Billy Morgan is emerging as a potential successor to departed Cork football manager Brian Cuthbert.
Morgan, the county’s most successful manager, was in charge for Cork’s only back-to-back All-Ireland football sequence 25 years ago, and returned in the 2000s to lead the county to a Munster title and an All-Ireland final appearance.
The committee charged with appointing a new manager has been delayed in its conclusions by the on-off saga of original favourite John Cleary’s availability.
The only names in the public arena since Cleary’s definitive withdrawal have been Ronan McCarthy, who has been involved in the management of both Cuthbert and Conor Counihan; Ephie Fitzgerald, whose managerial experiences have been with his club Nemo Rangers, Limerick and Clare; and Ned English, whose various club experiences include having managed Limerick club Dromcollogher-Broadford to a remarkable Munster football title in 2008.
Captain
It is believed, however, that the committee have recently also been looking at Morgan and another former Cork manager, 1990 All-Ireland winning captain, Larry Tompkins.
A decision is expected shortly with the appointment expected to be finalised in time for the next county board meeting next Tuesday.
Neighbours and Munster champions Kerry have acted swiftly to replace former trainer Cian O’Neill, who last week was ratified as manager of his home county Kildare. Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice has announced that Pádraig Corcoran will be the team’s new trainer-selector.
From Dingle, Corcoran also trained the Kerry minor team in 2010 and 2011 as a member of Pat O’Driscoll’s management team.
He had been part of the Kerry backroom team since 2012, working closely with the management as strength and conditioning coach. Fitzmaurice has also added former Kerry All-Ireland winning captain Liam Hassett as a selector.
From Laune Rangers in Killorglin, Hassett captained the Kerry team that bridged the gap between Mick O’Dwyer’s last All-Ireland in 1986 and Páidí Ó Sé’s first in 1997.
The first steps in Mayo to fill the highest-profile football vacancy at present will take place next Monday when the situation that saw player discontent force the resignation of joint-managers Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly will be discussed by the county board.
Nominations
“There will be a full county board meeting with everything on the table,” said county PRO Aiden McLaughlin. “The timeframe envisaged is about a week to 10 days which clubs will have to bring forward nominations for the vacancy. A committee will be appointed to oversee the process.”
He said that there was no immediate pressure to fill the position.
Manager of All-Ireland club champions Corofin, Stephen Rochford, remains a front runner. Rochford, from Crossmolina, took Corofin to a third Galway title at the weekend.
The only other senior intercounty football vacancy is in Tipperary and that is due to be filled within the next week, according to county secretary Tim Floyd.
“We had hoped to have it wrapped up by the middle of October or so,” he said.
The vacancy arose when Peter Creedon stepped down after this year’s championship.
Football in the county received some bad news, as it emerged that underage star Colin O’Riordan has signed a two-year international rookie contract with AFL club, Sydney Swans.
