Rebel chiefs ready to ratify Counihan for next season

CONOR COUNIHAN is to be reappointed as Cork senior football coach at tonight’s Cork County Board meeting.

The Aghada man enjoyed a successful first season in charge of the Rebel footballers, leading Cork to the Munster title following a stirring comeback against Kerry in the provincial final, and taking the Kingdom to an All-Ireland semi-final replay.

Gerald McCarthy is also expected to be reappointed as Cork senior hurling manager tonight.

The mystery surrounding the Donegal County Board’s decision to renege on an offer of the Donegal manager’s job to John Joe Doherty will be explained at tomorrow night’s meeting of the county committee in Ballybofey.

News leaked last week that Brian McIver’s replacements in the Donegal hotseat would be joint-managers Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner. However, it later emerged the pair, who had applied for the post separately before joining forces, were informed of their acceptance after an earlier offer was given and then withdrawn from Doherty.

It is understood 1992 All-Ireland winner Doherty was the first choice of the board and he was telephoned by county board chairman Sean Kelly on Wednesday night to notify him that he would be the name put forward for ratification.

Doherty had a number issues that he wanted to discuss and requested a meeting with the chairman and the committee before he would accept the position. He offered to travel to Ballybofey that night for the meeting.

Fifteen minutes after the initial conversation, which is said to have lasted merely 30 seconds, Kelly called Doherty for a second time and told him the job offer had been withdrawn.

“I will explain in full to the clubs at the county committee meeting what happened and the reason why the offer was withdrawn from John Joe Doherty,” Kelly said. “Also I will explain how Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner became the unanimous preferred choice of the selection committee.

“We were given a job to do by county committee and we have done it to the best of our ability and within the rules and guidelines laid down by the GAA. We will be recommending Charlie Mulgrew and Declan Bonner as joint managers Wednesday night, and I am delighted to say that both men have accepted the job despite what has gone on.”

Last Wednesday’s decision came after two nights of interviews that saw former player Jim McGuinness, Glenswilly boss Francie Martin and former St Eunan’s and Glenfin manager Mickey Houston interviewed as well as Doherty and the Mulgrew/Bonner combination.

The selection committee, headed by the chairman, also included county secretary Charlie O’Donnell, county treasurer Charlie Cannon, vice chairman PJ McGowan and former county player Sean Ferriter.

Meanwhile bookmaking firm Ladbrokes have stopped taking bets on Michael Bond becoming new Galway hurling manager.

Donal McCarthy, Ladbrokes Ireland said: “If Mr Bond is appointed Ladbrokes will be shaken but not stirred!

“The only other likely candidate at this time is Portumna’s bainisteoir, Jimmy Heverin, but Michael Bond started out at evens and following the sacking of Ger Loughnane, we had to suspend the market only 48 hours after it was posted. His team of selectors is a veritable who’s who of Galway hurling legends, so we can see a very positive response to that from the clubs in Galway.

“The Bond ticket has a ‘home grown’ look to it also which is what Galway are looking for this time around.”