Billy Morgan: 'I would do anything for Cork football ... but I haven't been asked'

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

FORMER All-Ireland winning Cork football manager Billy Morgan insists he would do anything he can to help Cork football – but he hasn’t been asked.

Morgan was guest of honour at the Westlodge Hotel Carbery GAA All-Star Awards last Saturday night and in a very open and honest interview with Tom Lyons of The Southern Star, Morgan spoke of his frustration with the current state of Cork football, which he described as ‘very disappointing’.

When asked if could see himself making a contribution to Cork football now or in the future, the Nemo man replied: ‘I’ve never been asked. I would do anything for Cork football and if they needed me to help out in any way, I would. But I haven’t been asked.’

Morgan went on to say: ‘I don’t care what people say, football has always been the poor relation in Cork, still is. You had to fight battles all the time and I make no apology for that.

‘Our ambition when playing with Cork was to win. We had great teams and great underage talent in the late sixties and seventies and we reached an All-Ireland final in 1967 and won it in 1973. I wanted to coach the Cork football team. My ambition always was to put Cork football on a pedestal, to fight for the All-Ireland every year. We were doing that, right up to a couple of years ago.

For six or seven years in the noughties we were in every semi-final but now it’s slipped way back.

‘I would always live in hope, there are some great young players out there. There must be a future with them. Hopefully, we’ll see the Sam Maguire in Cork again in our life-time but it will take a lot of changes and a lot of hard work. Surely, Cork football is worth that effort? I’m always available to give a hand.’

For the full Billy Morgan interview, read this week’s Southern Star now!    

Billy Morgan: Football has always been the poor relation in Cork, still is. You had to fight battles all the time.I make no apology for that

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