Captain Mark Craig from Dungiven branded the Derry GAA County board's treatment of the squad a "disgrace", while Banagher's Oisin McCloskey accused it of treating hurling as a "joke".

"It makes us feel like second class citizens," said Craig.

McCloskey said he has forked out £200 for his own sticks while the squad recently travelled to Mullingar by bus on the morning of the Christy Ring Cup semi-final.

To top it off, last week, the County Board reportedly refused to fund an overnight stay for the team in Mullingar. Players endured a five-hour bus journey on the morning of the All-Ireland Under-21 hurling championship match against Tipperary, leaving Derry on Saturday at 7.30am and driving five hours for the 2.30pm game which Oisin McCloskey branded a "disgrace".

Team-mate Mark Craig said: "It's not much preparation for an All Ireland semi-final."

U21 hurling manager Brian McGilligan is "fuming".

"People think I'm anti-football, but that's wrong. I'm as much a Derry football man as I am a hurler. I don't care if the footballers get £10 million; fair dues to them, but why is the Board making a difference between football and hurling?" he asked.

The GAA star, who took on the managerial role voluntarily, said, "Nobody is speaking up for us. If something is wrong I am going to speak out."

The former Derry midfielder said he wants equality for hurling, where county players do not have to line out in club jerseys, or use cheap balls that when they get wet "are like hitting a brick", or use cheap hurls that "aren't even good for firewood".

"I have asked how much money has been spent on hurling and what is it being spent on, but to date I haven't received anything," he told the 'Journal'.

McGilligan said he has no plans to quit as manager as he has "done nothing wrong".

Derry County Board chairman Seamus McCloy told the 'Journal' he had no comment other than that he did not carry out his business through newspapers.