Updated at 20.50
DONAL MOLONEY AND Gerry O’Connor were ratified as the new joint managers of the Clare senior hurling team at a county board meeting tonight.
The pair were left in pole position to be appointed after the revelation last Friday night that Anthony Daly had withdrawn from the race to be the next supremo.
All-Ireland winning captain Daly decided to bow out of the reckoning as he was not keen to enter into a contest for the position.
That paved the way for Moloney and O’Connor — the only remaining candidates for the position — to take charge. Their appointment was confirmed this evening.
They succeed Davy Fitzgerald — appointed last Friday night as the new Wexford manager — after he had been at the helm in Clare for the past five campaigns.
It is believed that Cork All-Ireland winner Donal Óg Cusack will remain on board in a coaching capacity having filled that role this year under Fitzgerald.
Scarriff native Moloney and Killanena native O’Connor enjoyed a brilliant run of success with Clare underage teams.
Remarkably they steered Clare to five successive Munster underage hurling titles — minor in 2010 and 2011 before the U21 wins in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The duo saw Clare lose the 2010 All-Ireland minor final and 2011 All-Ireland minor semi-final under their watch before impressively stringing together an All-Ireland U21 three-in-a-row between 2012 and 2014.
Colm Collins was also ratified for another year in charge of Clare’s senior footballers.
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It’s fair enough. Class act as he is, he’s getting on and going against arguably the most physical nation in rugby. Don’t want to be carrying around injured men because he would be targeted almost every game. Only way I could have forseen him going is playing out/managing the last 20 of a game.
@Ultan Corcoran: Yeah you’re right, and even someone who would be a test bench player has to be up to starting. With Johnny I can see whenever he came on (start or after 55 mins) some monstrous SA back rower or lock trying to ‘test his durability’. Plus I expect the training games to be pretty full on as well as everyone tries to stake their claims. Lions tours are always tough so this might actually extend his career too. Along with giving him an extra chip on the shoulder to add to his motivation next season.
@Paddy Kennedy: Stating facts on everything man, nearly every Saffa forward would be out to paste him from the get go. Think every tour is different and being SA this time around, thats why the bruisers are being called up rather than the less physical lads. A shame but definitely could elongate his careers in both Blue and Green.
@Ultan Corcoran: every forward wants to paste the 10. Sexton is one of the strongest defenders playing 10 arround. He’s not fit so doesn’t go and that’s fair enough but there’s far flakier 10′s about
@Chris Mc: nothing to do with flakieness it’s about durability why risk having your starting 10 injured 15 min into game 1 and having to re make a game plan plan the rest of the series and bring in a extra player.
Think you might see him called up yet. If there are injuries at fly-half, you’d certainly expect Sexton to get the nod over Ford say. Other than that, he’s not played much since the 6N so it’s arguably the right call by the selectors.
@Carmine Lorenzo: If they’re worried about his durability today, that’s not gonna change in 4 weeks’ time. Ford goes before Sexton based on the comments of Jenkins. No doubt.
@Ricky Wright: I’d be surprised if Gatland picked Ford even as a replacement due to his lack of physicality.
@Ricky Wright: I get what you’re saying, but if the test week is approaching with a few of the club games out of the way, I could see them opting for Sexton ahead of Ford for example if there were injuries. If this squad was picked at the end of the 6N, there’s no doubt in my mind that they’d have selected him.
@Carmine Lorenzo: Agreed. I think he travels if the squad was picked the night after we beat England. But if the squad was picked in January, maybe he wouldn’t have. For Sexton, he needs game time to prove he’s fit, not on form. He’s not gonna get that. I thought they’d bring him and use him sparingly until the first test. Easier to do with a shorter schedule.
Tom Brady, I’ll just leave that there.
@Aidan Kearney: i dont follow NFL, but how many times has Brady gone off injured this season?
@Gar: he hurt his knee in 2008 missed a season I think. Missed 4 games in 2016 because he let some air out of a football
@Aidan Kearney: god forbib someone should have an ambition.
@Aidan Kearney: if sexton was made of the same stuff as Brady he might of been on plane , Brady has rarely been injured
@Aidan Kearney: good lad I’m sure we would be embarrassed with your sporting or rugby cv
@Aidan Kearney: Larry Bird!
Who’s got next in naming old US athletes in sports that have nothing to do with rugby?
@Aidan Kearney: ha…if brady had got the same treatment as sexton, he’d have retired at 24…
‘roughing the passer’ ill just jeave that there
Wow 4 nations and they get to pick 3 no.10′s….. they mustn’t listen to Newstalk radio or to iiam toland. That’s some reflection of how those outside Ireland see sexton.
@Kevin O’brien: are opinions outside of Ireland more valid than those in Ireland
Off the ball are at it right now. It’s so funny to listen to them moan. They are the Johnny Sexton fan club. It’s so funny to hear them make up excuses.
There’s a lot of training and warmups before the tests .Not wishing any injuries on any player but there will be a few for sure.
Plays against LaRog and goes. Shame for him, would have been a nice cherry on top of the twilight of his career, always more that go out so hope for a few yet. Some mad selections in there, Saffies will steam roll it.