Billy Morgan (footballer)

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Billy Morgan (born 1945) is the current manager of the Cork senior Gaelic football team. Morgan is regarded by many as the soul of Cork football due to his passion for the Cork football team.

He is a former county goalkeeper, having played for Cork from 1966 until his retirement from inter-county football in 1981. He has also played and managed at senior club level for his club Nemo Rangers.

Born in Cork in 1945 he was educated locally and later attended University College Cork where he played on the university's Sigerson cup winning team in 1965.

[edit] Playing career

He made his senior inter-county debut in 1966 as a goalkeeper, later going on to win a Munster Championship medal that same year. He added further Munster medals to his collection in 1967 and 1971 with two defeats over Kerry. Morgan had much success playing in goal with his club Nemo Rangers, winning Munster Club and All-Ireland Club medals in 1972.

Morgan was captain of the Cork senior footballers in 1973 when they won the Munster Championship and the All-Ireland Championship, defeating Galway. He was honoured that same year by being named Texaco Footballer of the Year and was presented with an All Star Award. He won his fifth Munster medal in 1974, however, this was the last success for Morgan in the Cork colours as the following decade was dominated by Kerry, a team many regard as the greatest of all-time. A measure of their dominance of this period is the fact that Cork with Morgan as goalkeeper only won one National Football League title during this period ironically beating Kerry by one point in the 1980 final. In spite of the disappointment with Cork Morgan won further Munster Club and All-Ireland Club honours with Nemo Rangers in 1974, 1975 and 1978.

[edit] Managerial career

Morgan retired from inter-county football in 1981, after serving as player-manager for the previous season. Since his debut in 1966 he played in every Munster Football Final. Shortly after he emigrated to the United States, however, he returned in 1986 to manage the Cork senior football team. Under his guidance Cork won seven of the next ten Munster Championships, as well as back-to-back All-Ireland titles in 1989 and 1990. Morgan also coached Nemo Rangers to All Ireland Club success. In late 2003 Morgan returned as Cork football manger for a third time. Since then Cork have won one Munster Championship and reached two All-Ireland semi-finals in 2005 and 2006, suffering defeat to Kerry on both occasions.

[edit] Employment

Although initially Billy worked as a secondary school teacher he now works as a financial advisor in Cork.

Preceded by: Willie Bryan (Offaly)	Texaco Footballer of the Year 1973	Succeeded by: Kevin Heffernan (Dublin)
Preceded by: Larry Tompkins	Cork Senior Football Manager 2004 – present	Incumbent