McGurn joins Cork backroom set-up

FORMER Ireland rugby fitness coach Mike McGurn has joined the Cork senior hurling backroom team.

Cork hurling manager Gerald McCarthy confirmed his backroom team yesterday, and it includes former Kerry footballer Aodhan MacGearailt, former Cork minor hurling trainer Martin McSweeney and McGurn.

A native of Enniskillen, Fermanagh, McGurn was with the Irish senior rugby team from 2002 until this year. A former Irish cross-country and 5,000 metre champion, he has previously worked with rugby league clubs St Helens, Leeds, Hull and the Irish team in the Rugby League World Cup in 2000.

MacGearailt starred with An Gaeltacht at club level and as a forward with the Kerry senior team, winning an All-Ireland senior medal in 2000, while Midleton clubman McSweeney took charge of the Cork minor side for the last four seasons.

“I am delighted to announce that Aodhan, Martin and Mike are joining my backroom team,” said McCarthy.

“It’s an exciting time for us and to have three new guys coming on board with their fitness experience can only benefit the squad.

“We all know what Aodhan brings to the equation. He is an All-Ireland winner and he has been working with the new squad.

“Martin will have worked with the majority of the current squad as he was the fitness coach to the Cork minor team for the last four years.

“Mike joining us is a great coup. He is known all over the world for his work with the Irish rugby team and the Ospreys. Already the squad have been given their weight programmes for the coming months.

“I will now turn my attention to finding my final selector. The past few weeks have been taken up finalising my backroom team — now that is done I will turn my attention to finding a new selector and I hope to have that sorted before we start back again next month.”