‘Canty and Murphy need to be involved in process'

BY KIERAN McCARTHY

WITH the search for the new Cork senior football manager to begin, captain Paul Kerrigan feels that 2010 All-Ireland winners like Bantry Blues' great Graham Canty, Alan Quirke and Nicholas Murphy need to asked for their input in the selection process.

‘I have always had a good relationship with (chairman) Ger Lane and I'm sure I'll be speaking to him in the next few weeks now that Peadar has stepped away,' Kerrigan told The Southern Star.

‘It's important that past players are involved, the generation of Canty, Quirke and Nicholas Murphy, they know what it's all about, they have high standards.'

Kerrigan also thanked former manager Peadar Healy for his contribution to Cork football after the latter confirmed that his time as boss is over in the immediate aftermath of the extra-time All-Ireland qualifier loss to Mayo last Saturday evening.

‘Being the Cork senior football manager is a very tough job, he shipped a lot of criticism and we probably didn't make it easy for him at times – but we thanked him hugely, not just for his contribution the last two years but for his overall contribution,' Kerrigan said.

‘People forget that he was the coach under Conor Counihan when we won the All-Ireland so he has done a lot for Cork senior football over the years.

‘He put his neck out for this job, a tough job, and in fairness he put a very professional backroom team under him and that's what you have to do.

‘Look, he's always backed us this year, it hasn't been easy, but as a group of players we thanked him and wished him all the best.'