*Michael Garry. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Cooraclare boss, Michael Garry has confirmed he will remain in charge of the Milesians following their relegation to the intermediate ranks.

By Derek Dormer

Thirteen points was the margin as Clondegad sent Cooraclare to the intermediate ranks in Kilmihil on Sunday.

Having competed in the Group of Death alongside Kilmurry Ibrickane, St Josephs Miltown, Ennistymon and Cratloe, Cooraclare found themselves unable to catch a break in this year’s championship and without a win in any of their five clashes fell to the second tier for 2022.

Michael Garry who took charge of the ten time champions earlier this season felt the desire was much greater from Clondegad’s performance. “It is tough, it’s plain and simple we weren’t good enough today, Clondegad were by far superior today and we just couldn’t match it, we weren’t up for it and we are where are now”.

Garry continued, “The game should have been out of sight at half-time, they missed three goals and they kept us back in it but we didn’t capitalise on it. For the players, I’m sorry for them and for the club it’s hard going but we are where we are, we have to regroup and go after it again and see what happens next year”.

With a young panel at their disposal, the Cooraclare man has committed to staying in charge of the side as they bid to return to the top flight at the first attempt, it has yet to be confirmed if his management team which included ex Clare selector Tom Queally, former Laois boss Mick Lillis, Paddy Keane, Frank Roche and Niall Murphy will continue. “We’re very young, we’ve five or six lads that were under twenty playing there with a mixture of twenty four and twenty five year olds. It is the response of the players and how they respond to this, we’ll let it settle for a while and regroup after Christmas and see. I’m staying with them, I said that from the beginning, when we were out of the group I said I wasn’t going away from them, they went down so I’m going to stay with them”.