Managerial changes not at usual levels

THE IMMINENT resignation of Mike McNamara as Clare hurling manager has disrupted what looked like being a relatively quiet season for managerial reappointments.

With doubt also surrounding the future of Justin McCarthy as Limerick hurling manager, it now appears these counties may be extending their search to fill these positions into the new year, although, compared to recent years, the majority of county managers have held on to their roles.

Of the 13 counties set to compete for next year’s Liam MacCarthy Cup, Antrim were the only county who went searching for a new manager. With joint managers Terence McNaughton and Dominic McKinley stepping down, that search ended last month with the appointment of Dinny Cahill to the position.

This marks the Tipperary native’s second coming with Antrim, having managed them from 2002 to 2005.

The longest serving manager in hurling is Brian Cody, who is entering his 12th season in charge of Kilkenny, with none of the remaining managers having served any more than three years.

Given McNamara and McCarthy were originally intent on staying in their positions for another year – and McCarthy by all accounts still is – it hasn’t been a high turnover season in terms of hurling reappointments.

In football, there have been just seven new appointments. In Munster, Micheál McDermott succeeds Frank O’Doherty as Clare manager, while John Owens succeeds John Kiely in Waterford.

There’s just one new appointment in Connacht as Galway replace Liam Sammon with Joe Kernan.

In Leinster, there were two new appointments, where Peter Fitzpatrick succeeds Eamonn McEneaney in Louth and, in Westmeath, Brendan Hackett succeeds Tomás Ó Flatharta.

Ulster football also sees just two replacements: Paddy O’Rourke succeeds Peter McDonnell in Armagh, and James McCartan replaces Ross Carr in Down.

There was some delay in the reappointing of Limerick football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan for a fifth year. However, at last week’s county board meeting this matter was rubberstamped, and returning alongside the Kerry man will be coach Donie Buckley and selectors Joe Redington and Paddy Ivess, and new backroom member Maurice Horan from Mayo, who will also take charge of the Limerick under-21s.

The exit of McNamara from Clare has been accompanied by widespread speculation as to who will succeed him – even before his resignation is confirmed.

The frontrunner remains former Clare star Ger O’Loughlin, who has notable success in recent years as manager of Limerick club side Adare, taking them to three successive county titles. O’Loughlin was also a Clare selector under Cyril Lyons in 2003, having spent many years as a forward with the county during Clare’s most successful years under Ger Loughnane.

From the outset the name of Clare under-21 manager John Minogue has been doing the rounds, but despite his success in leading that under-21 team to All-Ireland success, Minogue has ruled himself out of contention.

The other names to emerge in recent days are Pat O’Connor and Jim McInerney, who may yet form part of a new backroom team.

** MARTIN STOREY is the new Wexford minor hurling manager. Captain of the last All-Ireland winning senior hurling team in 1996, Storey takes over from Paul Dempsey.