Only two nominations in race to be Clare hurling boss

Clare GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald has confirmed that only two nominations were received for the position of senior hurling manager and reckons it could be late next week before the interview process commences.

Wed, 05 Oct, 2016 - 01:00

Eoghan Cormican

Anthony Daly, who previously managed the county between 2004 and 2006, was nominated by his club, Clarecastle, while the joint ticket of Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor have also been nominated.

The deadline for nominations closed on Monday to fill the void left by Davy Fitzgerald.

“There are two nominations so we, the officers of the board, must now meet to finalise and crystallise our process,” said Fitzgerald last night.

“We did have a discussion on this matter already but we will meet again on Monday to talk through what our process will be ahead of addressing club delegates at Tuesday’s county board meeting.”

Fitzgerald said it is unlikely a new management ticket will be unveiled at October’s county board meeting next week.

Daly is believed to have lined up former Clare team-mate Brian Lohan and 2001 All-Ireland-winning captain Tommy Dunne as part of his proposed backroom team.

Moloney and O’Connor, meanwhile, led the Clare minors to back-to-back Munster titles in 2010 and 2011 before delivering three All-Ireland U21 titles on the bounce (2012-14). O’Connor stepped away in 2015 citing work commitments, with Moloney remaining at the helm.

Clare are one of four top-tier hurling counties — along with Laois, Offaly, and Wexford — on the search for a new manager. In Wexford’s case, outgoing boss Liam Dunne is involved in the race to lead the county for the 2017 campaign.

Elsewhere, Fermoy are believed to be considering an appeal against the red card shown to Cork footballer Tomás Clancy at the end of last Friday’s PIHC semi-final replay against Cloyne.

Clancy and former Cork hurler Diarmuid O’Sullivan both received straight red cards deep in second-half stoppage time. Unless Clancy is successful in overturning the decision, he will miss Sunday’s final against Bandon.