Technically, there has been a Cork hurling management vacancy for more than a month, but it is only now that the process to appoint a new man will kick into gear.
The three-year term given to Pat Ryan expired at the end of the All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Tipperary on July 20 but, given the success of the Sarsfields man’s reign, he was always going to be given the option to decide as to whether or not to stay on.
That decision was in the balance right up to the weekend, when he opted against the offer from Cork County Board to extend his tenure. It’s possible that the call he made was a surprise to the board, given that a statement thanking him did not appear until late on Saturday night, 12 hours after Ryan had released his own, through Sars.
Ever since Cork’s All-Ireland U20 victory of 2023, Ben O’Connor has been seen as the next in line – a progression seen as all the more likely since Ryan was the man in charge when Cork were successful at that grade in 2020 and 2021. Such a step up comes with built-in familiarity with a chunk of the players involved.
Noel Furlong. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
In addition to that win of two years ago, the Newtownshandrum native enjoyed success with Charleville in the county Premier IHC when it was the second tier and was the coach when Midleton went all the way in the premier senior grade in 2021.
While O’Connor is the favourite, he is not the only name in the mix, with Noel Furlong another who could feature in deliberations.
The current U20 manager, he was in charge when Cork’s 20-year wait for an All-Ireland minor title ended in 2021 and has a good portfolio at club level – he helped Castlelyons to win the 2023 Premier IHC and had guided Russell Rovers to the Lower IHC final of 2020 but had to depart that role for the Cork minor job prior to the decider, which was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
If Furlong were to ascend to the top job, it would of course create another vacancy at U20 level.
Johnny Crowley. Picture: Inpho/James Crombie
Outside of that pair, the candidacy of current Sarsfields manager Johnny Crowley may also be championed. Boss when Sars won the county in 2010 having had under-age success prior to that, he returned to the Riverstown club for 2023 as they regained the Seán Óg Murphy Cup, with former Cork star Diarmuid O’Sullivan instrumental as coach.
While they lost last year’s county final to Imokilly, they bounced back to win the Munster title – the first win by a Cork club since 2009 – and reached the All-Ireland final.