Billy Morgan says Peadar Healy was ‘parachuted’ to Cork job

Current Cork football manager Peadar Healy was “parachuted” into the position last October, according to former boss, Billy Morgan.

The Cork football legend, in a wide-ranging interview with the Southern Star, insists Ronan McCarthy and Ephie Fitzgerald were “two very credible candidates” to succeed Brian Cuthbert, but claimed neither were wanted by top-brass.

“Last year, there were three candidates for the job of manager. Ephie Fitzgerald had the best track record and Ronan McCarthy has been through the mill and won the county with Carbery Rangers this season

“ I thought they were two very credible candidates, but they weren’t wanted and Peadar Healy seemed to be parachuted in at the last minute.

“That wasn’t fair on him either,” said the former Cork boss.

Morgan believes the county have “slipped badly back”.

“This year was extremely disappointing. I could give reasons but shouldn’t be saying it in public.

“I do think Cork should bring in an outside coach if they feel there’s nobody in the county up to the task.

“When I see Mayo coming within a whisker of winning the All-Ireland, there’s no reason Cork shouldn’t be there. There was nothing between Cork and Mayo for years, but we seem to have slipped back badly now.

“We’ve slipped back into Division 2 of the league, which mightn’t be the worst thing in the world as we might get back to winning ways again.

“Hopefully, we’ll see the Sam Maguire in Cork again in our lifetime, but it will take a lot of changes and a lot of hard work. Surely, Cork football is worth that effort?

“I’m always available to give a hand. I would do anything for Cork football and if they needed me to help out in any way, I would. But I haven’t been asked.”

He added: “I don’t care what people say, football has always been the poor relation in Cork, still is. You had to fight battles all the time and I make no apology for that.”

The 1973 All-Ireland winning captain, who has looked after UCC’s Sigerson team in recent years, wants more young players given a chance in the red shirt.

“Seven UCC players won an All-Ireland with Kerry two years ago and a lot of them wouldn’t be superior to our own Cork lads.

“I feel Cork didn’t persist with these young players, Sean Kiely being a case in point. Luke Connolly this year, outstanding in the last two Sigerson competitions and on the Cork team, but then completely dropped from the panel of 26 for the Donegal game.

“Luke does things in a game that will frustrate you, but he’s a great player. There was no logic in dropping him. The young players have to be there.

“Cork have dominated the Munster U21 for the past 12 years, with Kerry and Tipp winning only a couple, so the young players must be available in Cork. However, unless we revise a lot of what we are doing, I can’t see Cork winning the All-Ireland in the immediate future, which is heartbreaking.”

Outside of matters Cork, he doesn’t envisage the mark having any impact on the game in 2017.

“The new mark is actually being used in third level leagues at present and it’s not making any difference. Gaelic players don’t stop when they win possession and they forget about the ‘mark.’

“There’s much more hand-passing in the game now rather than kicking, which is a pity, as the art of good kicking is being lost.

“A few years ago, they tried an experiment in the league where you had to kick after so many hand passes and I thought it worked well, but they didn’t pursue it afterwards.”