Sparrow enlists Chaplin to serve as Clare selector

NEW Clare senior hurling manager Ger ‘Sparrow’ O’Loughlin has appointed Danny Chaplin as a selector.

The appointment of Chaplin, a former Clare senior and All-Ireland club winner with Sixmilebridge in 1996, follows on from the news that Shannon rugby player Fiach O’Loughlin is coming on board as the team’s physical trainer. O’Loughlin plans to unveil one more selector and the group plan to meet on St Stephen’s Day to draw up a panel.

Chaplin is highly respected within the county and is a brother of John and Christy ‘Rusty’ Chaplin, who were members of Clare’s All-Ireland winning senior panels in 1995 and 1997.

Chaplin, a hard-working forward in his playing days, played alongside his brothers John, Christy and David in Sixmilebridge’s finest hour in 1996. He is a nephew of well-known inter-county referee Seanie McMahon and is the father of Cathal Chaplin, who won an All-Ireland U21 medal with Clare in 2009.

Danny Chaplin enjoyed two brief spells on the Clare hurling panel in the 1980s and hurled for his native Sixmilebridge for 20 years, capturing seven county SHC, three Munster club titles and that memorable All-Ireland success.

He also won an All-Ireland junior hurling championship medal with Clare in 1993.

After retiring from club hurling, Chaplin served for two years as a selector with Sixmilebridge before moving to Broadford, who have made spectacular progress in recent years.