O’Grady sticks by resignation pledge

ALL-IRELAND winning manager Dónal O’Grady duly opted out yesterday after two years in charge of the Cork team, during which he restored pride and respectability to hurling in the county after the debacle of the player revolt in late 2002 and inspired the county’s 29th championship title last month.

His unwillingness to go forward for a further term had been well signposted in advance of the Croke Park decider against Kilkenny, but people close to the team privately hoped that he would stay on if they were successful.

The name of former Midleton and Cork player Seán O'Brien, coach to the All-Ireland winning intermediate teams of 2001 and 2003, is being touted as a possible successor. But it's conceivable that, in the interest of maintaining continuity, the executive could go for either Seán O'Leary or John Allen from the outgoing management. There have even been suggestions that