PETER KEANE has stepped down as manager of the Clare senior footballers.
Appointed manager last November, Keane announced on Sunday he would not continue in the role for 2026.
His decision comes just over a week after the Munster Council voted to seed Cork and Kerry for next year’s Munster championship giving Clare who have contested the last three Munster finals a more difficult passage to the provincial final and the risk of playing in the Tailteann Cup for the first time.
Five members of the Clare panel two weeks ago held a meeting with the outgoing manager where they had to travel to Cahirsiveen in Kerry to review the year. At the time, the former Kerry manager told the players the driving was a big impediment in him committing and he at the time said he had no decision made.
In a statement this Sunday morning, Keane outlined, “It is with regret that I am unable to commit to managing Clare Senior Footballers for the year ahead. A combination of factors are influencing my decision, namely growing business demands, plus travel and time challenges. I really enjoyed my time working with a great panel of footballers, whose commitment and dedication was first class. Their desire to be better footballers and play for their county at highest level was exemplary”.
He thanked his management and backroom team for their “great work and commitment” while praising the Clare County Board and Supporters Club “for their wonderful support”.
Keane continued, “I’m also grateful for the unwavering support of my wife Siobhán and children. Finally, I wish to sincerely thank all the players on the Clare senior football panel for their total commitment, positive attitude, and dedication. They were both a privilege and a pleasure to train and work with, to manage, represent Clare playing with pride and I wish them all the very best for the future”.
During his Clare reign, the county qualified for a third successive Munster final when defeating Tipperary but fell to subsequent defeats to Kerry, Down, Monaghan and Louth. There was great disappointment with Clare’s run in the All-Ireland series and failure to win a game despite having a perceived easier group than what Colm Collins and Mark Fitzgerald faced in 2023 and 2024.
In the Allianz National Football League, Clare defeated Kildare and Offaly who were promoted to Division 2 but defeats to Antrim and Sligo away from home ensured the Banner are once again confined to Division 3.
He was joined in his management team by Clare SFC winner Eoin Curtin, ex Roscommon coach Peter Tormey and S&C coach Shane O’Rourke whom he worked with in Kerry.
It leaves Clare GAA chiefs once again beginning the process of appointing a new county senior football manager while the club campaign has commenced. Keane’s delayed decision means the next manager will not be in place until the knockout stages of the Clare SFC and IFC at the earliest.
