Lohan not ready to give up yet

BRIAN LOHAN is committed to the Clare hurling squad for at least another season.

Producing a display against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final to match his best over the course of an illustrious career stretching back to the early ’90s, he confirmed yesterday that he has no intention of giving up. “I’ll continue all right,’ he said.

Lohan is one of several players singled out by county secretary Pat Fitzgerald in his report to Saturday’s convention in the West County. In a section headed: ‘Winning isn’t everything, It’s the only thing,’ Fitzgerald recalls the sympathy “showered” on the players for the bravery of their performance in Croke Park.

“One couldn’t but indulge in such hyperbole ... For the management and the players, there’s little comfort in moral victories when the result is all that matters.

“They were devastated to the point where they were almost inconsolable. In a way it was a result which almost mocked natural sporting justice. A team vilified early in the campaign was fully vindicated as they turned up the heat and turned in a display that bordered on the awesome.

“Unfortunately, this shattering defeat probably will close the chapter on a glorious era and the inter-county careers of a couple of players like Brian Quinn and David Forde and, most notably Brian Lohan - unquestionably the greatest full-back of our, if not all, time.”

Elsewhere in his report, he again refers to Lohan, along with Sean McMahon and Colin Lynch, noting that some people lost faith in these players and the management following the Munster championship defeat to Tipperary.

“But those of little faith got their answer before year’s end with all three players making the (Guinness) Legends team, in addition to winning Allstar nominations. The three certainly owe Clare hurling nothing.”

Mr Fitzgerald pays tribute to John Kennedy for his three years in charge of the senior footballers, saying that he agreed with the view of the former Kerry star that the Clare players “had to show a major change in attitude” if they were to make progress.

Dealing with fixtures, he feels that the time is right for a radical overhaul of the club championship, saying that it beggars belief that the county is “top heavy” with so many senior clubs.

“Teams shouldn’t be senior on their reputation or their history. Invoke an exercise where performances are monitored over a period of time and let that be the case line which determines their status,” he comments.

*A motion from the Ruane club, calls for payment of €2,500 “compensation” by any American club obtaining the services of a player going over to play a championship with them.