Walsh adds McManus and Burke to backroom team

CORK hurling boss Denis Walsh has finalised his backroom setup for the 2010 campaign by enlisting the services of former Munster rugby fitness coach Mark McManus and former Cork minor physical trainer Donal Burke.

McManus, who apart from his Munster rugby experience, has recently been involved with Cork senior hurling outfit Erin’s Own and Cork underage development squads, will fill the role of strength and conditioning coach. Castlemartyr native Burke, who was a teammate of Walsh’s in the Imokilly side that reached the 1987 county football final, will be the team’s physical trainer.

“I believe they’ll be major additions to the backroom team,” stated Walsh. “Mark will be starting out by putting in place individual strength and conditioning programmes from November 1. I would also like to put on record my appreciation of the work that Jerry Wallace did for us this year and for all the work that he has put in with Cork over the past number of years.”

GAA guidelines concerning burnout mean Cork will be unable to start collective training until January 1, but Walsh and his selectors will continue to monitor the performance of players in club championship games over the next few weeks. Despite uncertainty over the future of some of Cork’s experienced players after the All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Galway in July, there have been no retirement announcements yet.

Meanwhile it was revealed at last night’s Cork County Board meeting that a new Central Council and Munster Council delegate will have to be elected at Cork’s County Board Convention at the end of the year. Under the GAA’s five-year term of office, both Bob Honohan, current Central Council delegate, and board secretary Frank Murphy, current Munster Council delegate, will be ineligible to go forward for re-election. There were also widespread tributes to the late Din Joe Buckley, the last surviving member of Cork’s four-in-a-row team in the 1940s, of Glen Rovers who died last week.

Evening Echo Cork County Championships Programme:

October 17: JAFC semi-final: Glanworth v Whites Cross, Rathcormac, 3.30pm; quarter-final: Blarney v St Mary’s, Cloughduv, 4pm.

U21HC quarter-finals: Bandon v Newtownshandrum, Páirc Ui Chaoimh, 2.30pm; Glen Rovers v Sarsfields, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.

October 18: PIFC final: Valley Rovers v Clyda Rovers, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.

JAHC semi-final: Fermoy v Ballinhassig, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.15pm; quarter-final replay: Castlemartyr v Nemo Rangers, Cobh, 4pm.

JAFC quarter-final replay: Ballygarvan v Kanturk, Mallow, 3.30pm;

October 24: U21HC semi-final: Bandon/Newtownshandrum v Ballinhassig, Venue TBC, 3.30pm; quarter-final: Inniscarra v Duhallow, Coachford, 3.30pm.

October 25: JAHC semi-final: Castlemartyr/Nemo Rangers v Cloughduv, Venue and Time TBC.

JAFC semi-final: Ballygarvan/Kanturk v St Mary’s/Blarney, Venue and Time TBC.

October 31: JAFC final: Whites Cross/Glanworth v Ballygarvan/Kanturk/St Mary’s/Blarney, Páirc Uí Rinn, 8pm

November 1: JAHC final: Castlemartyr/Nemo Rangers/Cloughduv v Fermoy/Ballinhassig, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4pm.

U21HC semi-final: Sarsfields/Glen Rovers v Inniscarra/Duhallow, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 2.15pm.

November 8: U21HC final: Páirc Uí Rinn, 3.30pm.