*Clare LGFA Chairman Seán Lenihan with Wayne Freeman.
KILDARE NATIVE, Wayne Freeman has been appointed as the new manager of the Clare intermediate ladies football team.
From Monasterevin, Wayne stepped down as manager of the Louth intermediate ladies football team at the end of June. He had been in the role for three seasons with promotion to Division 3 of the National League among the highlights, the Wee County also defeated Clare in last year’s All-Ireland championship in Cusack Park.
Freeman takes on the Clare role for a two year term with the option of a third. He was ratified at Tuesday’s County Board meeting and succeeds Evan Talty. He is the first ‘outsider’ in the hotseat since Neil Moynihan who guided Clare to contest the All-Ireland final in 2016.
Coaches Lee Hunt and Brian Willis, also of Kildare, who were part of his management team in Louth also join the Clare set-up, the trio have worked together for five years. Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Sarah Cunningham will continue in the role of female liaison officer for a third season.
Other additions to the management are to be made with Mike Frawley announcing his departure as S&C coach in the past fortnight.
As first reported by The Clare Echo, the new manager will have to plan without two of Clare’s most experienced players. Both Roisin Considine and Orla Devitt are believed to be unavailable for the 2023 campaign with Liscannor’s Considine set for a move to London while study commitments will keep Ennis’ Devitt out of the county.
Clare LGFA Chairman, Seán Lenihan advised delegates that there were a number of applicants for the post from both within and outside the county and thanked the unsuccessful candidates for their interest in the position.
He highlighted Wayne’s experience at club and county level as a reason to be optimistic for the future.
Members of the selection committee were said to be impressed with the Kildare man’s plans for the year ahead which include promotion from Division 3 of the National Football League. Wayne was among those present at Sunday’s county finals which saw Banner Ladies and Fergus Rovers take the senior and intermediate titles respectively.
Senior officials in the County Board are also anxious that the county side will compete in the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park on August 13th.
“I am delighted to be appointed to the role of Clare Ladies Intermediate Manager. My goals and values are shared with the Clare County Board and I am gladly accepting the challenge of bringing future success to Clare Ladies. It is an exciting opportunity for me to work with such a talented and ambitious County and I look forward to the journey we are about to undertake together,” the new manager stated.
