*Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
THERE has been no communication with Clare’s senior hurling panel on the future of Brian Lohan as manager, one of the side’s star players has admitted.
No formal decision has been made or announced but Lohan is expected to remain at the helm with Clare for a seventh season.
In 2021, the two-time All-Ireland winner looked for a three-year extension to his term. Brian was appointed in October 2019 on a two-year deal with the option of a third pending a review.
Clare GAA chiefs in November 2023 proposed an additional two year-term as put to the floor by Chairman Kieran Keating, a request which was seconded by Robert Frost who has since become Clare GAA’s Central Council delegate. The following year Clare won the All-Ireland SHC title for the fifth time and the Allianz National Hurling League prompting Keating to propose another additional year to the tenure of the four-time All Star.
An agenda has not been circulated for the July meeting of the County Board which is due to take place on July 8th but club delegates may be tempted to query the state of play regarding inter-county managements for next year.
Among those seating in different parts of the corporate section of Ardan Ó Riaín in FBD Semple Stadium for the All-Ireland minor final between Clare and Waterford were Lohan, Clare U20 manager Terence Fahy, Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating Club Clare secretary Tony Killeen.
Speaking at a Bord Gáis event this week, reigning Hurler of the Year Shane O’Donnell said Lohan had the backing of players but that they had not been informed on any plans for 2026. “I have no actual information about it. I know that Brian cares deeply about the continuity of Clare hurling.
“No news I would expect to mean as he feels like he wants to stay, or is going to stay. Because if he wants to stay, he will be. Obviously, we all want him. I think he would not make a decision late in the year and decide, ‘Oh, actually I’m not going to go (on),’ and then leave Clare searching for a manager. He would never do something like that. The fact we haven’t heard anything I think maybe gives some indication. But that’s all I have to go on,” the two-time All-Ireland winner of Éire Óg added.
