Morgan making a fresh start

BILLY MORGAN is facing up to the reality of life as Cork football manager, readily acknowledging it's a very different scenario compared to his previous involvement.

Morgan's Cork side of the late 80's remain the last team to win All-Ireland titles back to back, 1989 and 1990, but that outfit was backboned by a hard core of successful minors and U21s. This time around the Leesiders aren't even kings of their own province; All-Ireland champions Kerry were pushed hardest last season by Limerick, not Cork.

Still, Cork were boosted by the first round Allianz NFL win over Kerry last week, and Morgan now has a better idea of what's required to make the team more competitive.

Morgan describes the win over Kerry as a good one but important only for the confidence of the new players.

"Two years ago we beat Kerry in the opening round (when Larry Tompkins was in charge), but we didn't win a championship match after that. In the summer we lost to Limerick and Roscommon.

"It was great to win, but we have got to keep our feet on the ground and be realistic. We have got to keep improving because we know Kerry are going to be a much tougher outfit come the summer.

"Last year when I took over, I felt we had to give the fellows who were there a chance. This year, you nearly had to break the team up and start afresh and we have done that with a lot of new young players. And they're good young players. Then again, playing against Kerry for the first time, you just didn't know how they were going to react, but in fairness, they knuckled down, worked hard and finished well.''

While the Cork boss says failure to build on the Kerry performance will see his charges "going back to square one," he acknowledges tomorrow's game against Westmeath won't be easy by any means.

"They're no easy pickings any more. In fact I'd say they would probably be favourites in their own pitch,'' said Morgan.

In Pairc Uí Rinn last year, a late goal from Padraig Griffin earned Cork a draw in Paidí Ó Sé's first game in charge of Westmeath.

Morgan's obvious priority in the league is to come up with a settled team by the end of the competition, but that can only be achieved when the management have a full panel to choose from. Graham Canty, arguably the team's most accomplished footballer - but yet to perform with the consistency which has been the hallmark of all his appearances in the International Rules series - is again ruled out for this game. However, Morgan is hopeful he will be available for the third round tie against Mayo at the beginning of March.

"We haven't yet decided where he's best suited," admitted the Cork coach. "A lot will depend on what's happening and what positions need strengthening. One thing we want to do is knit him down to one position, so that he's not hopping from pillar to post as he was last year.''

Derek Kavanagh, the one player to stand out in last season's championship defeat by Kerry, started at full-back last Friday night but is now at midfield, with clubmate Martin Cronin at full-back.

"In my opinion, you can play Derek anywhere down the middle - full-back, centre-back, centre-field - and even centre-forward.

"By the time the League is over, we want a settled team and people settled into positions. Last year we played Martin Cronin at full-back in a few games and he did very well. He never played a full game and never started there, but quite recently against UCC we put him back and he showed great form.

"Whether that'll be a permanent thing or not, it's too early to say!''