Outgoing Clare U20 hurling boss Sean Doyle has said more efforts need to made to financially support the county’s underage sides while reflecting on the end of a five year stint involved at minor and U20 level.
After five years managing at inter county level, Bodyke’s Sean Doyle will turn his attentions to the club scene in 2022 when he will take charge of his native Bodyke who compete at intermediate level.
Reflecting on his time managing at inter county level (two years managing the Clare minors and the last three in charge of the under 21/20 team) he said “working with the players I got as much enjoyment out it is as the players did, It was a great experience”.
Currently in charge of the Bodyke/O’Callaghans Mills under 21 team who are through to the county B championship semi-finals following wins over St. Josephs Doora/Barefield and Wolfe Tones, he will be in charge of Bodyke in 2022 as they compete in the Clare IHC.
There has been much debate amongst players and officials with regard to the decision to change the age groups, under 18 to under 17 and under 21 to under 20. Sean believes that “they should bring back the under 18 and under 21 grades at club level. Efforts to introduce an under 19 competition this year came at the wrong time, a week before the senior and intermediate championships were due to start. It was a non runner”.
The Bodyke man acknowledged that “it’s difficult to organise these competitions at present with Covid. Clubs will have to work around the problems”.
Difficulties encountered during his tenure as U20 boss included a new rule which prevented players from lining out in the grade when they featured in the county senior panel and COVID-19.
He was critical over instances when old jerseys had to be used by Clare in championship games. “More could have been done to raise money for underage teams. There should be a budget there. The provision of food after training is something that has to be addressed. Not everyone is going to college. They are coming to training straight after work. The effort put in at minor and under 20 levels is massive. Going to a Munster final with four year old jerseys isn’t right and young lads take these things into consideration”, said Doyle while acknowledging that “the county board is in a difficult situation”.
Shane Meehan, Cian Galvin, Mark Rodgers, Aidan McCarthy and Gary Cooney were referenced by Doyle as “some very good players coming through” in the county. “Look at the Dean Ryan colleges final recently when there were twenty three from Clare involved and that bodes very well for the future. There are so many things to be done. There are a lot of experts in Clare but if everybody worked together it would be better for the game”.
Asked about the strategic review committee’s report he told The Clare Echo, “what they have set out is great but people won’t sit down and read over one hundred pages. Caherlohan has to be brought up to standard as there is always a demand for pitches. We have had a couple of difficult years. I hope the whole county will get behind the team managements. Hopefully in the next two years Clare will be contesting for Munster titles”.
Changes are needed on the structures of club competitions in Clare, he felt, “there are too many senior clubs in Clare”. He is also strongly of the view that “everything should be done to have more games in Cusack Park. In Kilkenny every semi-final across the grades is in Nowlan Park. Give the players the profile. Once the schedule is drawn up, stick with it. We have to live with the dual player issue”.
