Lyons shocks Clare with decision to quit

Clare have begun the search for a new senior hurling manager following yesterday's announcement from Cyril Lyons that he would not be going forward for a fourth year in the position.

His decision has taken the county board by surprise, as he had been deemed the automatic choice for another term in charge.

In recent days, however, Lyons had discussed the future with his two selectors, Louis Mulqueen and Ger O'Loughlin, and together they informed the county board that they would not be seeking another term, largely citing the time commitments involved over the past three years. Lyons had also been involved with the Clare management back in 2000 when acting as a selector with Ger Loughnane.

"The county is very surprised by his decision," said Clare press officer Des Crowe. "No one really anticipated it and there was no hint from Lyons himself that he was about to call it a day.

"The matter was discussed at the county board meeting last week and if a decision was to be made there and then Lyons would have been reappointed without a dissenting voice."

His finest achievement as manager was taking Clare to the All-Ireland final last year, beating en route Waterford, the then Munster champions, and also Wexford, Galway and Dublin. This year the high point came when they defeated Tipperary in the first round of the Munster championship, though a combination of injury and suspension weakened their hand against Cork and they were well beaten, before narrowly losing again to Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Lyons also won an All-Ireland as a player in 1995, and his decision to step down could be linked to his many years' involvement with the county as a player, selector, and manager. He also admitted that many of Clare's finest players were coming to the end of their careers, although he was confident too that enough younger players were coming through to take up the slack.

The matter of a replacement for Lyons inevitably raises the question of whether Ger Loughnane can be tempted back into the position, although that appears unlikely. Former player Seán Stack is another possible candidate.

In the meantime the Clare county secretary Pat Fitzgerald will be writing to all clubs in the county inviting them to make nominations for the position, with a decision on the new man not expected for several weeks.

In Kerry, meanwhile, the situation with their senior football management was discussed at a county board meeting last night, primarily to decide what route will be taken in appointing the management team for next year.

"There are various issues that have to be discussed first," said Kerry county chairman Seán Walsh, "and also whether the management team should be selected by the county, or if an election should be used to decide. But either way a final decision on the management will not be made until some time next month."

Central to those discussions is the intention of Páidí Ó Sé, who has yet to fully disclose if he wants to put his name forward for another year. Though the indication is that Ó Sé is considering one more year in charge, despite the disappointments of losing to Tyrone this year, and also Armagh last year, it remains to be seen exactly what sort of support he will find at county board level.

Former Kerry captain Seamus Moynihan is expected to be fit for next month's International Rules tour in Australia despite leaving the field after just three minutes when playing for his club Glenflesk at the weekend. Moynihan, who will again captain the Irish team in Australia, suffered a recurrence of an Achilles tendon injury, although his decision to pull out of the game was described as a precautionary measure.

Tyrone's Brian Dooher and Tipperary's Brendan Cummins were yesterday respectively named as the Vodafone footballer and hurler of the month for August. Dooher was chosen for his performance at wing forward against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final. Cummins was honoured for his memorable display in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Kilkenny.

It was the second time in two years that the Tipperary goalkeeper collected a player of the month award.