THE CURRENT impasse in Clare hurling, between players and management, is expected to reach a conclusion in the coming days as the county board’s attempts to reach a solution appear over. The executive await word from manager Mike McNamara regarding whether he intends to resign or dig his heels in further for the winter.
A meeting between the players and McNamara on Sunday failed to reach any agreement with several media outlets already tipping Ger “Sparrow” O'Loughlin to become the next senior manager.
This includes Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald who wrote yesterday that “Clare needs a strong hand at the moment and that’s just what Ger would give”.
Fitzgerald also criticised the players’ role in the attempted ousting of McNamara – Ger Loughnane’s trainer when Clare won two All-Irelands in the 1990s.
Another former manager, Cyril Lyons, who was a selector on this year’s All-Ireland winning under-21 Clare team, is another candidate as are John Minogue, Jim McInerney and Pat O’Connor.
“It would have to be a fairly rapid process what with Christmas coming up and people disappearing,” said a county board source. “They would need time to get a squad together.”
This may all prove premature should McNamara decide to fight this out to the bitter end. He may even be encouraged by support at county board level.
Fitzgerald was seen by many as his natural successor but is committed to the Waterford hurlers for 2010.
“There are people who are agitating away behind the scenes and they need to wake up and realise the damage that they’re doing to Clare hurling,” added Fitzgerald in his weekly column in the Star newspaper.
The similar, if less convoluted, stand-off in Limerick hurling between the players and Justin McCarthy remains at the mediation table with club delegates, senior hurlers and the county board meeting this Saturday to seek a solution. Manager Justin McCarthy will not be present, having addressed the delegates last week.
County board chairman Liam Lenehan confirmed he contemplated stepping down in the wake of the current situation.
“I did consider my position in the last week,” said Lenehan. “If I felt that my stepping down would solve the current problem, I would do so.
“I am not on an ego trip – Limerick GAA and Limerick hurling is more important that any person. I will make an honest effort to bring this to a satisfactory conclusion.”
County secretary Mike O’Riordan also took the opportunity at Monday’s county convention to criticise the playing standards after the 24-point defeat to Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. “The game from a Limerick point of view lacked flair, intensity and steel, which is traditional with Limerick teams,” said O’Riordan.
“The scoreline on the day told its own story with a 24-point drubbing and it is hard to pinpoint any given factor prior to the day to legislate for such a display.
“For the coming year it will be important that everyone will remember this day and that they will feel the pain until there is an opportunity to redeem themselves against Tipperary or Cork in the Munster hurling championship.”
