Joe Carroll steps down as Cork senior ladies football manager

Carroll’s two-year term came to an end after Cork lost out to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Departing Cork manager Joe Carroll. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork senior ladies football manager Joe Carroll has confirmed that he is not going forward for a second term in charge of the side.

Carroll’s two-year term came to an end after Cork lost out to Dublin in the TG4 All-Ireland quarter-final several weeks ago.

As is normal with Cork LGFA, when a term of office comes to an end for any inter-county position, they send out for expressions of interest for the role.

The deadline to apply closed last Thursday, at 5pm, and Carroll has opted not to put his name up for consideration.

Carroll took over two years ago, just after Cork were relegated from Division One of the Lidl National Football League.

In his first year in charge, he ensured they were promoted back to the top flight, losing out to Galway in the league final, but both sides went up.

This season he brought silverware back to Leeside when they defeated Galway, who went on to win the All-Ireland championship, in the Division One league final.

That turnaround in such a short space of time has put Cork football back in a good position, and he will be a tough act to follow.

When contacted about the position, Carroll who is currently on holidays, said that he has decided not to put his name forward and would not be making further comment on the matter at this point.

With Carroll now out of the running, attention turns to who will succeed him.

There are several names being mentioned as his possible successor.

Among them is Tomás Mac an tSaoir, who has managed Waterford for the last two years. He was also a coach with the Cork team before that, when Shane Ronayne was the manager of the Rebel side.

Others that are expected to be in the mix include Pat Sullivan, who managed Waterford to All-Ireland intermediate glory, and he would know the Cork players well. Noel O'Connor, Inch Rovers, was involved with Sullivan, and he would be another in the mix for the job.

Brian Leamy, the Senior B manager, is another thought to be in the running, as is Bertie Smith, who masterminded Aghada’s club championship success over the last two years.

Former Cork senior men’s manager Ronan McCarthy, who has been involved with the Mourneabbey women’s side for the last few seasons, is another in the running.

Cork LGFA will consider their options in the coming weeks and also have reserved the right to approach potential managers that may not have applied for the position and who they might be interested in asking to take on the position.