*Rory Gantley on the sideline during Tubber’s clash with Ogonnelloe. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
FORMER Galway hurler Rory Gantley has joined the Clare senior hurling management for 2025.
Gantley joins the Clare management in the wake of Shane Hassett’s exit and comes on board as a coach where he will be working alongside two-time All Star Brendan Bugler.
Clare manager, Brian Lohan confirmed the addition of the Beagh man to Clare FM following Sunday’s exhibition game in Cusack Park.
“Shane has been brilliant for us for the last couple of years, the professionalism and the coaching he has brought, himself and Bugs, now we’re delighted that Rory is coming in, we’ve been talking to him for the last while, he had a brilliant campaign with Tubber in the intermediate championship, we’ve had a couple of meetings so far so we are delighted to get going and get working with him,” the All-Ireland winning manager said.
A teacher at Clarin College in Athenry where he is part of the middle leadership team and holds the roles of Assistant Principal II plus Sports and Extracurricular Activities Coordinator, Rory was the coach of the Tubber intermediate hurlers this season. Tubber reached the Clare IHC final for the first time since 2020 this year and the Pat Taaffe managed side suffered an agonising one point loss to Wolfe Tones in controversial circumstances.
In 2021, he was coach to the Tony Considine managed Kilmallock senior hurlers as they won the Limerick SHC title for the first time in seven years.
Hassett had been part of the Clare management for four years. The Drom & Inch clubman was a strength and conditioning coach for two years in Lohan’s set up before spending the past two seasons as a hurling coach and selector. He had previous experience of Lohan and selector Ken Ralph but in a different capacity having been a member of the playing panel with the UL Fitzgibbon Cup hurlers that the former Clare full back was manager of.
Cathal Malone’s omission from the 45 nominations for the All Star awards was questioned by Clare’s manager who felt the All-Ireland champions deserved more than six All Stars. “We are biased but we’d wonder why Cathal Malone wasn’t nominated and certainly to only get six All Stars is a little disappointing but in the overall scheme of it not that disappointing but a little bit disappointing and thinking of the other guys that were very close as well. Look we’ve had a brilliant year and a great recognition for the guys we have, just outstanding”.
