Daly rules out replacing Lyons as Clare boss

FORMER double All-Ireland-winning Clare captain Anthony Daly yesterday ruled himself out as a candidate to replace Cyril Lyons as manager of the county senior hurling team.

“I haven’t been approached by anyone, but I don’t see it as a realistic option. I have three young kids, the sports shop in Ennis, running a pub out the road, it’s just not on.

“I’d love to have a go at it sometime, but it’s just not a runner at the moment, I don’t have the time.”

The abrupt departure of Lyons following a County Board meeting where a proposal that he should be re-appointed was sidelined, has thrown the county into turmoil, with rumour battling counter-rumour about what prompted the decision.

The former manager has refused to comment on the matter stating a preference to let the matter die, but sources close to Lyons claim his decision had nothing to do with the players, as was suggested in local media, but was prompted by the refusal of the County Board to accept the motion for his re-appointment.

Current captain Seanie McMahon vehemently denied the allegations of a ‘player-shove’.

“There’s a lot of nonsense going on about player power in Clare, about this being the result of a ‘player-shove’. That’s just not true, there is nothing to it. This was entirely Cyril’s decision, there was no player meeting, no ultimatums, nothing like that ever happened.

“I think it’s an insult to Cyril and an insult to the players to see stuff like that coming out, to be honest, especially from people who should know better. It was very disappointing to see it.”

While stating that there was no player summit in opposition to Lyons, there was no meeting either to call for his reinstatement. McMahon explained why. “The one thing about Cyril, he’s his own man and once he makes up his mind, that’s it. He’s a proud man, made the decision, and you have to respect that.