*Brian Lohan. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
BRIAN LOHAN has been given a new three-year term as Clare senior hurling manager with delegates unanimously endorsing the extension of his tenure stating “we have had fantastic days under his leadership”.
Club delegates unanimously ratified the extension to Lohan’s tenure at the July meeting of the County Board held at Clare GAA headquarters in Clareabbey on Tuesday evening.
Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating proposed the ratification of the 2024 All-Ireland winning manager, this was seconded by Central Council delegate Robert Frost of O’Callaghans Mills. It will see the two-time All-Ireland winner who was appointed in October 2019 continue at the helm up to 2028.
“We have been talking to Brian Lohan over the past few weeks and he has indicated that he is interested in staying on. I hope that I can speak for everyone here in saying that we are delighted he will. Looking at a new group coming through in the next few years and hopefully the senior players who have been there since 2013 will continue for at least a year or two more. Brian has indicated that he has the appetite”, Keating told the meeting before proposing a three year term, “the same as when he was first appointed.
He will put together his management team and will report to us in terms of the year gone and who he will be bringing in and hopefully he will have that at the next meeting.
Lohan’s outgoing management included Ken Ralph and Tommy Corbett as selectors along with coaches Brendan Bugler and Rory Gantley. Their future is unclear at this time but both Ralph and Corbett were spectators in Dr Daly Park for the willwego.com Clare Cup final between Clonlara and Inagh/Kilnamona on Sunday.
The proposition was seconded by Central Council delegate Robert Frost who told the delegates that he has seconded the original proposal to appoint Brian.
Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick expressed “delight to hear that Brian is staying on for three years. We have had fantastic days under his leadership”
“Hard luck to the minors in last week’s All-Ireland final. Things didn’t go for them on the day. I’m sure we will see them on the county under 20 and senior teams in the future. Ger is interested in staying on”, Fitzpatrick said.
On the proposition of Kieran Macnamara of Killanena and seconded by Flan Mullane from Clonlara, Ger O’Connell was re-appointed as minor manager for 2026.
The chairman went on to tell the delegates that “Terence Fahy is interested in staying in the role again and from our point of view, he has done a very good job over the last few years with each of the groups that have come in to him. They were quite close to success, very close to winning the Munster title this year against the eventual All-Ireland champions”.
Bodyke’s Sean O’Halloran proposed the re-appointment of the Whitegate clubman which was seconded by board treasurer Brian Fitzpatrick and unanimously accepted by the meeting.
No details were given as to the make-up of the backroom teams for either manager or the duration of the terms for O’Connell and Fahy .
