THE NEW Cork senior football manager will be Keith Ricken.
Ricken has been in charge of Cork's under-20 side in recent years and will take over from Ronan McCarthy on a two-year basis, which will be made absolute through ratification at the next county board meeting.
Ricken from St Vincent's will be joined by selectors Micheál Ó Cróinín (Naomh Abán), James Loughrey (St Brigid’s/Mallow), Barry Corkery (Éire Óg), Des Cullinane (St Nicholas), and Ray Keane (MTU/St Finbarr’s), a coach will be further decided down the line.
The St Vincent's man is seen a favorite in Cork and should be a popular choice. He took Cork to a Munster and All-Ireland under-20 title during his first year in charge in 2019. He also won another provincal title this year, before losing the ALL-Ireland semi Final to Offally
His postive style and approach is welcomes along with his famous media interviews
Cork Senior Football Manager Appointment- https://t.co/qKSzr8DmyV pic.twitter.com/ghLE5WNTZY
— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) October 13, 2021
Ricken will know many of the senior team as his 2019 under-20 side have made the grade to the senior panel having won major accolades with him two years ago. Cork look like they will benefit, which hasn't been always the case with Cork.
Ricken was at CIT as head coach, where he won the Sigerson Cup in 2009 and had success with his own club at intermediate level. He works as the GAA officer in the college, now called Munster Technological University, and wasn’t believed to have been interested in replacing McCarthy once it emerged that the county board was looking elsewhere.
This time he's beaten Bobbie O’Dwyer and John Fintan Daly.
Ricken inherits a Cork side are in Division Two of the Allianz League, having succcumb to a 22-point defeat to Kerry in this year’s Munster final, having shocked Peter Keane’s side in the provincial semi-final last November before losing to Tipperary.
