The old master for a new era

IF YOU thought Cork would never appoint a new senior hurling manager, blame Gerald McCarthy’s travel plans. He explains to Michael Moynihan how he changed his mind about managing Cork – and how he’s looking forward to meeting his old adversary Ger Loughnane on the sidelines.

GERALD McCARTHY pours his tea and sits back for interrogation. The new manager of the Cork senior hurling team, McCarthy brings an impressive CV to the table: five All-Ireland medals — one as a 21-year-old captain. Cork coach. Waterford manager.

Yet coming up to Christmas, there was some uncertainty in Cork: was Gerald interested in managing the hurlers or wasn’t he? Rumours fizzed both ways on Leeside. When he’d finished coaching Waterford in 2001, McCarthy had thought about Cork, but when it became a possibility he had to take some time to consider what that involved. The loose talk was fuelled by his holiday plans.