Walsh waits as board decide next boss

THE first steps in the process to select the next Cork senior hurling manager will be taken at tonight’s county board meeting in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Denis Walsh’s three-year term of office as county boss came to an end after last Saturday week’s All-Ireland qualifier defeat to Galway in the Gaelic Grounds. The St Catherine’s man is still in the frame to be reappointed but the board may opt for a new manager.

The county board executive are expected to ask delegates for submissions on how the process to appoint the next manager will be conducted.

The next meeting of the Cork County Board is scheduled for August 16 and after there will not be another meeting until September 6.

Further developments on the search for the county’s next minor hurling manager are also likely to be dealt with at tonight’s meeting.

Meanwhile Cork footballer Aidan Walsh has revealed the prospect of an experience like last Friday night’s Bord Gáis Energy Munster U21HC semi-final victory over Tipperary fuelled his desire to line out for the county U21 hurlers side this year.

Walsh missed last season’s U21 campaign but returned for the clash in Semple Stadium. He produced a sparkling display at wing-forward and made his first appearance at the grade since Cork’s 2009 quarter-final loss to Tipperary.

“I’ve always loved hurling and I was disappointed that I didn’t get to play last year,” he said.

“So I was just delighted to get the opportunity to play in a game like Friday night. It was unreal. It doesn’t get any better than to win a championship game in Semple Stadium, when you’re playing Tipperary in their own backyard and it’s against all the odds. But it’s no good just winning one game. We’re in a Munster final now and a bit of silverware is what Cork hurling really needs now. So we need to drive on.”

Walsh faces a hectic schedule in the coming weeks, starting with Cork’s All-Ireland SFC round four qualifier against Down next Saturday. If Cork triumph in that repeat of last September’s All-Ireland decider, then they will face a quarter-final tie on the weekend of July 30 to August 1 and Walsh would subsequently be preparing for a provincial U21 final meeting with Clare or Limerick on Wednesday, August 3. But the Kanturk man insists he is relishing the frenzied programme of games.

“It’s a nice complaint. I probably won’t be saying that at the end of it as it’ll be a couple of tough games close together and that’ll tell on the body. But when you’re winning, it’s a lot easier to be getting up for these games and it’s a great time of the year to be stuck in championship action.”

Cork U21 boss Ger Fitzgerald described it “as a privilege” to be able to utilise Walsh’s talents and expressed his hope the player will emerge unscathed from the schedule he faces over the next few weeks.

“He’s a colossal man and we are just privileged to have him on the field. He’s a gifted hurler and we are just glad that he got an opportunity to show his wares. Fingers crossed that he’ll be okay for the final as he has a hectic schedule coming up.”