TWO-TIME All-Ireland winners Anthony Daly and Brian Lohan have been honoured by Munster GAA.
Lohan who became only the second Clare man to win All-Ireland senior hurling championships as a player and manager has been selected as the Munster GAA Manager of the Year for 2024.
Shannon native Brian steered Clare to both All-Ireland and National Hurling League glory this season in what was the first time the county achieved such a feat.
As a player, Lohan was one of the most iconic full-backs to play the game and won four All Stars.
He has brought the same determination to his role as Clare manager, the county had been best able to match the utterly dominant Limerick side of this era but this year they finally claimed silverware on his watch, beating Kilkenny in the League decider and Cork in the All-Ireland final.
In his five years as Clare manager, the senior hurlers have reached three successive Munster finals and All-Ireland semi-finals.
Also honoured at the Munster GAA awards held on Saturday was Lohan’s former teammate and close friend, Anthony Daly.
Dalo was inducted into the Munster GAA Hall of Fame alongside Cork’s Larry Tompkins. Clare’s charismatic All-Ireland winning captain of 1995 and 1997 first rose to prominence as part of the St Flannan’s College Harty Cup and All-Ireland winning side of 1987. He won his first Clare SHC with Clarecastle in 1987 and finished his career with five club championships along with a Munster club in 1997.
A three-time All Star, the proud Magpie moved into management and was in charge of Clare’s senior hurlers in 2004, 2005 and 2006 where they reached an All-Ireland quarter-final and two back to back All-Ireland semi-finals. He managed Dublin’s hurlers to a first
Allianz Hurling League title in 72 years in 2011 and their first Leinster title in 52 years in 2013.
Anthony is one of the more popular hurling analysts, he is part of The Sunday Game team while both his podcast and column for The Irish Examiner are well received.
Clare referees, Niall Malone of Éire Óg and St Joseph Miltown’s Niall Quinn were also recognised for officiating provincial finals this year.
