Sport

McCorry's future as Mourne county boss hangs in the balance

Jim McCorry's future as Down manager is uncertain following the county's exit from the All-Ireland Qualifers
Jim McCorry's future as Down manager is uncertain following the county's exit from the All-Ireland Qualifers Jim McCorry's future as Down manager is uncertain following the county's exit from the All-Ireland Qualifers

JIM McCorry’s future as the manager of Down footballers is hanging in the balance.

With football in the county at a low ebb following their shock Championship exit at the hands of Wexford, a meeting is to be held next Monday night in Newcastle at which the issues of the management of the senior, U21 and minor teams will be up for discussion.

The Irish News understands that letters have been circulated to all clubs in the county ahead of the meeting and that if there is a full attendance at the meeting, over 50 people will be entitled to vote.

During McCorry’s time so far, the senior team have enjoyed mixed fortunes. Promotion to Division One of the National Football League was welcomed and set the team up nicely for a tilt at the Ulster Championship where they met Derry in the first round. They lost that match by just one point in a hard fought encounter.

Moreover, they could count themselves unfortunate as they lost defender Conall McGovern to a controversial red card and were forced to play the entire second half with 14 men.

But it was the loss to Wexford in the first SFC Qualifying round which was the bitterest pill to swallow.

The Model County finished joint bottom of Division Three this year and were expected by many to prove relatively easy pickings for Down as they sought to revitalise their Championship season.

As it turned out, Wexford ran out deserving winners by five points. McCorry’s comments after the game, broadcast on The Sunday Game, that promotion to Division One was a “priority” for the season has been heavily criticised by pundits and fans.