But my next challenge is to keep my head down, work hard and try to make my way back into the squad, in time.”
Unfortunately so are the 3 other semi-finalists!!
@John O Reilly: I love how they’re getting carried away like they’ve won the UCl already
@Scorpionvenomm: who is exactly ?
Ive seen plenty of confidence in this semi final…and undoubtedly the nutter brigade that think the club will win evrytbing (like all clubs have) but overall I wouldnt agree with your tribalist bullsh!t at all.
@Colin Ahern: it’s our year lol
@Scorpionvenomm: who is your team playing the semis?
@John O Reilly: This, I believe, will be Liverpool’s toughest opponent of all the semi finalists.
Probably the worst team to have won the champions league that Rafa Benitez side. He never get enough credit for that.
@Gary O’Hanlon: thats a fact
@Gary O’Hanlon: very true. It is hard to believe that Djimi Traore and Vladamir Smicer have Champions League medals. Even Jerzy Dudek is still wondering how it happened.
@Inanimate Carbon Rod: when you look at that Milan team too. Dida, Maldini, Cafu, Nesta, Stam, Pirlo, Gattuso, Seedorf, Kaka, Shevchenko, Crespo and some decent quality on the bench too. Insane, when you really think about it. I was at the final in 2005 the best sign I saw was “who needs Maldini when we’ve got Djimi” kinda summed up the difference between the teams.
@hyippy: the best players don’t win the CL, the best team does.
@KingBen: They also beat one the greatest Juventus sides of all time in that semi lest ye all bitter b’stards forget.
@KingBen: no shoot Sherlock
@Sean: seriously Sean, glad you agree. Now comment on the ‘shoot’ comment above mine.
Fantastic run in the champions league and outstanding players,,especially mo salah but the sad thing about it is man United will still win more trophys this year than the pool..
@Noel O Mahony: Hope the pitch isn’t too dry for them.
@Paul Furey: sure it was fine when they were two up. Classless Klopp the flop saying they’ll play on it in the championship. Imagine Jose saying that.
@Scorpionvenomm: klopp the flop ? Righteo … Taxi for this lad with the chip on his shoulder
@Colin Ahern: what has he won with Liverpool? And the money he has spent
@Scorpionvenomm: he’s only had 2 full seasons at the helm. How may trophies did the Fergie win in the same time period? Zero.
@Noel O Mahony: whens the parade for the second place trophy? Did I miss it?
@Scorpionvenomm: money spent. I want to see your face when you see the net spend for klopp at liverpool :) 34million surplus. Liverpool have done an arsenal since klopp came. Balanced the books got a great team playing nice football and stadium expansion to compete again
@Scorpionvenomm: He says stuff like that all the time
No doubt about it this is one of the strongest sides Liverpool have had in years. This Roma team won’t be any walkover either. Should be a cracking game.
Handy one for Roma tonight
That’s them jinxed so
Where were you in Istanbul?
Get out of our club
@Ollie Watson: does it still hurt that he won pl with man u
@Ac: With only 3 ever, 60+ years including Ferguson era, MU European success is scant. Nottingham F won 2 and retained it, and this over just a 5 year period of dominance. Given their resources this is a far greater footballing level of achievement.
@Nick Leone: nottingham forest and yourselves apart from 2005 won the European cup when just league winners played so considerably easier to win
@Ac: straight knockout easier to win?? Stop making excuses for Utd being unable to win more in europe during their golden period
@Sam Beckett: straight knockout with less top teams to beat along the way hence two of your final wins were club brugge and borussia monchegladbach hardly powerhouses of europe
@Ac: OK so you claim it’s harder now than it was then. United made 3 finals in the last 15 years. Liverpool are heading for their 3rd in the last 15 years. Add that to the “easier” accomplishments of before Liverpool are still far more successful in Europe than United
@hyippy: When, Back in the stone age??
@Ac: showing your stupidity again I see. Was far harder to win then
@Sam Beckett: I’d say English clubs would of won more if Liverpool didn’t get us all banned from Europe in 1985
@Carl Johnson: definitely easier to win then when half top teams in europe not playing in it
@Scorpionvenomm: we’re not allowed talk about that for some reason thats airbrushed out of history
@Ac: ‘… considerable easier to win …’, same rules apply to all for any given era. should have been no problem to MU and their resources.
@Ac: borussia monchengladbach had half the West German WC winning team 1974. What ever the era the best players and clubs were in the latter stages of European competitions. Where else would they have been? Every countries best club was involved, if they were knocked out that’s because the team that beat them were better.
Of course might MU weren’t involved, that’s because they weren’t mightily – just thought them selves as.
Except Liability Lovern
@Stevie Doran: Lovern made 1 mistake, he was very good v MC. Roma pen was unlucky. This is not a major defense issue. LFC now bookies favorites to win CL. BM would be harder than RM because they can defend and grab a goal. RM over the hill. Ron’s last stand.