Brian Lohan is set to be offered a further three years as Clare hurling manager. The news emerged on social media on Monday night with the announcement that the unanimous recommendation of the county officers was that the double All-Ireland winner be reappointed after two years in charge.
This still has to go before the county board for ratification. Lohan was stated to be aware of the decision.
In ways it has been a turbulent couple of years with constant focus on county board matters and governance but on the field, Lohan has made steady progress reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals in 2020 and this year coming within a Patrick Collins save of eliminating eventual finalists Cork in the qualifiers.
Whereas All-Ireland champions Limerick have cast a long shadow, Clare have been buoyant enough and may be able to strengthen the panel next year with the return of former All Star Peter Duggan from his travels and the hoped-for recovery from concussion of Shane O'Donnell.
Players are said to be supportive of the manager with star player Tony Kelly telling media two weeks ago when receiving his player of the month award for June:
“The only question mark should be if he wants to continue. There should be no debate otherwise,” said Kelly. “If Brian Lohan wants the Clare job, he should be given the Clare job in my opinion.
“He came in in 2020. In 2019, we didn’t have a great campaign and he steadied the ship. There was a lot going on in terms of Covid and he progressed us a bit last year.
“This year we did make improvements again and if you can get the likes of Shane O’Donnell and Peter Duggan back next year, it would be a massive, massive help to him and to us as well.
“If it was up to me or the players, we’d love if he decided to continue on. There should be no real debate. It shouldn’t be up for discussion. If he wants the job, he should get it.”
