Cork appoint Morgan as football manager

Despite widespread rumours to the contrary, Billy Morgan has been named as the new manager of the Cork senior football team. Speculation had been mounting that former player Conor Counihan would be elevated to the position ahead of him.

However, the seven-man committee assigned to select a replacement for Larry Tompkins named Morgan as their choice and the county delegates duly ratified their recommendation last night.

It is the second time in the football hot seat for Morgan and he will endeavour again to bring the kind of success that Cork experienced when he was last in the role, between 1986-1996.

During that period he won back-to-back All-Ireland's in 1989-90, seven Munster titles and a national league crown in 1989. His continued success as manager of Nemo Rangers, which included winning the All-Ireland club championship this year, made him the favourite for the position.

The rumour regarding the return of Tompkins to the management team, as a selector, is unconfirmed. A new ruling in the county now allows Morgan to choose the management team.

However, one selector can still be nominated by the county champions, which, ironically, for the first season in quite some time will not be Nemo, as Na Piarsaigh knocked them out of the championship in the early rounds.

Either Clonakilty or Castlehaven play for that honour in the county final this Sunday.

Tony Leahy was named as the under-21 football manager while Seán O'Gorman will remain on in the hurling equivalent.

In Limerick, the anticipated appointment of Pad Joe Whelahan, for a two-year term, as hurling manager was widely approved by the county delegates. In a packed meeting the only dissenting voice was Séamus Walsh of the Ahane club.

The board also confirmed Dave Mahedy as the team trainer. Mahedy was previously part of the Limerick management under Tom Ryan in the mid-nineties.

Whelahan was aggrieved last year at being overlooked in favour of Mike McNamara for the manager's role in his native Offaly, especially after guiding Birr to another All-Ireland club title. His reply was to lead the club to a fourth All-Ireland title last March.

He was in the Offaly job for one year, 1989, but defeat by Antrim in the All-Ireland semi-final ensured he wasn't given another term. Yet, this is the only blot in a distinguished copybook. In the last 10 years he has played a massive role in transforming the midlands club into the most feared side in the country.

With his three sons Brian, Barry and Simon all playing a vital role, the levels of success have been incomparable - four All-Irelands, nine county and six Leinster titles since 1991 make them the most successful club side in history.

Whelahan will continue at the helm of Birr until their attempted defence of Leinster and AllIreland titles are complete.

The tangled mess that Limerick hurling found itself in last year will now look to Pad Joe. If he can lift them out of the mire of in-fighting that has denied them the chance to elevate their recent under-21 success onto the senior stage his legend status will be guaranteed on the inter-county scene as well.

The selectors will be named at a later date as Whelahan has asked for an input in this regard.