Evans among those in shake-up to become new Clare football boss

It is understood that Evans joins the shorlist and interviewed for the role alongside Declan O'Keeffe and Michael Neylon.

SHORTLIST:John Evans is the latest to be linked with the vacant Clare role. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Former Roscommon, Tipperary and Wicklow manager John Evans is the latest to be linked with the vacant Clare role.

Evans is understood to have shortlisted and interviewed for the role along with fellow Kerryman Declan O’Keeffe and the Banner County’s current U20 manager Michael Neylon.

Cork’s John Fintan Daly and another ex-Clare selector Declan Downes are also in the shake-up. Listowel’s Jerome Stack, who brought St Brigid’s to an All-Ireland senior final earlier this year, and former Clare coach Gerry McGowan of Sligo have been discussed too but may form part of prospective coaching tickets. 

Stack is currently coaching Castlehaven, who are aiming to retain their Cork SFC title when they take on Nemo Rangers. 

Evans, who guided Cill na Martra to Cork premier intermediate and Munster titles as well as an All-Ireland intermediate final In January, was last involved in the inter-county scene with Wicklow in 2018 and ’19. Prior to that, he was in charge of Roscommon for three years between 2013 and ’15 in which he brought the county from Division 3 to 1.

In his fourth season with Tipperary in 2012, the Killorglin man stepped down having led them from Division 4 to 2 as well as the county’s first Munster U21 title in ’10. Evans also served as coach to Seamus McEnaney in Meath in 2012.

Former Kerry goalkeeper O’Keeffe served as a selector and goalkeeping coach under Colm Collins from 2019 to ’22. The Rathmore man has been living in the catchment area of Clooney-Quin for several years and has managed St Breckan’s.

Neylon last month agreed to continue as U20 manager for a fifth season. He too has been a selector to Collins as well as Mick O’Dwyer and guided his own club St Joseph’s, Miltown-Malbay to a couple of senior county titles.

It is nearly five weeks since Mark Fitzgerald stepped down for the Clare manager’s role after one season to become Kerry U20s’ coach alongside manager Tomás Ó Sé.

Clare have reached the Munster final the last two years and consequently qualified for the last 16 of the Sam Maguire Cup. They have again avoided Kerry in the provincial semi-final draw and will face the winners of Tipperary and Waterford next April for a place in the decider.

In further good news for Clare, it is also expected leading footballers Eoin Cleary and Keelan Sexton will be available for selection in 2025 having taken a break this past season.

The committee charged with finding Fitzgerald’s successor comprises county chairman Kieran Keating, head of operations Deirdre Murphy, former minor manager Dermot Coughlan and ex-county star forward David Tubridy.