FORMER TIPPERARY MANAGER Peter Creedon confirmed exclusively to The42 yesterday that he is not interested in succeeding Brian Cuthbert as Cork senior football team manager.
With Creedon, a native of Roscarbery in west Cork, now out of the running, we run the rule over the other possible contenders for the Leeside post…
1. John Cleary
Former All-Ireland senior football medallist Cleary appears to be the outstanding candidate for the Cork job.
He was interested when Conor Counihan stepped down in 2013 but Cuthbert was appointed instead.
Cleary has worked with many of the current senior players at U21 level and was a selector when Cork won the All-Ireland U21 crown in 2007.
He went on to manage the U21 team to All-Ireland glory in 2009 and after playing a key role as a consultant to Counihan during his tenure, Cleary was involved with his home club Castlehaven when they won the county senior football title in 2013.
2. Ephie Fitzgerald
Former Cork minor boss Fitzgerald was a member of the Clare backroom staff alongside Banner County manager Colm Collins this year.
Prior to his involvement with intercounty teams, Fitzgerald enjoyed a glorious spell in charge of his home club Nemo Rangers.
With Fitzgerald in charge, Nemo won four successive Cork senior football crowns from 2005-2008.
They were also crowned Munster kingpins in 2005 and 2007.
Fitzgerald also enjoyed a spell with the Limerick senior footballers in 2011, serving as coach alongside manager Maurice Horan as the Shannonsiders progressed to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
3. James McCarthy
McCarthy was manager of the Castlehaven team that won the 2012 Cork county senior football title.
He was linked with a return last year but Jim Nolan took charge instead for the 2015 season.
In more recent times, McCarthy has been involved in coaching at underage level in Cork, working alongside Games Development Administrator Kevin O’Donovan in the west of the county.
McCarthy received a full-time GDA contract in November of last year and has been busy passing on his coaching expertise since then.
Over the past number of years, McCarthy has been working hard to produce the Cork stars of tomorrow.
4. Ronan McCarthy
McCarthy left Brian Cuthbert’s backroom team last August, citing work commitments, but returned early this year.
McCarthy played at corner back in the 1999 All-Ireland final and was also a member of the Cork managerial set-up in 2013, when Conor Counihan served his final year at the helm.
McCarthy won two Munster SFC crowns and an Allianz League medal during his playing days.
The Douglas clubman boasts plenty of playing and coaching experience over the past two decades.
And having seen at close hand how previous managers Counihan and Cuthbert operated, he could be ready to stamp his own mark on Cork as manager.
5. Billy Morgan
Surely Morgan cannot be ruled out of the race, given his sterling record?
He’s 70 years of age now but Morgan’s recent successes with the UCC Sigerson Cup teams in 2011 and 2014 indicate that the former playing great can still cut it at the top level of management.
Morgan has already enjoyed two stints as Cork senior football team boss, winning two All-Ireland senior crowns during his first spell in charge.
After returning to the Leeside hotseat, Morgan guided Cork to the 2007 All-Ireland final, where they lost heavily to Kerry.
As a player, former goalkeeper Morgan won All-Ireland medals at club and intercounty level and he repeated the feat as a manager.
