*Brian Lohan. Photograph: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Two time All-Ireland winner Brian Lohan has been officially ratified as the Clare senior hurling manager.
Fireworks bellowed in the nearby Clarecastle village marking Halloween as opposed to Lohan’s appointment as delegates gathered for the October meeting of the Clare County Board on Thursday night. The four time All Star was given a two year term by delegates with the option of a third depending on how his tenure pans out.
Ex Tipperary minor hurler Ken Ralph who also won two Clare SHC titles with Clarecastle in 1997 and 2003, the latter of which he was captain for is on board as one of Lohan’s selectors along with Ahane’s James Moran, the oldest brother in the well-known Limerick hurling family and a Treaty County hurler from 1997 to 2003, he won a National Hurling League title in 97. The trio were involved in the UL management that won the 2015 Fitzgibbon Cup.
Lohan is the fifth member of the All-Ireland winning Clare panel from 1995 to become the Banner’s senior manager. He follows in the footsteps of Cyril Lyons, Anthony Daly, Ger O’Loughlin and Davy Fitzgerald.
Chairperson of Clare GAA, Joe Cooney outlined that the five person committee formed at a special meeting of the County Board earlier this month had held “a number of meetings” and met with Lohan on one occasion. The Chairperson said the October meeting was delayed until the end of the month to allow the former full back “add to his team”.
Cooney commented that Brian was away for the Bank Holiday weekend but is meeting with prospective members of his management including a hurling coach plus a strength and conditioning coach. The O’Callaghans Mills clubman paid tribute to the 2019 management headed up Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor, he wished the incoming team the best of luck.
Sixmilebridge delegate Christy Murray urged all clubs in the county to get behind Lohan and the players for his term. “I ask every club to get behind him, give him one hundred percent for the two years”. He remarked that “there wasn’t a hundred applicants so let’s get behind him and try get Clare back to the top”.
“It is time everyone in the county got behind the appointment,” Wolfe Tones delegate Dermot O’Donnell said. Danny Chaplin of Broadford wished the former Clare captain the best of luck in his new position.
