*Evan Talty. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Evan Talty has been reappointed as the manager of the Clare intermediate ladies football side.
For the second year in succession, Clare’s involvement in the championship to the eventual All-Ireland winners. They exited at the quarter-final stage to Westmeath this year while in 2020 Meath proved too strong for the side then managed by James Murrihy in the semi-finals, the Royal County this year were crowned senior champions.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the County Board, Talty was reappointed to the role of manager. S&C coach Mike Frawley who previously worked with the Wexford and Westmeath senior hurlers is to continue in his role as part of the management.
New additions are to be made to his management in the coming weeks. John O’Grady. Mark O’Donnell, Peter O’Dwyer, Conor Shannon and Sarah Cunningham were part of the set-up this season, their return is yet to be confirmed.
A nine-time Clare SFC winner with Kilmurry Ibrickane, Talty outlined that he was keen to build on their work from 2021, he previously served as a coach in 2020 during Murrihy’s time as manager. “Following a review of last year’s performance and discussion with the players, management and County Board officials, I am pleased to commit to the Clare Ladies Intermediate Team for 2022. There is a great group of players involved, well capable of winning an All-Ireland title and after seeing how close we got to eventual winners Westmeath in 2021, I along with the players and management team, am committed to trying to bring that All Ireland back to Clare in 2022”.
Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan said the County Board was very pleased to see the Managing Director of Wild Irish Seaweeds remain as manager. “He and his management team brought a very professional approach to the setup. They prepared well in difficult circumstances and within a shortened season. We used the league to prepare and crucially, maintained our Division 2 status. We reached the knockout stages of the Championship and while we would have liked to progress further, we were just beaten by a strong Westmeath team who went on to win the All-Ireland Intermediate Final. There is definitely unfinished business in this team and with Evan again as manager, we will be going all out to be in Croke Park next September.”
“Clare Ladies have shown themselves to be a worthy team, strong and skilful. We now need to consistently perform in all games and further build on our strength and endurance,” Lenihan added.
