McCarthy ratification could spark fresh row

Cork manager Gerald McCarthy

Cork hurling boss Gerald McCarthy and his football counterpart Conor Counihan have been given the green light to continue in their roles for another two years.

But despite being given a ringing endorsement to stay on by county board delegates who voted 88-6 in favour of retaining his services, it’s understood that not all the Cork players are happy with McCarthy’s reappointment.

It has emerged that the two Cork hurlers on the seven-man selection committee - Donal Og Cusack and John Gardiner - did not vote on the nomination of McCarthy due to what they perceived as serious problems with the appointment process, while up to 10 panel members met with the manager at the Imperial Hotel yesterday to appraise him of their views and concerns.

McCarthy is the first Cork hurling manager to be appointed under the terms of the peace deal brokered in February by Labour Relations Commission chairman Kieran Mulvey following the Cork players’ strike last winter. Mulvey recommended that a seven-man committee be appointed in hurling and football, consisting of five county board members and two current players, to come up with the new manager for each code.

However, it’s understood that dissatisfaction with the procedures involved in the committee’s deliberations was a major issue in the players’ reluctance to vote. Because the vote was decided by a straight majority, the committee proceeded to recommend that McCarthy continue as manager, but it is unclear whether the absence of a full vote places a question mark over the committee’s recommendation.

The appointment is bound to lead to fresh tensions in the county, but under the terms of last winter’s agreement, the players cannot go on strike, which may leave some with little option but to walk away from inter-county hurling.

McCarthy is already on the lookout for backroom staff with the departure of Martin Bowen to take over as manager at his club, Erin’s Own, and the resignation on Monday of team trainer Jerry Wallis. With Sarsfields winning the senior hurling championship, it is possible that Teddy McCarthy could replace Bowen - McCarthy was a Cork football selector briefly under Teddy Holland earlier this year.

Meanwhile, Conor Counihan was reappointed football manager after an impressive first season in charge and will once again be assisted by selectors Ger O’Sullivan, Peadar Healy, Terry O’Neill and Jim Nolan.