Favourite emerges for Cork hurling job but some fans calling for a rogue outsider

Pat Ryan's time at Cork is now up

There is a clear favourite in Ben O'Connor - according to both the Irish Mirror and the Irish Examiner.

O’Connor won three All-Ireland titles with Cork, captaining them to in the 2004 final.

He led Charleville to the Cork Intermediate title in 2018, and looks to be the early frontrunner.

But some are calling on Dónal Óg Cusack to walk the walk, having talked the talked over previous years on the state of Cork hurling.

Cusack, an RTE pundit, most recently helped Russell Rovers to Munster JFC glory in December 2024.

Ryan's emotional goodbye from Cork

Pat Ryan has penned an emotional goodbye statement to Cork following his depature as manager.

Ryan mentions his brother Ray’s passing in the statement, and how those inside and outside of Cork helped him deal with it.

Ray Ryan, a former Cork and Sarsfield hurler himself, tragically passed away in February 2025.

During his three years at Cork, Pat Ryan led Cork to two-All-Ireland appearances, an Allianz HL title and a Munster SHC.

His Cork side were stunned in this year’s All-Ireland, losing to Tipperary after a second-half collapse.

“2025 has been an especially emotional and devastating year for me and my whole family but the support we have received after our beloved Ray’s passing from the wider GAA family and especially the Cork public has been very inspiring."