Kevin Walsh confirmed as new Cork football coach

Former Galway manager Kevin Walsh has been confirmed as coach of the Cork senior footballers at a meeting of the county board this evening.

The appointment, initially flagged last month, was tonight confirmed to county board delegates, with Seán Óg O hAilpín also confirmed as a new member of the Cork minor hurling management team.

Walsh is a heavyweight addition to John Cleary's management team, having guided Galway to two Connacht titles in 2016 and 2018, leading them to an All-Ireland semi-final appearance in the latter campaign.

He previously managed Sligo between 2009 and 2013, securing back-to-back promotions in the Allianz League, and claiming the scalps of Mayo and Galway in the 2010 Connacht championship.

In a stellar inter-county career, spanning from the late 80s to the mid-2000s, Walsh won two All-Ireland titles with Galway in 1998 and 2001, picking up three All-Stars.

Cork boss Cleary, who initially assumed the role on an interim basis in 2022 following Keith Ricken's illness, was ratified as senior manager on a three-year term in July.

Currently operating in Division 2, Cork are without a Munster SFC title since 2012. In the most recent campaign, Cleary guided the side to a first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance since 2016, following qualifier wins over Louth and Limerick.