Morgan not sole Cork contender

Gaelic Games Managerial moves: The Cork County Board are remaining tight-lipped about who they have targeted to replace Larry Tompkins as senior football manager.

Billy Morgan remains the leading contender to return for a second term in charge, but the final candidate won't be announced before the board meeting next Tuesday evening.

Several other names have being linked with the position, most notably former Cork player Conor Counihan, and yesterday county chairman Jim Forbes admitted the list of candidates should not be limited to Morgan.

"There are a number of names still in circulation," said Forbes, "so I'm not in a position to comment on who is definitely ruled in or out at this stage. We do hope to be in a position to present the final candidate to the county board delegates for ratification on Tuesday. But of course we may not make that deadline."

A seven-man committee was established in Cork to choose a senior football manager, and they will come back on Tuesday with one name only.

Earlier this week Tompkins formally announced he wouldn't be seeking an eighth term in charge, meaning that whoever goes before the board of delegates for ratification will mark a new era for Cork football - or, in the case of Morgan, an era revisited.

"Normally these nominations are passed unanimously," added Forbes. "We are eager to get it out of the way as soon as possible, and move the thoughts back to the playing field again."

Tompkins had held the position since 1996, during which time he guided Cork to two Munster titles, one All-Ireland final, and a National League title. But the disappointing shows against Limerick and Roscommon this year helped bring that reign to an unceremonious end.

The chances of Morgan returning to the position were increased with county board moves to allow the next football manager choose his selectors.

While Cork hurling manager Donal O'Grady has yet to confirm his intentions for next year, Forbes made it clear he had another 12 months in the position - if he so desired.

"Every hurling manager in Cork is appointed for two years," said Forbes. "We haven't sat down face to face with Donal yet but he is aware the position is there for him and his selectors for another year."

It has been confirmed in Kerry, meanwhile, that the county board meeting to decide their next football manager has been brought forward to Monday week, October 20th.

Originally set for a week later, the meeting was brought forward because county chairman Seán Walsh will be away on business on the later date.

Walsh is heading the search for a successor to Páidí Ó Sé along with county secretary Eamonn O'Sullivan and vice-chairman Jerome Conway, and while under-21 manager Jack O'Connor is widely perceived to be the top candidate, he has yet to publicly state his interest in the position.

Westmeath are still in the process of finalising their football manager for next season, with Ballymahon manager Dessie Dolan still the leading candidate to take over from Luke Dempsey.

In Fermanagh next week's county board meeting will decide whether Dominic Corrigan will remain in charge for a third year. With team trainer Martin McElkennon already moving south to work with new Cavan manager Eamonn Coleman, Corrigan has yet to formally commit to another year.

Dublin senior manager Tommy Lyons, meanwhile, is resigned to being without forward Alan Brogan for the early stages of next year's National League. Brogan, who last Saturday captained Dublin to their first All-Ireland under-21 title, has left for Australia having recently finished college and will be there until March.

Meanwhile, TG4 and Adare Productions have announced details of their new reality series entitled Underdogs, with the first of the nine weekly episodes going out on Sunday evening (8.20).

The series will cover the preparations of the squad of 24 players chosen in trials for a live showdown against a Dublin county selection in Parnell Park on December 14th. Players from 12 counties have made the final cut (including one from Kilkenny), none of whom have represented their county in football beyond under-16 level. They'll be trained by former Dublin footballer Brian Mullins, former Kerry manager Mickey O'Sullivan, and Jarlath Burns, former captain of Armagh.