Clare coach Kennedy the latest to call it a day

CLARE has joined an every increasing group of counties without a senior football coach following the decision of present incumbent John Kennedy not to seek another term in charge.

The former Kerry All-Ireland winner met with county board officials on Wednesday to inform them he wasn’t interested in continuing the job.

“I thought long and hard about it since our defeat by Sligo in the All-Ireland qualifiers and concluded it was time to move aside and let a fresh face come in and take the county on to the next level,” he said.

“Once my two other selectors, Frankie Griffin and Dave Loughman decided they were not continuing, it made my decision that bit easier.

“The time is right for a fresh approach. I’m convinced the talent is there for the county to be a strong football force, but players who are up to the necessary standard must give the commitment. Unfortunately some players were not prepared to give it and more’s the pity.”

In the three years he was in charge, Clare won the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2004, and a trip to Boston, but that coveted Munster title eluded him.

“The highlight of my three years has to be that great victory over Westmeath in the qualifiers this year. It set up another great game against Sligo and I knew if we won that game, it would mean a trip to Croke Park and a clash with possibly Tyrone which is where I wanted the team to be, rubbing shoulders with the big boys.

“Sadly it didn’t work out that way for us. In the first two years in charge we made excellent progress, but the third year was very disappointing.

“While it was brilliant for Clare to see their county champions win the Munster Club title, there was a downside to it also. It had the effect of robbing the county team of 4/5 of their players for the league.

“When you add in the injuries we had to Conor Whelan (broken collar bone) and Donal O’Sullivan (groin operation), we found ourselves way understrength for most of the season. A county like Clare needs every player if they are to have any chance of winning trophies.

“I would like to thank the Clare County Board and in particular the chairman, secretary and football liaison officer Tom Downes for their help and co-operation over the three years.

“They backed football in the county 100% and couldn’t do enough for me and the selectors. I would also like to thank senior hurling coach Anthony Daly for his co-operation with training facilities and wish the footballers every success in the future.

Kennedy has been linked to the vacant Limerick position, and admits being approached unofficially about it.

“I’ve heard nothing official and won’t make any comment for now other than to say if an official approach is made, I would talk to the Limerick County Board.”