Limerick hurling boss Justin McCarthy has been heavily criticised by former star player Ollie Moran, following his purge of the county panel which has seen twelve players, some of them very high-profile, cut from the 2009 squad.
Stephen Lucey, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Donie Ryan, Mike O'Brien, Mark O'Riordan and Moran's brother Niall are among those shown the door.
McCarthy explained his actions by saying that "To be successful in any walk of life one has to be very disciplined and of course there are always side attractions[...]we weren't fooled by people who stepped out of line last year[...]we have to have a better code of discipline, players have to be honest with themselves, fellow players and management."
Moran has reacted furiously to the move and is aghast at how the commitment of some players has been questioned.
"I'm seething and shocked at the insinuation that these guys lacked commitment," he blasted in the Irish Examiner. "Stephen Lucey, a doctor, look at all the sacrifices he made last year to play both hurling and football, and all the while doing extra courses at the weekend in medicine.
"Andrew O'Shaughnessy, Donie Ryan, Mike O'Brien, non-drinkers the three of them, dedicated to hurling all their lives. Mark O'Riordan and Niall - these guys barely take a drink, they live for hurling.
"To infer now that they were lacking in commitment, that they are somehow dishonest, distracted, broke a code of discipline, really rankles."