McCorry’s the man for Down

McCorry’s the man for Down

24 September 2014

JIM McCorry is the man charged with reviving the fortunes of the Down senior football team.

After weeks of speculation the Down county executive announced last week that Armagh native is to be the next Down manager.

The current Kilcoo supremo has been given an initial three-year contract and he is expected to take up the post once the Magpies’ interest in championship football ends.

McCorry had been tipped in many quarters to take on the role, but it is also believed that the Crossmaglen duo of Tony McEntee and Gareth O’Neill were strong contenders for the post.

Current Mayobridge boss Michael Walsh and Castlewellan manager John ‘Shorty’ Treanor have been confirmed as members of the backroom team with more people expected to be added to it over the next month.

McCorry has previous inter county managerial experience with his native Armagh whom he led to an NFL final in 1994. His record at club level is second to none having won Down SFC’s with Mayobridge and Kilcoo.

Down PRO Paul Rooney has revealed that those in charge of county affairs are ecstatic with the appointment.

“Everyone is delighted to have Jim on board and we are very optimistic about the future,” he said.

“Jim has been around Down football for a long time, not just with Kilcoo. He was very successful with Mayobridge. No one knows the club scene better than him and that is a great advantage to anyone picking a county squad.”

The fact that McCorry and his backroom team have a good knowledge of the Down leagues was seen as a huge advantage and means that arduous trials and experimenting with players can be bypassed.

With Martin Clarke and Caolan Mooney back home Down can look forward to an exciting new era. Promotion from Division 2 and a stab at the Ulster SFC are two realistic targets.

McCorry is Down’s first ‘outside’ manager since Antrim’s Jackie McManus in the late 80s, but the expectation levels are high and the Lurgan man has success in his DNA.

A thrilling 2015 awaits.