Players realise their time is running out to win another All-Ireland, admits Clare manager O’Connor
CLARE’S players realise time is running out for them if they want to add to their 2013 All-Ireland success, their jointmanager Gerry O’Connor has claimed ahead of Sunday’s Munster SHC opener in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Even though O’Connor contends that this Banner side is different to the team that won the Liam MacCarthy in such thrilling fashion, many of the personnel remain the same and the likes of Tony Kelly and Conor McGrath are now entering their peak years as an intercounty hurlers and know they need to deliver in Munster — and beyond. Incredibly, Clare haven’t been back to Croke Park since beating Cork in that wonderful All-Ireland final replay, which adds to the sense that this golden generation of Banner hurlers have underachieved. ‘I think this is a different team to 2013,’ O’Connor said. ‘Every team evolves over a period of two to three years. Galway have arrived, in that their team building is now over. Waterford have evolved. Tipperary, Clare and Limerick are still trying to build a team. ‘A lot of our guys are very mature in terms of mentality. While there is no elder statesman in our team, John Conlon at 28 is the oldest, there are a bunch of guys between 25 and 28 who have done a lot and they know it is time for this team to deliver some really solid performances in the Munster Championship.’ And O’Connor feels that the players accept that they have underperformed in the past few years. ‘As a group, they probably feel that they haven’t delivered but we don’t need to reflect any more on that. ‘For the last six months, I don’t think a group of players could have committed themselves more and applied themselves more than the Clare senior panel. ‘They’ve been tremendous in their application. They realise time is running out. You only have a certain lifespan as an inter-county player in this day and age. ‘This year is a huge year for us because the Clare public were very accommodating and lenient on us last year because they felt we were learning how this whole process works. I wouldn’t expect them to be as
OFFALY are wasting little time in their search for a replacement for former manager Stephen Wallace, with former Dublin forward Vinnie Murphy and Niall Hobbert said to be in the frame. Murphy and Hobbert, joint managers of St Peregrine’s in Dublin, were linked with the role when Wallace was initially appointed, and have reportedly been contacted to see if they’re interested. Offaly GAA chairman Tommy Byrne had promised to move swiftly to find a replacement for Wallace following his dismissal on Wednesday and has accepted responsibility for the failed appointment. The Kerryman’s reign as manager got off to a flying start just five months ago when his team beat Wexford and then came from behind at Parnell Park to draw with Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup. Yet just 133 days later the two-time All-Ireland junior title-winning Kingdom boss