Clare board to appoint Lyons' successor within a month

CLARE County Board aim to appoint a successor to senior hurling manager Cyril Lyons within a month.

Lyons, who had been in charge of the Banner for three years and had been involved as a selector with Ger Loughnane in 2000, said that he along with trainer Louis Mulqueen and selector Ger "Sparrow" O'Loughlin would not be seeking re-election citing a lack of success as the key reason for his decision.

County chairman Fr Michael McNamara last night said that the search for Lyons' replacement would begin immediately. "The clubs were set to nominate people for positions with the minor and U21 teams, so now they will also deal with the senior matter.

"The clubs have two weeks to come back with their nominations. Then either I or the management committee will begin interviews immediately based on those nominations and hopefully, be ready to appoint someone by mid October. All clubs will have an input and will be consulted in this matter.

"But we will not be rushed into any decision. We are now at a crossroads for Clare hurling," the chairman added.

Former Clare selector and Irish Examiner columnist Tony Considine said he was surprised by the weekend announcement, given the progress under Lyons over the last number of years.

"I am shocked," said Considine yesterday.

"I thought that he had done a good job and was building a good team. You could not describe his term as unsuccessful.

"After all he took the side to an All-Ireland final last year and was terribly unlucky against Galway in Cusack Park this year when they were forced to play a qualifier six days after being beaten in the Munster championship.

"Cyril will be a hard act to follow," added Considine. "To be honest, I don't think that there is anyone better than him within the county and indeed there are few outside the county as good or better than him.

"It is strange that he did not give it another year; he was building a good team, had taken a difficult job after taking over from Ger and this was very much Cyril's team.

"Maybe if he got the full backing and more support at county board level he would still be there. Maybe it is time for more officials and players to stand up and be counted."

Meanwhile, Loughnane, who managed the county to All-Ireland success in 1995 and 1997, said that the board should undertake an intensive search for Lyons replacement, even if it means going outside the county.

"If they are looking for the best man possible for the job, then they should consider all their options both inside and outside the county," said Loughnane yesterday.

However, he feels that there is massive interest for the position within the county. "There are a good number of people who are anxious to get the job inside the county and have made it known since Cyril's intentions were known.

"There will be a queue of fellows for the position."

Jamesie O'Connor, who was a team mate of Lyons' when Clare won the All-Ireland SHC title in 1995, said that Lyons had been desperately unlucky not to land more silverware in his spell at the helm.

"It took a lot of guts to come in after Ger left and Cyril had the character to do so.

"In 2001 we were desperately unlucky against Tipperary in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and they went onto win the All-Ireland that year. But in that game and indeed in all the games under Cyril the preparations were excellent in every sense.

"There is a certain amount of sadness with the decision on a personal level. Cyril was one of the elder players on the county team when I came on board in the early nineties and he was one of those who eased my introduction to intercounty hurling. He is a true gentleman."

Ironically, over 90% of respondents to a recent survey on local radio station Clare FM voted in favour of a change of management of the intercounty hurling team.