Cork County Board chairperson Pat Horgan expects that progress on the appointment of a new senior hurling manager will be made quickly – but he has ruled out the idea of an outside manager getting the job.
On Saturday, Pat Ryan opted against seeking a new term as boss and so the board will now begin the process of finding a successor, with Ben O’Connor and Noel Furlong touted as the favourites.
Horgan feels that Ryan is leaving with his head held high.
“The first thing is that I want to be associated with all the tributes that have been paid to Pat,” he said.
“He’s been an incredible volunteer and he certainly has left Cork hurling in a better place than what he found it.
“The other thing is that the Cork public is mobilised behind his team now. That’s thanks to Pat and the whole group and we have a movement now greater than anything that any GAA team has experienced in recent times.
“Pat and his management team and the backroom and have lifted things to an incredible level and we want to pay tribute to everybody for that. We’re all parting on good terms.”
The next steps will be taken promptly.
“What will happen next is that the management of Cork County Board will meet shortly and they’ll select an appointment committee quickly to fill the vacancy of the Cork senior hurling manager’s position,” Horgan said.
“That committee will report back to the management and a recommendation will be brought to the county committee for approval.”
Ben O’Connor. Picture: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.
The next monthly meeting of Cork County Board is on Tuesday week, September 2. However, Horgan was loath to make a commitment that movement would be so quick as to secure a name by then.
“We wouldn’t be putting any time on that,” he said, “what I would say is that we’d be hopeful that we can bring it to county committee as soon as possible.
“I wouldn’t be saying that we’d definitely have it for Tuesday week but what I would be saying is that they will report back to management and a recommendation will be brought to county committee for approval.
“We’ll be doing that as quickly as possible, but at the same time, it won’t be rushed.”
Noel Furlong. Picture: Dan Linehan
Where there have been external coaches drafted in – Ryan’s coach was Donal O’Rourke from Waterford while Galwayman Kevin Walsh is with the footballers – Cork have never gone outside the county for a manager and Horgan does not envisage that situation changing on this occasion.
“We have plenty of candidates,” he said, “and we will certainly be not looking outside the county boundaries – not a pup’s chance, not on my watch.
“You can take it from me that there are ample candidates within Cork.”