*Maurice Walsh. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
MAURICE WALSH is on course to be appointed as the next manager of the Clare U20 footballers, The Clare Echo understands.
The search for a Clare under 20 football may be drawing to a close.
At this Tuesday’s December county board meeting chairman Kieran Keating, replying to a query from Irish officer Joe Garry, said they hoped to be in a position to make an announcement within a week.
The position has been vacant since St. Joseph’s Miltown clubman Michael Neylon tendered his resignation last month.
It is now believed that the name of Éire Óg clubman Maurice Walsh is in the running to be put forward for ratification, first at a meeting of the executive and then to a full meeting of delegates, the next such gathering of delegates is the annual convention which takes place next week.
It’s been widely speculated since the weekend that the former Clare minor manager is set to be offered the role. Before next week’s delegate gathering it is expected that Walsh will meet Clare GAA officials
It is further believed that he will be joined by Kildysart’s Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly as coach. Interestingly they both served as members of the St. Josephs Doora/Barefield senior football management team last year as they reached the quarter-finals only to lose following extra time to Éire Óg.
Walsh is well known in football management and he was part of the management team which guided Eire Og to three county under 21 titles in a row.
When he was in charge of the Clare minor footballers, his management team included Brendan ‘Beano’ Rouine, Mike Brennan and Jim Conlan.
Kelly is equally well known as a coach and he served spells coaching a number of clubs in the county including Lissycasey and Doora/Barefield. In recent weeks, he led Kildysart/Coolmeen to the county under 14 A title.
It is understood that a number of well known Clare senior inter county players have been approached about being part of the Walsh/Kelly ticket.
There is urgency in making an appointment as Clare’s opening game in the Munster championship in 2025 is set for Saturday March 8 when the team will have home advantage against Waterford. They will be away to Tipperary on March 15 and a week later again, March 22, they will be away to Limerick.
