ALL-IRELAND CHAMPIONS Cork have named Ephie Fitzgerald as Eamonn Ryan’s successor.
Ryan, who oversaw 26 titles — including ten senior All-Irelands — during his reign as Cork ladies football coach from 2004 to 2015, announced his departure in late December, having opted to take up a role as a selector with Peader Healy’s Cork men’s footballers.
Fitzgerald was ratified as Ryan’s successor at a GPC meeting of the Cork Ladies Football Board late last night, following a gruelling search which took four weeks, and involved a number of other potential candidates.
Speaking following the announcement, PRO of the Cork Ladies Football Board Pat Culloty said:
These are exciting times for everyone involved and we all have high hopes and expectations. There’s a busy few months ahead with the league starting on Sunday, but we wish Ephie all the best and we look forward to working with him.”
A former Nemo Rangers player, this is the first time Fitzgerald has served at the helm of a senior inter-county ladies football team, and it is expected that he will meet with the squad in the coming days ahead of their Division 1 National League opener against Mayo on Leeside this Sunday.
It is not yet known how his backroom team will shape up, but it is anticipated that a number of the 2015 Cork ladies football management team will remain involved to ensure a smooth transition.
Last Saturday, 2014/2015 Cork senior selector and Mourneabbey coach Shane Ronayne — who put his name forward for the position early on — pulled out of the running for the job, stating that he was “disillusioned with the protracted and long drawn-out process”.
However, it is hoped that the senior county champions Mourneabbey will put forward a nominee to join Fitzgerald’s 2016 backroom team.
Fitzgerald, aged 55, guided Nemo Rangers, and Ballylanders of Limerick, to county championship success, while at inter-county level he has served as manager of the Cork minor men’s team and coach of the Limerick senior team, while more recently he was a selector with the Clare senior football team.
It is not yet known how many players of the 2015 All-Ireland-winning squad will remain, but they will definitely be without the services of Allstar defender Geraldine O’Flynn for the league campaign, having damaged her cruciate in the 2015 All-Ireland final against Dublin last September.
As to whether there will be any high-profile retirements in the coming weeks is not yet confirmed, but it is expected that one or two players will make statements in the near future.
The man can do no wrong……
Except for getting a team relegated
Idiotic comment. Worked wonders for years keeping Wigan in the Premiership on a shoestring budget.
I was at the Wigan QPR game last season and the few Wigan fans that were there had nothing but praise for the job he was doing for them. One of the best young managers in the game.
Martinez has struck me as a class act since I first became familiar with him at Wigan. Today’s speech was understated and respectful yet laden with empathy and sincerity. Brilliant stuff … Fair play to him.
Has always come across as a pure gent. Never heard anyone give out about or say a bad word about him.
Kenwright, Martinez and Everton in General have carried themselves exceptionally in all this. Such a welcome change from the vile bitterness all to common in football rivalry.
Rivals for a day, friends for life…. the way it should always be….
Great speech….great team… great city…
ETID ..rip the 96 and hopefully peace of mind to there family…
That’s classy, would expect nothing less of him.
Great guy!
Sky said after the speech that they distanced themselves from some of his comments! Unbelievable even for a sky! Worries about libelling the police.
I happened to see that as well – Kay Burley made that remark. I wouldn’t take much notice or get bothered by any utterance/observation from her mouth.
It wasn’t that they were distancing themselves from what Roberto said, more that they were waiting to see if there were any remarks made that could be considered as contempt of court. The new inquests are covered by the Contempt of Court act, and so people have to make sure that nothing is said that could prejudice the proceedings. Roberto made a heartfelt, beautiful speech today, and he’s done wonders over at Goodison this season.
Didn’t know that. Thanks
Top class.