Cusack in running for Déise job

Former Cork keeper Donal Óg Cusack has emerged as a surprise front-runner to replace Michael Ryan as Waterford senior hurling manager.

Cusack was cut from the Cork senior hurling panel earlier this year and has since become a widely admired analyst on The Sunday Game as well as contributing a regular column on hurling to the GAA’s official website.

Despite his lack of inter-county management or coaching experience the Waterford hurlers, who voted against Ryan continuing as manager of the county, are understood to favour the Cloyne man’s appointment to the Déise hot seat, with the recently retired John Mullane loud in his advocacy of Cusack as the man to take over in Waterford.