Sarsfields’ Pat Ryan was announced as the new senior hurling manager for Cork this week, following the announcement that Kieran Kingston, who had served a second term in charge, stepped down from the position.
Ahead of Ryan being confirmed as the new manager, betting was opened and odds offered on a line-up of potential candidates. Well known local, Denis Ring, former Cork U20 hurling manager and principal of Blackwater Community School in Lismore, featured amongst the betting early doors at 14/1.
Speaking with The Avondhu on Monday, Mr Ring welcomed the news of the new appointment.
“I’m delighted with the appointment. He’s a very good man for the job and I think he’ll do a good job in taking the team to the next step,” Mr Ring said.
The bookies made the two-time U20 All-Ireland winning boss its 15/8 favourite and within hours, betting was suspended following a string of early bets on Ryan.
Amongst the frontrunners for the vacant position were legendary former front-man Ben O’Connor at 15/8, two of Kingston’s backroom team, Pat Mulcahy and Noel Furlong at 5/2 and 10/2 respectively and several more besides. Even Cork’s favourite son, Roy Keane, made the list at 50/1.
“From the off, it was all one-way traffic with Leeside, Kerry and Galway-based punters racing to back Pat Ryan for the job as soon as the market opened. The other contenders didn’t get so much as a nibble. It’s certainly early doors but the one-sided nature of the betting has us running scared which led us to pull the plug,” a Paddy Power spokesperson said.
Ryan steered his club, Sarsfields to county titles in 2012 and 2014, winning titles as a player in both 2008 and 2010. The Sarsfields man started the day as the 15/8 favourite but quickly went into odds on.
