O’Loughlin named as third senior selector for Clare

AFTER all the speculation surrounding the potential appointment of Anthony Daly, it came as a surprise when former forward star Ger O’Loughlin was named as the third senior selector, to replace the outgoing John Minogue on the Clare management team.

Sparrow, as he is popularly known, has no previous managerial experience at this level, yet Clare manager Cyril Lyons was in no doubt about his potential.

“He was my number one candidate. He was available, willing to do the job, and I’m delighted to be working with him again. I played with him for many years in the Clare forward line and we know each other very well.

“I talked to him about the job and was very impressed with what he had to say. I believe he will be a positive addition to the team.”

Though he didn’t opt for Daly, an All-Ireland-winning captain and surely a future manager of Clare, it’s not surprising that Lyons would choose to go with someone from the successful ground-breaking side of 1995, and with O’Loughlin in particular.

Replacing Minogue was never going to be easy. The job done by the Clare management team in bringing the county to this year’s All-Ireland final was second only to that done by Brian Cody and his fellow-selectors in winning that All-Ireland.

Starting with yet another heart-breaking loss to old rivals Tipperary, a defeat that could have signalled the final disintegration of what had been a wonderful side, Clare regrouped and went on to record a succession of impressive victories, including wins over Wexford, Galway, and Munster champions Waterford.

As acknowledged by Lyons, Minogue played a major role in that.

“He made an immense contribution, but then he has a great record with St Flannan’s over the years. The majority of those who come onto the Clare team come through Flannan’s, and John has trained I think, five Harty and four All-Ireland-winning teams - that’s a tremendous record.

“ It was a big advantage to us that most of those who came onto the Clare panel over the past number of years were past pupils of John’s, and the background knowledge he had of those players was a great help to me.

“It’s a lot of experience to lose, but against that, I’ve been involved now for three years, so I’d now know the lads well myself. His reasons for leaving were personal but I’d like to thank him for his contribution.”

Despite all the speculation, Anthony Daly was never going forward for the senior position but he had expressed interest in becoming manager of the minor team. However, a clash of interest with his own club, Clarecastle, ruled that one out.

“I’d love to have had a cut at it, but I weighed it up and decided against it,” Daly confirmed yesterday.

“If Clarecastle had won the county final (they were beaten by Sixmilebridge), I’d have done it all right, but I had a chat with the boys over the weekend, Victor (O’Loughlin, brother of Ger), Tom Howard and Paddy Healy, the other selectors with Clarecastle, and we decided to give it another lash.

“I wouldn’t have time to do the two jobs, with the family, the pub, the shop, and I’m training young lads back in west Clare as well. I have to give that another year.

That minor position was left open for the moment, as was the appointment of a new U21 manager to work with coach Davy Fitzgerald, where Alan Cunningham, who lead Wolfe Tones Na Sionna to an All-Ireland Club final the most likely candidate.