Counihan main rival to Morgan for Cork job

FORMER defender, Conor Counihan has emerged as Billy Morgan’s main rival to replace Larry Tompkins as Cork football manager.

County Board chiefs hope to present their nomination to delegates next Tuesday night, with indications that Counihan could be the surprise choice.

Former coach Morgan has been installed as the favourite to return to the Cork hot-seat for the first time since 1996, but his selection is now far from certain.

A special seven-man committee appointed by the Board has spoken to a number of possible candidates to ascertain their interest, and is unlikely to be pursuing any other contender at this stage.

The committee, headed up by Board chairman Jim Forbes, and including executive officers Frank Murphy, Pearse Murphy and Jim Murphy as well as club representatives Bob Honohan (Bishopstown), Finbarr Hennessy (Dohenys) and Denis Owens from St. Nicks, hope to have an agreed candidate ready for next week’s Board meeting.

Board chiefs have accepted the resignation of outgoing coach Larry Tompkins, who steps down after seven years in charge.

Counihan, who was part of Billy Morgan’s back to back All-Ireland winning teams in 1989 and 1990, was also part of Larry Tompkins’ back room team in their 1999 final defeat to Meath.

He is still involved at club level with Aghada, who caused a major surprise by winning the All-Ireland senior club sevens at Kilmacud last month.

Tompkins admitted yesterday that he had made mistakes during his seven years in charge of Cork, but said he hoped to return to management after a year out.