Coughlan to continue as Clare U20 football manager

*Dermot Coughlan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill. 

DERMOT COUGHLAN will continue as manager of the Clare U20 footballers for a second season.

Coughlan who served as minor manager of the county side for six years up to 2024, succeeded Maurice Walsh in charge of the U20s this year.

Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating confirmed that Dermot has agreed to continue as manager of the U20s.

During his first campaign, the Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman led Clare to Phase 2 of the Munster Championship after going unbeaten against Tipperary, Waterford and Limerick in Phase 1.

Phase 2 got off to a very bright start as they drew with Cork in Quilty before suffering defeats to Waterford and eventual All-Ireland champions Kerry, which brought an end to their season.

Eoin Curtin, TJ Carey and Peter O’Dwyer were part of his management and are expected to stay on board. The late Jack Boddy was another key member of his management team, working as the side’s S&C coach.

Before beginning his stint at this age grade, Coughlan managed the county minor team for six seasons and stepped down in 2024. During his spell in charge, he led the Banner to a provincial final in 2020.

Eleven of this year’s starting fifteen are eligible for U20 football next year. A handful of those eligible were called into Paul Madden’s senior training squad following the completion of their underage campaign, including Cooraclare’s Harry O’Gorman, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s Diarmuid Boyle and Lissycasey’s Conor Hill. Goalkeeper O’Gorman went on to make the matchday panel for Clare’s final game of the season against Longford in the Tailteann Cup.

In a written report to the County Board, Coughlan detailed, “We commenced in November with an initial panel of 40 players and from there until Christmas we went every Monday night with S&C, Tuesday night, Friday and Sunday. We cut out panel on January 2nd and from there until championship we played a total of eight championship games against Offaly, Clare seniors, U.L., Sligo, Wicklow, Longford, Laois and Leitrim”.

The report went on to give details of Clare’s championship games. Following their first round win over Tipperary “there was a great shock with the untimely passing of our young S&C coach and colleague Jack Boddy”.

He thanked the County board and all who assisted during the year “in our efforts to develop and raise the profile of Clare football”.