JBM, Ger Cunningham and Pat Mulcahy linked to vacant Cork hurling jobs

CORK legend Jimmy Barry-Murphy is being linked with a return to inter-county management with the Rebel minors.

The Cork County Board have been conducting interviews for the U17, U20 and senior jobs over the past week, and JBM, who won a minor All-Ireland back in 1995 before moving on to senior success, is in line for a surprise return to the fold.

Current U16 development squad boss Jamie Wall, who has excelled with Mary I in the Fitzgibbon Cup, would have been seen a natural to replace John Considine with the U17. U15 coach Noel Furlong, who had fellow Carrigtwohill native Niall McCarthy involved with him this summer, was another strong candidate.

If Barry-Murphy does take over at minor level he could yet bring Furlong in with him.

At U20 level another St Finbarr's icon Ger Cunningham is the hot tip to replace Denis Ring. Cunningham is vastly experienced and knows the underage scene very well due to his involvement with the Blues and has two teenage sons playing Premier 1 hurling. 

Former senior coach Pat Ryan from Sars could be set to join him. Cork reached the All-Ireland finals at U20 and U21 for the past two seasons but were beaten by Tipp on both occasions. 

Kieran Kingston is still being talked up to return to the senior job in place of John Meyler, but Newtown's Pat Mulcahy could be a surprise appointment while Donal Óg Cusack is also in the mix. Mulcahy will next weekend lead Newtown into a county quarter-final against the Glen and has been in charge of CIT in the Fitzgibbon.

Tom Kenny, who came in to assist with Meyler's management briefly during the summer, is expected to feature prominently in 2020.