Cork selector Bowen takes reins at Erin’s Own

MARTIN BOWEN was last night appointed Erin’s Own senior hurling manager for 2009 at the club’s AGM, casting doubt over his continued involvement as a Cork senior hurling selector.

Bowen has been involved as a Cork senior hurling selector for the past two seasons but his latest appointment means it is difficult to see him being able to combine both roles for the 2009 championship.

Speculation is continuing over the future of Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy, with the topic not featuring at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Cork County Board. The matter now looks like being resolved at the next board meeting on October 21, but if McCarthy is reappointed it now looks certain he will be a searching for a new selector.

Bowen returns to the job that he held in 2006 when Erin’s Own lifted the Cork SHC title after a gap of 14 years. They also came close to Munster club success that season but were defeated by Tipperary outfit Toomevara in the final by a point.

Bowen succeeds outgoing boss PJ Murphy, who did not go forward last night.

Murphy held the position for the last two years and guided Erin’s Own to retain their county title last year, before a weakened side bowed out at the semi-final stage of this year’s championship against Bride Rovers.