Noel Furlong and Pat Mulcahy join Cork senior hurling management

THE Cork County Board have confirmed that Noel Furlong and Pat Mulcahy are to be proposed as senior hurling selectors at Tuesday night's monthly board meeting.

Following the departure of coach Ger Cunningham on Monday and Christy O’Connor stepping away last week, Kingston has moved quickly to put in place his set-up for next year. Gary Keegan, previously involved in Kingston's first stint and under John Meyler, will operate as performance coach, a role he has filled for Dublin footballers and Irish Rugby.

In addition, Stephen Casey - who was a part of county title wins with Blackrock and Blarney in 2020, is on board as strength and conditioning coach. It's thought that Mark Brady and Cathal Sheridan have also departed the set-up.

Cunningham revealed on Monday that he would be relinquishing his duties for 2022.

“After discussing with family and assessing work commitments, I’ve informed Kieran I will not be able to commit to coaching the Cork hurlers next year,” Cunningham told the Irish Examiner.

“I sincerely wish him, his management team and the wonderful panel of talented and dedicated players every future success.”

Cunningham was previously part of the management teams of Donal O’Grady and John Allen in a stint that ran from 2003-06 while he was coach and selector under Jimmy Barry-Murphy in the 2012 and 2013 seasons, meaning he was involved for Cork’s last two All-Ireland final appearances – along with Kingston, who replaced him as coach in 2014.

When Kingston was re-appointed as manager at the end of 2019, it was for a three-year term and it’s likely that his management team for the third year will be ratified at Tuesday night’s Cork County Board meeting at Páirc Uí Chaoimh – the first held in person since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic – with Furlong part of it.

Furlong this year led Cork to a first All-Ireland minor hurling title since 2001, with the Rebels beating Clare, Waterford, Limerick and Galway by double-digit tallies. A county SHC winner with his native Carrigtwohill in 2011, he was in charge as Russell Rovers reached the Co-op SuperStores Cork Lower IHC final in 2020 but, with that decider against Castlemartyr delayed until August of this year, he had to step down at the beginning of the year due to commitments with the minor side.

Mulcahy, who captained Cork to win the 2006 Munster title, was in charge of his native Newtownshandrum this year and has previously been in charge of Cork IT in the Fitzgibbon Cup.