Clare will play with more freedom, Donal Moloney hints

Newly appointed Clare joint-manager Donal Moloney has hinted at a return to the uninhibited style of hurling which delivered the county three consecutive All-Ireland U21 titles.

Moloney and Gerry O’Connor were ratified as the county’s new senior hurling managers on Tuesday evening and Moloney said their favoured approach is the open, free-flowing brand employed by the successful minor and U21 teams they oversaw between 2010 and 2014.

“From our perspective, we got huge satisfaction from how the minors and U21s played and the style in which they played. We appreciate senior is a different level and the freedom you get at U21 level may not be as available at senior. Our philosophy would certainly be along the lines of the style we played at U21 level,” Moloney told Clare FM.

O’Connor, who described their elevation to senior management as “an opportunity of a lifetime”, identified the squad’s collective physicality and aerial prowess as two areas where improvement will be sought.

“What stood out in both the All-Ireland final and semis, outside of the high scoring, was the physicality and the actual ability of both finalists to win their own ball, particularly aerial ball.

“We’ll be challenging ourselves, the players and coaching team to work together to come up with a very viable solution to ensure we won’t be found wanting when it comes to competing both physically and in the air.”

Returning Clare to the top table is an achievable target, he added.

“Once you have a common goal and everyone is on the same wavelength, nothing is impossible.”

Moloney added: “Back in 2011 with the U21 team, their objective was to be the best in Ireland. They didn’t necessarily say they were going to win Munster and All-Ireland championships, but the objective was that they would prepare in every way to be the best in Ireland. That is our thought process and we’ll see can we get a similar sentiment going again.”

It’s been confirmed that Donal Óg Cusack will remain part of the Banner set-up as ‘head coach’ and will be assisted by Limerick native Liam Cronin (coach) and Kelvin Harold (strength and conditioning). Selectors will be added to the backroom team, with O’Connor revealing discussions are ongoing with two prospective candidates.

On the decision to retain the services of the former Cork goalkeeper, Moloney explained: “We have seen with some players how they have really developed their skill-sets from one-to-one support from Donal Óg and we deem that to be very important.”