Donal Óg Cusack among the names linked to take over Cork U20s as Pat Ryan steps down
Donal Óg Cusack was the Cork minor manager in 2020. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Donal O’Mahony and Noel Furlong are the frontrunners to succeed Pat Ryan as Cork U20 hurling manager, with Donal Óg Cusack's name also in the mix for the defending All-Ireland champions at the grade.
It was confirmed earlier today that Ryan, having completed the two-year term he was given when appointed in October of 2019, had stepped down as the team's manager.
O’Mahony served as coach in Ryan’s backroom team for the past two seasons and it is understood that he is the leading contender to take the reins for the 2022 season. O’Mahony was also on the sideline with John Meyler during the latter’s two-year tenure as Cork senior manager Also in the mix is outgoing Cork minor manager Furlong. The Carrigtwohill clubman has completed his one-year term as county minor boss and while there was speculation that he might be granted a second year in the job off the back of this summer’s All-Ireland winning campaign, Cork GAA today announced that the post of minor manager also requires filling.
Having served as Cork minor boss last year, former Cusack is another to be linked with the U20 gig.
Cork senior camogie manager Paudie Murray is the favourite to succeed Furlong as Cork minor hurling manager. Murray was U16 hurling development squad coordinator this year and so is expected to transition to minor manager for the 2022 season. 2021 represented his 10th year at the helm of the county camogie side, with Cork narrowly losing out to Galway in last month’s All-Ireland decider.
The process to appoint successors at both minor and U20 is “well underway”, according to a Cork GAA statement, with announcements to follow in the near future.
At this evening's Cork County Board meeting, chairman Marc Sheehan and secretary Kevin O’Donovan thanked Ryan, Furlong, and their respective backroom teams for their “skilled stewardship” of the U20 and minor groups.
Furlong steered the county to a first All-Ireland final win at the minor grade in 20 years, while Ryan delivered back-to-back All-Ireland U20 titles in the space of 39 days this summer.
“They were great choices to lead those teams, we thank them very much for their contribution, and we look forward to their returning to the fold again in the not too distant future,” said Sheehan.
The latter sentiment was echoed by O’Donovan, who added: “I am looking forward to the return of both managers to the inter-county sideline in the future, as well as many of their backroom members. They are just stepping off the pitch for the moment. I expect to see them back soon.” The county chairman said there was no update to provide with regard to the vacant senior football post, which will be filled ahead of the November board meeting. Interviews to succeed Ronan McCarthy began on Monday.
Elsewhere during this evening's meeting, Sheehan expressed “regret” at the decision of Cork City Council to refuse planning permission for a revamp of Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
“We are reviewing that decision, in conjunction with our planning advisors. We will come to a way forward on that decision in the not too distant future.” The proposed revamp included plans to build car parks on two parcels of publicly-owned land in an area identified to be part of the new linear Marina Park amenity.
The restoration of the GAA’s player injury benefit fund, which was modified for the 2021 season because of forecast losses by Croke Park, was tabled by Kilworth’s Liam Kenny, with Cork Central Council delegate Tracey Kennedy to raise the issue at the next meeting of Central Council.
A special meeting of Cork County Board will take place on Tuesday, October 19 to discuss the motions that will go before Special Congress later that week and to decide how Cork will vote on each. This year’s annual convention, meanwhile, will take place at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday, December 4.
Divisions were told during the meeting that their junior championships must conclude no later than the end of October. Cork’s county champions in senior and intermediate football will have byes to the semi-finals of the Munster club championship, providing Cork fixture-makers with an extra weekend in which to complete both county championships.
Cork GAA commercial director Sinéad O’Keeffe outlined to delegates the Páirc Uí Chaoimh premium ticket club offer, with 10-year tickets available to clubs at €4,000 a seat.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
