Three-man committee close to nominating new Cork boss

GAELIC GAMES:EFFORTS BY the Cork County Board to distance themselves from the recent senior hurling crisis aren't proving particularly successful.

While a motion of no confidence in the county executive was rejected at Tuesday’s county board meeting, a poll published in yesterday’s Irish Examiner suggested 41 per cent of the Cork public believe the board executive contributed most to the crisis.

In the meantime, however, the county executive isn’t involved in the appointment of the new senior hurling manager, a recommendation on which is expected in the coming days. Several candidates have emerged, fronted by former All-Ireland winning captain Tomas Mulcahy, former star Denis Walsh, and former goalkeeper Ger Cunningham.

Interim manager John Considine only agreed to take the job through to this Sunday’s league meeting with Limerick, with the full-time manager scheduled to be in place by the following game against Kilkenny, on April 5th – although it remains to be seen if that schedule is maintained.

It was agreed that the new manager would be appointed by a three-man committee, to be commissioned by GAA president Nickey Brennan, incoming president Christy Cooney, and director general Páraic Duffy – and this resulted in the former county stars Jimmy Barry-Murphy, John Fenton and Denis Coughlan being handed that task.

Duffy met with the trio yesterday to consult on their progress and it now appears their recommendation for the Cork county executive is imminent, once agreement is reached with their preferred candidate.

The Irish Examiner poll puts added pressure on the county executive to get the right man through without any further controversy. The RED C poll, involving 500 people, revealed that while 41 per cent believed the board executive had contributed most to the crisis, only 15 per cent blamed Gerald McCarthy, and 14 per cent the striking 2008 hurlers.

The poll also suggested that 18 per cent believe that county secretary Frank Murphy’s resignation or retirement is the best way of avoiding another crisis in the future. Also, 12 per cent called for better transparency and open discussion in the board processes, and 11 per cent believed the entire board executive should step down.

Less than one in three believed there wouldn’t be any further player strikes in the foreseeable future, with a worrying 60 per cent believing there are more problems down the road. A similar 68 per cent of those polled believed the delegates who attend twice monthly meetings are not properly representing the views of their clubs and divisions.

Also, 34 per cent of respondents said the crises of recent years have lessened their interest in the inter-county fortunes of Cork hurling.

Elsewhere, nine players from the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland club title-winning side were invited to attend last night’s Dublin senior football training.

Of those, Darren Magee, Paul Griffin, Cian O’Sullivan, Kevin Nolan, Mark Vaughan, Mark Davoren, Pat Burke and Liam Óg Ó hEineacháin would all appear to be in contention for a place on the panel, although Rory O’Carroll, who was also given the invitation, has already committed to the hurling panel and is unlikely therefore to pursue his football interests at this stage.

Dublin football manager Pat Gilroy will later today announce his team to play Kerry in Parnell Park on Sunday.