Former Laois hurler Niall Rigney says the players who broke the rules should get down on bended knee and beg Cheddar Plunket to reconsider his decision to quit as hurling manager.

There was widespread shock in the O'Moore County yesterday when news of Plunkett's resignation broke.

A statement from the County Board cited "personal reasons" but the fact that two of his players lined out for their club in a challenge match on Monday night didn't help matters.

"I spoke to a former teammate of mine this morning about it. He said, 'It's like the old days again, we're getting bad press'," Rigney remarked to The Irish Daily Mirror.

"When there's nothing else going on Laois are in the papers for the wrong reasons.

"Just because one or two guys go off and play a game, they didn't go off socialising or acting the hell or breaking loose or doing anything really wrong.

"They played a game of hurling for their clubs, albeit they shouldn't have if they were requested not to by the management but that should never tar the full panel because 95% of those lads have just been tremendous with the effort that's been given for the last three years.

"If I was Gerry Kavanagh, the chairman of the Laois county board, I'd be just pleading with the man to get him back in there.

"If I was those players I'd be on my knees in front of Cheddar begging him, 'I'm so sorry for what I did but please stay. Don't go ... we need you'.

"The county does need him, he's a tremendous bloke. He's fantastic for what he has done.

"He's after putting in an incredible amount of time and some of his own expense too it must be added and for this to happen it's just hugely disappointing."

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