One of the most interesting appointments in recent GAA memory is reportedly in the works as Gary Keegan is set to join the Cork hurling set-up for the 2016/17 season.
Gary Keegan is the former Director of the Irish Institute of Sport but is perhaps best known for his role in setting up the High Performance Unit with the Irish amateur boxing side, taking them from sleeping in the boxing ring at the National Stadium to dominating internationally - most memorably winning four medals at the 2012 Olympics in London.
Keegan, along with Billy Walsh - the man he appointed as head coach when he set up the High Performance Unit - is often pointed to as the man behind the boxing success. Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Egan is among those who has pointed to Keegan's influence as kick-starting a period of success that gained Ireland a reputation as one of the best boxing countries in the world.
And the 'Examiner' are reporting that Keegan is throwing his hat into the ring with the Rebels, who won a Munster title in 2014 but had a bitterly disappointing campaign this year, being hammered by Tipperary in Munster then dumped out of the qualifiers by Wexford.
It is unclear what his role will be exactly but it will be absolutely intriguing to see how he fares. Bernard Dunne being involved with the Dublin footballers and Denis Leamy throwing his hat into the ring with Tipp are two similarly intriguing across-sport moves that seem to have positively impacted county sides. Garry Keegan may not have competed at a high level himself but the former army and navy man's expertise in high performance should really benefit Cork in their hunt for Liam McCarthy next year.
(The Irish Examiner)
