Morgan urges Ó Sé to take up Rebel cause
BILLY MORGAN believes that Tomás Ó Sé can become an inter-county manager, but he hopes that the Kerry legend will take charge of Cork rather than the Kingdom. The former Rebels boss has closely observed the influence of Ó Sé at Nemo Rangers and Morgan even drafted him in as part of his backroom team with UCC last year. ‘He was very good. I would hope he would come in with us again next year. I know the Nemo manager (Larry Kavanagh) wants him to get involved at some level because all the players love him,’ Morgan said. ‘He will get involved with coaching at the club at some stage, because his son and daughter train with us, so he might start with their age group.’ Morgan considers Ó Sé to be among the best players he has ever seen, on a par with his late uncle Páidí, and he would love to see the Rebels benefit from his expertise. ‘I’d be hoping he’d manage Cork!’ Morgan said, responding to the suggestion that Ó Sé will be a future Kerry boss. ‘He is living and teaching in Cork and I don’t see him moving back. He would definitely be able to manage at inter-county so you never
know.’ Ó Sé would fit the bill as the outside manager has been consistently held up as a possible solution to harnessing the unfulfilled potential within Cork football. Morgan concedes for a county of its size, the Rebels are under-achieving. ‘Prior to this year, Cork had won nine of the past 13 Munster under-21 titles, Kerry won two and Tipp won two. They won two All-Irelands within that and unlucky not to win a third. Where are those players?’ Morgan wonders. ‘Maybe those fellas haven’t been given time to bed in or an extended run in the team. But a county the size of Cork, there is talent there. So, they are under-achieving a bit, there’s no doubt about that.’ Morgan reckons making the Super 8s would represent a step in the right direction for Cork this summer. ‘Whatever about where they go from there, making the Super Eights would be my aim,’ he added. FORMER soccer boss Harry Redknapp is lending a helping hand to the London footballers as they prepare for next month’s Connacht SFC clash with Sligo. London manager Ciaran Deely organised a visit from the former Spurs boss this week, where he had a watching brief before addressing the squad. ‘The players were thrilled because someone like Harry can offer great insight into how to prepare for big games,’ said Deeley, who works for Queens Park Rangers where Redknapp had a stint as manager.