JIMMY BARRY-MURPHY last night stepped down as Cork senior hurling manager after four years in charge and it creates another vacancy in the Rebel county.
Cork GAA chiefs are already on the hunt for a new football boss after Brian Cuthbert’s departure but who will they turn to on the hurling front?
Cork are certain to stick with their tradition of selecting from within the county so here is some of the potential candidates.
1. Tomas Mulcahy
The long-term RTÉ Sunday Game pundit was recently linked with the post before Barry-Murphy had announced his departure. He insisted then that his desire was for Barry-Murphy to see out his tenure but Mulcahy may now come back into the frame.
The 1990 senior hurling winning captain has recent management experience at club level in Cork with his own club Glen Rovers and in Waterford with Lismore.
2. Mark Landers
The 1999 All-Ireland winning captain has been involved with the current Cork squad this year as the coach, drafted in by Barry-Murphy following the departure of Kieran Kingston. Landers has had several roles with his club Killeagh and was also a former UCC Fitzgibbon Cup manager.
3. Kieran Kingston
Kingston stepped down from his role with the Cork senior hurlers due to work commitments this year, having served as first selector and then coach for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 campaigns.
Previously Kingston was involved with his club Tracton and is well respected by the current Cork squad. His son Shane, who is sidelined at the moment with a serious leg injury, is one of the county’s brightest prospects in hurling and football, starring at minor level in recent seasons.
4. Donal O’Grady
Could the 2004 All-Ireland winning manager become another boss who gets a second term of office? O’Grady was lauded for his contribution in steering Cork back to success.
He has since been at the helm of Limerick and is a sharp hurling analyst for RTÉ and The Sunday Game.
5. John Allen
Another former All-Ireland winning manager, Allen was at the helm when Cork triumphed in 2005. He went on to take charge of the Limerick senior hurlers in 2012 and 2013, guiding them to their first Munster crown in 17 years two seasons ago.
6. Pat Ryan
The most successful club coach in Cork in recent times, Ryan has guided his native Sarsfields to 2012 and 2014 Cork senior hurling title wins.
They were unlucky last year to lose out to Kilmallock in a thrilling Munster first round tie with the Limerick club going on to contest the All-Ireland final on St Patrick’s Day last.
As a player, Ryan was a substitute on the 1999 Cork All-Ireland winning side.
7. Pat Mulcahy
Mulcahy was a defender with Cork, winning two All-Ireland senior medals in 2004 and 2005. He also picked up an Allstar award in 2005.
The Newtownshandrum native has been in charge of the Cork IT Fitzgibbon Cup team in recent years, guiding them to finals in 2012 and 2014 but they were defeated on both occasions.
