FORMER Clare senior hurling captain, Brian O’Connell, ex county manager Cyril Lyons and two-time All Star Brendan Bugler are among the names to take charge of the Banner’s hurling teams next season with continuity expected for the football teams.
Appointments are to be ratified at the first meeting of the County Board in the New Year while efforts have been ongoing over recent weeks to progress the formulation of the various management teams led by Chairman, Jack Chaplin.
All outgoing managements of the Clare football sides are to return next season, The Clare Echo has learned. Michael Neylon is to remain in charge of the U20 side with Dermot Coughlan to continue with the minors. Their respective management teams are to be finalised with Coughlan said to be making some new additions.
Negotiations are ongoing with Colm Collins and the County Board regarding the Cratloe man beginning a ninth championship season as Clare football boss. Matters that have delayed the longest-serving manager in inter-county football announcing his return are expected to be resolved within the next week.
On the hurling front, former Clare captain Brian O’Connell is to succeed Terrence Chaplin as the minor manager. All-Ireland winner in 1995 and former Clare senior manager, Cyril Lyons is believed to be part of his set-up alongside Inagh/Kilnamona’s Damien O’Halloran.
Whitegate’s Terence Fahy is to replace Sean Doyle as Clare U20 manager. A teacher at St Joseph’s Tulla, Fahy has played a key role in the school’s progression in recent years including reaching this season’s Harty Cup quarter-final for the second campaign in a row. His clubmate, Brendan Bugler will be part of the U20 ticket. The two-time All Star was coach of the St Flannan’s side crowned Harty Cup champions in 2020, he was part of Davy Fitzgerald’s Wexford management for a season and this year was over Offaly side Birr. Dave Moriarity will be the team’s S&C coach.
