*Declan Downes. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
FORMER CLARE selector Declan Downes has taken charge of Ennistymon and Shane Daniels has finalised his Éire Óg management.
Downes who had formed an impressive ticket when he was in the running to succeed Mark Fitzgerald as Clare senior football manager has been appointed as Ennistymon’s manager succeeding ex Clare midfielder Ger Quinlan.
Kilmihil native Declan spent nine seasons as a selector with the Clare senior footballers, eight of which were with Colm Collins and the final one with Fitzgerald.
His predecessor Quinlan had been Ennistymon manager for the past two seasons and prior to this served in a coaching role when they reached the Clare SFC final in 2018 and 2022.
Munster championship winner Brendan Rouine and his brother Michael Rouine who was involved in Ennistymon’s Féile successes over a decade ago continue in their roles as selectors. John Conneally joins the management as a selector with a further addition to be made.
After eight seasons as manager which included winning three Clare SFC titles, Paul Madden has stepped down as Éire Óg boss. He has been replaced by Shane Daniels, goalkeeper for their successes in 2022 and 2024. Daniels has been a selector in recent seasons and was manager of the Éire Óg ladies footballers who won the intermediate championship last season.
Justin Burke joined the Éire Óg management as coach last season, from Corofin in Galway he will remain involved in the same capacity. Alan Malone who captained the club to win the 2006 Clare SFC title is on board as selector, it will be his second stint as a selector of the club’s senior team.
Clarecastle native David Russell is also on board with Daniels’ management. He is currently in his sixth season as manager of Avenue Utd, the Roslevan based club were recently eliminated from both the FAI Junior Cup and Munster Junior Cup in the last sixteen stage.
Clare U20 football manager, Maurice Walsh has been confirmed as the new manager of Kildysart. He succeeds Ennistymon man David Butler who guided their promotion back to the top tier.
Walsh is expected to take on the role when his first season as county U20 boss concludes later this year. Eoin Ryan of Adare will be Kildysart’s coach for 2025 with Walsh’s selectors including Kevin Kelly, John Guinnane and Patrick Casey while ex Clare footballer Odran O’Dwyer will be in charge of S&C with Kieran Connelly remaining as team physio.
St Breckan’s have a new management for this coming season. Two-time All-Ireland winner Declan O’Keeffe stood down from his role following their quarter-final exit and he has been succeeded by Patrick O’Neill.
Kilfenora native Killian Malone who lined out with Ennistymon in their run to the 2022 Clare SFC final will coach Breckans this season and O’Neill’s selectors include John McDonagh, Aidan Fitzgerald and Cathal Blood.
Last year’s beaten finalists Kilmurry Ibrickane will continue under the tutelage of ex Offaly footballer David Egan. Vincent Talty and Kevin Sexton once again continue as selectors while Laurence Murray who was part of the Kilmihil management last season joins Egan’s ticket with responsibility for S&C.
Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney who captained and managed Kilmurry Ibrickane to senior championship success has been re-appointed for a third season over Lissycasey. The reigning Cusack Cup champions will once again have Jimmy Collins, Danny Lynch and Pakie Keane as selectors. Megan Downes from Cooraclare will be the team’s S&C coach succeeding Cristoir McCaw.
St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who won the U21A championship last season with outgoing senior manager Donagh Vaughan overseeing the success, stick with the same management. Vaughan is joined by Eoin Troy of O’Currys who will coach the side, Morgan Rowland continues as selector with Evan Hennessy the S&C coach. Declan Malone is on board this year as a selector with further additions in the pipeline.
Having led Cratloe to appear in ten Clare SFC finals, Colm Collins’ long-serving run stretching beyond seventeen years as manager will continue. The Kilmihil native and former county boss will be joined by trusted lieutenants Brian O’Connell, Sean O’Dea and Jody O’Connor with Oscar O’Dwyer as S&C coach. The 2023 champions were eliminated in the semi-finals last year by Kilmurry Ibrickane.
A third season at the helm of St Joseph’s Miltown awaits Martin Guerin. The Liscannor man who lined out in county finals for his native club in 2002 and 2008, he was their manager in 2010 when they lost the county final to Doonbeg. Guerin has previously tasted success with Miltown, serving as a selector to Michael Neylon for their Clare SFC success of 2015, he was also part of Neylon’s Clare U20 management for a spell.
Eoin Curtin’s addition to Peter Keane’s Clare senior football management has prompted John O’Sullivan’s arrival as coach, he had been involved with Kildysart for the past three seasons but resides in Miltown Malbay. Jim Marrinan and David Talty remain on board as selectors to Guerin.
Returning for a second stint as manager of Doonbeg is seven-time Clare SFC winner Brian Shanahan following John Keane’s resignation. Former Clare midfielder, David Russell continues as coach of the side. Brian Dillon who managed Kilmihil’s intermediate success of 2023 joins the management of his native club along with John Killeen.
Having steered Wolfe Tones’ promotion back to the Clare SFC, Johnny Bridges remains as manager of the Shannon side. The former midfielder sticks with the same management team which has Kieran Ryan as coach plus Fergal O’Donnell and Barry Murphy as selectors.
Kilmihil survived a relegation fight when overcoming Corofin to consolidate their status. Mickey Doran has confirmed he will be returning for a second season in charge of the West Clare outfit who were crowned intermediate champions in 2023.
As they bid to return to the senior ranks at the first attempt, Corofin are sticking with their 2024 management which is led by Peadar O’Brien and includes Derry native and former St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield footballer Mark Rafferty as coach.
In his first season away from inter-county after calling time on his six year stint over the Clare minors, Dermot Coughlan is returning to the club scene where he will take charge of Kilrush Shamrocks. He replaces Daniel Ryan, Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman Coughlan was manager of the Shams when they last won the intermediate title in 2018.
Also in the intermediate grade, Lissycasey’s Martin Daly is returning for a third season as Cooraclare manager. The Milesians reached the semi-finals last year where they exited at the hands of Kilrush in an epic contest.
Last year’s beaten intermediate finalists Naomh Eoin have a slight change to their management structure. Barry Harte had been manager for the past five years but the two-time Clare SFC winner with St Senan’s Kilkee is now the coach of Peninsula side with Martin Haugh stepping up to the manager’s role. Thomas O’Connor and Patrick Foley are selectors with Liam Roche on stats.
Also in the Loop Head Peninsula, Doonbeg brothers Gerry and Eddie Killeen have taken charge of O’Currys. They succeed club stalwart Dinny McMahon who stepped down following their exit in the quarter-finals last year.
A second season in charge of Clondegad is ahead for Kilmurry Ibrickane’s James Murrihy. The former Clare ladies football manager previously oversaw Corofin’s success in the intermediate grade in 2015. Enda O’Halloran and Mikey Conway continue as selectors, Robert Forde joins them for 2025 while Pat Coffey and Cormac Ryan have stood down as selectors. Shane McNamara is their S&C coach.
Shannon Gaels have already commenced their preparations for 2025. The Gaels recently played Clarecastle in a challenge match and they’ll once again be managed by Fergie O’Loughlin. His sidekick Derek Dormer, a reporter with Clare FM and former Clare Champion editor Peter O’Connell are back in their roles as part of the Gaels’ management team.
Ennistymon who are the only Clare club that has a second team competing in the intermediate grade are working to appoint their management. Last year’s side was managed by Brendan Rouine with Michael Rouine, Shane Talty and Tom Ahern as selectors, it is likely that a similar ticket will be in place for 2025.
Reigning Junior A champions Michael Cusack will be led by former Clare and Corofin footballer Colm Clancy. Coolmeen will continue under the guidance of David Neenan and Frank Kennedy.
Banner are working to finalise their management with Tom Meehan expected to stay at the helm of the Ennis club. Liscannor are also in the process of completing their management.
Additional reporting by Seamus Hayes.
