Clare boss hopes Kilmurry players will answer call

CLARE football manager Michéal McDermott is hopeful that more members of county senior champions Kilmurry-Ibrickane will be part of his squad for the 2012 season.

Defender Martin McMahon was the only regular representative from the 2010 All-Ireland club finalists in the Banner senior side this year although clubmate Declan Callinan was introduced as a substitute against Down during their All-Ireland qualifier defeat in June. McDermott is optimistic that situation will change next year with players like Enda Coughlan, Darren Hickey and Stephen Moloney examples of those who would come into the frame.

However, the Clare boss intends to defer any plans to recruit more players from the Quilty-based club until after their club championship commitments have concluded as they prepare for a Munster SFC semi-final date on November 20.

“The full focus of the Kilmurry-Ibrickane lads at the moment is the Munster club championship and they deserve to be left alone to concentrate on that,” he said.

“Whenever their season does draw to a close, then that will be the time to sit down with them and talk about getting involved with us in Clare.

“For now they need to think about the big games they have coming up. But I would be very hopeful that come the 2012 league and championship, we will have a number of Kilmurry-Ibrickane guys on board with us.”

McDermott has also added Limerick native Michael Cahill to his backroom team for the coming season. Following a recommendation from new Waterford senior hurling physical trainer Pat Flanagan, who previously played a key role with the Kerry footballers, McDermott brought Cahill on board to take charge of Clare’s strength and conditioning.

Mayo legend Liam McHale will remain part of the Clare setup as a selector with particular emphasis on the coaching of the squad’s forwards, and James Foran completes the management setup.

“Michael is originally from Mungret in Limerick but is now based in Tralee where he is working. He would have studied in IT Tralee where he trained under Pat Flanagan and it was through Pat, that Michael was recommended as a guy to bring into our setup. Given Pat’s record at intercounty level, that was a serious recommendation.

“We had a trial game last Sunday where Michael made a presentation to the players. We’ll be moving into fitness tests then this weekend and then we’ll be given them their individual training programmes for the closed months of November and December.

“The lads are very enthusiastic and Michael will bring a great element of professionalism to our setup. I’m delighted that Liam and James are also with us, and Liam is going to be focusing on the coaching of our forwards this year.

“League promotion has to be our aim next year. That will give us a good platform for the Munster championship where it is a huge plus that we’ve avoided Cork and Kerry, and that we’ve a bye into the Munster semi-final.”