TODAY IS THE 20th anniversary of one of Clare’s most famous hurling moments when they claimed a landmark Munster triumph.
For the first time in 63 years, Clare were crowned Munster senior hurling champions on 9 July 1995.
They would go on to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup that September but what became of the 15 men who started, two subs that came on and the three-man management team who steered Clare to a 1-17 to 0-11 win over Limerick?
Clare
1. Davy Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge)
Clare’s goalkeeper that day struck the vital goal from the penalty and he’s been a prominent hurling figure ever since. He went on to enjoy a celebrated career for the county and the three-time Allstar retired in 2008.
At management level he steered Waterford to the 2008 All-Ireland final and has been heavily involved with the Limerick IT Fitzgibbon Cup sides.
In 2012 he took the managerial reins of the Clare side and his tenure saw the Banner lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2013. On Saturday he manages the Clare team that face off Cork in a crunch All-Ireland hurling qualifier.
The corner-back was one of the lesser lights in this successful period for Clare hurling. O’Halloran moved to Cork after his inter-county career where he was involved with Mallow but has since returned to his native Sixmilebridge where he is heavily involved in coaching.
Lohan anchored the Clare defence until 2006, was a key fixture on their All-Ireland winning sides and picked up four Allstar awards along the way.
Since retiring Lohan has turned his hand to management. He’s been involved with Limerick senior club side Patrickswell and more recently has taken charge of the UL Fitzgibbon Cup side.
In March, Lohan steered the college to the premier third-level hurling crown and ensured he triumphed in the Fitzgibbon Cup as a manager 21 years after he had done so as a player.
The second of the Lohan brothers in defence, Frank didn’t hang up his inter-county boots until 2008. He won his only Allstar award in 1999 while the Lohan also represented Clare at senior football level.
Currently Lohan lives in Galway and is heavily involved in his local GAA club, Oranmore-Maree. He was also recently a member of the Hurling 2020 Committee.
The wing-back had won an All-Ireland junior hurling crown in 1993 before then winning two senior medals. His only Allstar award came in 1995.
Since retiring Doyle has turned his hand to coaching, being involved with the Sixmilebridge club for a couple of years and then assuming the role of selector with the Clare senior side when Ger O’Loughlin was in charge between 2009 and 2011.
INPHO
INPHO
6. Sean McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
A centre-back colossus on that Clare team, McMahon remained central to the Banner cause until he retired in 2006. He won three Allstar awards during his career as well as an All-Ireland senior club hurling medal in 1999.
Currently he is part of the Clare U21 hurling management team for the first time and they’re getting set for next Wednesday’s Munster semi-final against Waterford.
The inspirational captain of that Clare team has been a well-known hurling figure since. He retired from playing in 2002 but the three -time Allstar has since become an established manager.
He managed Clare between 2004 and 2006 with little success before taking over as Dublin boss in 2009. He guided them to a landmark National league victory in 2011 and a historic Leinster title in 2013.
Daly also enjoyed success at club level in Kerry with Kilmoyley and stepped down as Dublin manager last winter. This year he is a hurling columnist with The Irish Examiner and an analyst for The Sunday Game.
James Meehan / INPHO
James Meehan / INPHO / INPHO
8. Ollie Baker (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
A midfield lynchpin for Clare, Baker retired from playing in 2004. Another St Joseph’s All-Ireland club winner, he also picked up two Allstar awards.
Since finishing up playing, he’s been a selector for Clare and Antrim before taking charge of the Offaly senior hurlers in 2012 and 2013.
Last year he managed Kilmacud Crokes to win the Dublin senior hurling championship.
Better known as an attacker later in his career, O’Connor was midfield on that 1995 team. He won several honours before stepping down in 2004 and was honoured four times as an Allstar.
A teacher in St Flannan’s College, he has been involved in coaching teams at that famous Clare hurling nursery. But in his retirement, his primary role has been as a well-respected hurling pundit.
O’Connor writes a column for The Sunday Independent, features regularly on Newstalk and is an analyst for Sky Sports.
INPHO
INPHO
10. Fergus Tuohy (Clarecastle)
Tuohy was an attacker who found it difficult to remain in the Clare team under Loughnane, being regularly substituted during games. After the Munster final, it was the 1995 All-Ireland decider where ‘Tuts’ flourished as he struck 0-4 against Offaly. Hasn’t had any major coaching jobs since retiring.
INPHO
INPHO
11. PJ O’Connell (O’Callaghan Mills)
PJ ‘Fingers’ O’Connell was man-of-the-match in that 1995 Munster hurling final, an attacking thorn in the side of the Limerick defence.
An unorthodox attacker, O’Connell was described as the ‘free spirit’ of that Clare team by manager Ger Loughnane. He hasn’t been a prominent hurling figure since his retirement.
Left half-forward on that triumphant Clare side in Munster, Hegarty started on the 1995 All-Ireland team and was then a substitute on the team that won the 1997 All-Ireland crown.
Since retiring, he coached Clare senior club side St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in 2010 and he also had a role with Kerry club Kilmoyley when Anthony Daly was in charge of them.
McNamara started on the 1995 team but by the time of the 1997 All-Ireland final, he didn’t get game time. More recently he’s been involved in coaching on the Dublin club scene and has trained the Faughs senior hurling team.
Patrick Bolger / INPHO
Patrick Bolger / INPHO / INPHO
14. Conor Clancy (Kilmaley)
Clancy was fouled for the crucial penalty in the 1995 Munster final which Fitzgerald slammed to the net. He was full-forward on the 1995 All-Ireland winning side and centre-forward on the victorious 1997 team.
Today he is the chairman of his club Kilmaley and he has been central to their recent rise in Clare hurling circles. They have dominated underage hurling in the county after lifting the county U21 title this year after claiming recent county minor successes.
INPHO
INPHO
15. Ger O’Loughlin (Clarecastle)
Sparrow was one of the longer-serving Clare players by 1995 and he would go on to retire in 1999 with several honours including Allstar awards in 1995 and 1997.
He’s since then managed Clare at senior level for the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. At club level O’Loughlin has been a successful coach winning a Clare SHC title with Clarecastle in 2005 and three Limerick senior crowns with Adare between 2007 and 2009.
He steered Kilmallock to Limerick and Munster senior triumphs last winter before they lost out to Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland club final last St Patrick’s Day.
A long-serving Clare hurler, McInerney finally tasted glory in 1995. He managed his native Tulla to Clare senior hurling championship honours in 2007.
He played a key role in helping overhaul Clare’s underage coaching structures to kickstart their recent wave of success. Jim’s son David is currently a key component of the Clare senior hurling side.
Cyril Lyons (Ruan)
Another long-serving Clare senior, Lyons came on as a substitute in that game over Limerick. He took over the managerial reins from Ger Loughnane in 2000 and guided Clare to the 2002 All-Ireland final.
Later the Ruan native did enjoy All-Ireland glory as a manager with the county U21 side that won the title in 2009 against Kilkenny.
The colourful and charismatic manager of the Clare team, Loughnane took over before the 1995 season and supervised a glorious era until he stepped down in 2000.
After that he was in charge of the Galway senior hurlers in 2007 and 2008 but couldn’t end their wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Loughnane has been an outspoken media pundit appearing on The Sunday Game and writing for The Star newspaper.
The trainer of the Clare team during that spell, McNamara took over as manager of the Offaly hurlers for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In 2008 he was appointed as Clare senior manager but he resigned in December 2009 after a controversial fallout with the Banner playing squad.
Tom Honan / INPHO
Tom Honan / INPHO / INPHO
Tony Considine
The final member of that famous Clare management team, Considine went on to be in charge of the Banner hurlers for the 2006 and 2007 seasons but he enjoyed little success.
At club level Considine has thrived in Limerick, winning county senior crowns there with Garryspillane and Kilmallock.
20 years ago today the Clare hurlers won a famous Munster title...but where are they now?
TODAY IS THE 20th anniversary of one of Clare’s most famous hurling moments when they claimed a landmark Munster triumph.
For the first time in 63 years, Clare were crowned Munster senior hurling champions on 9 July 1995.
They would go on to lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup that September but what became of the 15 men who started, two subs that came on and the three-man management team who steered Clare to a 1-17 to 0-11 win over Limerick?
Clare
1. Davy Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge)
Clare’s goalkeeper that day struck the vital goal from the penalty and he’s been a prominent hurling figure ever since. He went on to enjoy a celebrated career for the county and the three-time Allstar retired in 2008.
At management level he steered Waterford to the 2008 All-Ireland final and has been heavily involved with the Limerick IT Fitzgibbon Cup sides.
In 2012 he took the managerial reins of the Clare side and his tenure saw the Banner lift the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2013. On Saturday he manages the Clare team that face off Cork in a crunch All-Ireland hurling qualifier.
2. Michael O’Halloran (Sixmilebridge)
The corner-back was one of the lesser lights in this successful period for Clare hurling. O’Halloran moved to Cork after his inter-county career where he was involved with Mallow but has since returned to his native Sixmilebridge where he is heavily involved in coaching.
3. Brian Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
Lohan anchored the Clare defence until 2006, was a key fixture on their All-Ireland winning sides and picked up four Allstar awards along the way.
Since retiring Lohan has turned his hand to management. He’s been involved with Limerick senior club side Patrickswell and more recently has taken charge of the UL Fitzgibbon Cup side.
In March, Lohan steered the college to the premier third-level hurling crown and ensured he triumphed in the Fitzgibbon Cup as a manager 21 years after he had done so as a player.
4. Frank Lohan (Wolfe Tones)
The second of the Lohan brothers in defence, Frank didn’t hang up his inter-county boots until 2008. He won his only Allstar award in 1999 while the Lohan also represented Clare at senior football level.
Currently Lohan lives in Galway and is heavily involved in his local GAA club, Oranmore-Maree. He was also recently a member of the Hurling 2020 Committee.
5. Liam Doyle (Bodyke)
The wing-back had won an All-Ireland junior hurling crown in 1993 before then winning two senior medals. His only Allstar award came in 1995.
Since retiring Doyle has turned his hand to coaching, being involved with the Sixmilebridge club for a couple of years and then assuming the role of selector with the Clare senior side when Ger O’Loughlin was in charge between 2009 and 2011.
6. Sean McMahon (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
A centre-back colossus on that Clare team, McMahon remained central to the Banner cause until he retired in 2006. He won three Allstar awards during his career as well as an All-Ireland senior club hurling medal in 1999.
Currently he is part of the Clare U21 hurling management team for the first time and they’re getting set for next Wednesday’s Munster semi-final against Waterford.
7. Anthony Daly (Clarecastle)
The inspirational captain of that Clare team has been a well-known hurling figure since. He retired from playing in 2002 but the three -time Allstar has since become an established manager.
He managed Clare between 2004 and 2006 with little success before taking over as Dublin boss in 2009. He guided them to a landmark National league victory in 2011 and a historic Leinster title in 2013.
Daly also enjoyed success at club level in Kerry with Kilmoyley and stepped down as Dublin manager last winter. This year he is a hurling columnist with The Irish Examiner and an analyst for The Sunday Game.
8. Ollie Baker (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
A midfield lynchpin for Clare, Baker retired from playing in 2004. Another St Joseph’s All-Ireland club winner, he also picked up two Allstar awards.
Since finishing up playing, he’s been a selector for Clare and Antrim before taking charge of the Offaly senior hurlers in 2012 and 2013.
Last year he managed Kilmacud Crokes to win the Dublin senior hurling championship.
9. Jamesie O’Connor (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield)
Better known as an attacker later in his career, O’Connor was midfield on that 1995 team. He won several honours before stepping down in 2004 and was honoured four times as an Allstar.
A teacher in St Flannan’s College, he has been involved in coaching teams at that famous Clare hurling nursery. But in his retirement, his primary role has been as a well-respected hurling pundit.
O’Connor writes a column for The Sunday Independent, features regularly on Newstalk and is an analyst for Sky Sports.
10. Fergus Tuohy (Clarecastle)
Tuohy was an attacker who found it difficult to remain in the Clare team under Loughnane, being regularly substituted during games. After the Munster final, it was the 1995 All-Ireland decider where ‘Tuts’ flourished as he struck 0-4 against Offaly. Hasn’t had any major coaching jobs since retiring.
11. PJ O’Connell (O’Callaghan Mills)
PJ ‘Fingers’ O’Connell was man-of-the-match in that 1995 Munster hurling final, an attacking thorn in the side of the Limerick defence.
An unorthodox attacker, O’Connell was described as the ‘free spirit’ of that Clare team by manager Ger Loughnane. He hasn’t been a prominent hurling figure since his retirement.
12. Fergal Hegarty (Kilnamona)
Left half-forward on that triumphant Clare side in Munster, Hegarty started on the 1995 All-Ireland team and was then a substitute on the team that won the 1997 All-Ireland crown.
Since retiring, he coached Clare senior club side St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield in 2010 and he also had a role with Kerry club Kilmoyley when Anthony Daly was in charge of them.
13. Stephen McNamara (Éire Óg)
McNamara started on the 1995 team but by the time of the 1997 All-Ireland final, he didn’t get game time. More recently he’s been involved in coaching on the Dublin club scene and has trained the Faughs senior hurling team.
14. Conor Clancy (Kilmaley)
Clancy was fouled for the crucial penalty in the 1995 Munster final which Fitzgerald slammed to the net. He was full-forward on the 1995 All-Ireland winning side and centre-forward on the victorious 1997 team.
Today he is the chairman of his club Kilmaley and he has been central to their recent rise in Clare hurling circles. They have dominated underage hurling in the county after lifting the county U21 title this year after claiming recent county minor successes.
15. Ger O’Loughlin (Clarecastle)
Sparrow was one of the longer-serving Clare players by 1995 and he would go on to retire in 1999 with several honours including Allstar awards in 1995 and 1997.
He’s since then managed Clare at senior level for the 2010 and 2011 campaigns. At club level O’Loughlin has been a successful coach winning a Clare SHC title with Clarecastle in 2005 and three Limerick senior crowns with Adare between 2007 and 2009.
He steered Kilmallock to Limerick and Munster senior triumphs last winter before they lost out to Ballyhale Shamrocks in the All-Ireland club final last St Patrick’s Day.
Subs
Jim McInerney (Tulla)
A long-serving Clare hurler, McInerney finally tasted glory in 1995. He managed his native Tulla to Clare senior hurling championship honours in 2007.
He played a key role in helping overhaul Clare’s underage coaching structures to kickstart their recent wave of success. Jim’s son David is currently a key component of the Clare senior hurling side.
Cyril Lyons (Ruan)
Another long-serving Clare senior, Lyons came on as a substitute in that game over Limerick. He took over the managerial reins from Ger Loughnane in 2000 and guided Clare to the 2002 All-Ireland final.
Later the Ruan native did enjoy All-Ireland glory as a manager with the county U21 side that won the title in 2009 against Kilkenny.
Management
Ger Loughnane
The colourful and charismatic manager of the Clare team, Loughnane took over before the 1995 season and supervised a glorious era until he stepped down in 2000.
After that he was in charge of the Galway senior hurlers in 2007 and 2008 but couldn’t end their wait for the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Loughnane has been an outspoken media pundit appearing on The Sunday Game and writing for The Star newspaper.
Mike McNamara
The trainer of the Clare team during that spell, McNamara took over as manager of the Offaly hurlers for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In 2008 he was appointed as Clare senior manager but he resigned in December 2009 after a controversial fallout with the Banner playing squad.
Tony Considine
The final member of that famous Clare management team, Considine went on to be in charge of the Banner hurlers for the 2006 and 2007 seasons but he enjoyed little success.
At club level Considine has thrived in Limerick, winning county senior crowns there with Garryspillane and Kilmallock.
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