*Patrick O’Connor. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
CLARE LGFA are expected to announce the appointment of Patrick O’Connor as manager of the county’s intermediate ladies footballers.
An official announcement on the appointment of the Mullagh man is anticipated to be made by the Clare LGFA this week.
Expressions of the interest for the post were sought from the Clare LGFA in September which had a rather disappointing uptake.
Outgoing manager Graham Shine was keen to return for a third season at the helm but officials opted against retaining the services of the Listowel man who presided over Clare’s relegation from Division 2 of the National League and narrowly avoided dropping down to the bottom tier this season.
Changes are also expected to the top table of Clare LGFA which will hold its AGM on Tuesday December 1st. Applications are currently being accepted for the Clare U16 management with Friday (November 6th) the deadline for submissions.
O’Connor has tasted success on the ladies football front. He was joint manager of the Kilmurry Ibrickane side to win the club’s first senior ladies football championship in 2024.
At inter-county level, he coached the Clare minor ladies footballers in 2022 when David O’Brien from Cree was in charge as they won the All-Ireland C championship.
Over the past two seasons, O’Connor has been involved with James Murrihy and the Clondegad intermediate footballers who bowed out at the quarter-finals to Naomh Eoin and the semi-finals the year previous to Corofin.
Last October, Patrick was appointed manager of the Limerick junior ladies footballers but stepped down from the role suddenly in January.
Kilmurry Ibrickane are expected to comprise a strong cohort of O’Connor’s management with Niall Hickey who was joint manager when they won the 2024 championship and formed part of Shine’s county management for the 2026 season.
Gary Sexton who was involved as coach of the Bricks side that won the senior title for the second time this year and is currently involved with the club’s U21 footballers is expected to be part of O’Connor’s ticket along with fellow Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman Paul Hickey according to local sources.
Away from football, Patrick is the owner of O’Connor Hospitality Group which runs Vaughan’s Pub in Kilfenora, The Edge in Lahinch, The Half Barrell in Whitegate, O’Donohue’s in Fanore and The Good House in Inagh. His uncle Patrick T Sexton owns the historic Gus O’Connor’s Pub on Fisher St in Doolin.
One of the big challenges facing O’Connor and his management will be enticing the county’s most talented players onto the Clare squad. Notably, no members of the Kilmihil side which won the 2025 championship formed part of the Clare panel this season while former captain Caoimhe Harvey was among the high-profile departures during the season.
