CLARE HURLING HAS been boosted by the return of Paul Kinnerk to their setup as a coach/selector for the 2016 season.
The news has been confirmed this evening that Kinnerk – who was an integral part of the Clare setup that won the All-Ireland in 2013 – is set to link up again with Davy Fitzgerald’s management team.
Kinnerk, a school teacher in St Caimin’s in Shannon, took a break from inter-county hurling coaching for 2015 and went travelling last summer while also deciding to further his studies by starting a PHD in the University of Limerick last autumn.
The42 understands that Kinnerk was approached last winter by other counties to join their coaching ranks for 2016. At the time he was unable to commit due to his professional and educational commitments.
However it is believed he has now been granted the flexibility from UL to complete the structured components of his PHD during the summer months when he will be off work due to school holidays.
That flexibility only became possible very recently and paved the way for the Kinnerk to come on board with the Banner.
Kinnerk, a former Limerick senior footballer during Maurice Horan’s tenure in charge, has been heavily involved in his native county’s underage football and hurling academies.
Those roles will be unaffected by his decision to take up a position with the Banner and he will continue his work with those underage teams.
Davy Fitzgerald expressed his delight at the development in a statement issued this evening.
“I am delighted to welcome Paul back into our setup as his experience, expertise and knowledge of the existing panel of players will complement what is already a high quality backroom team.
“I initially spoke with Paul during last summer, and then several times throughout the winter about getting him involved with Clare for the 2016 season but due to personal commitments he was unable to consider the invitation until very recently,” added Fitzgerald.
He continued: “The existing coaching staff of Donal Óg Cusack (coach/selector), Aonghus O’Brien (coach) and Seoirse Bulfin (coach) have been part of this process having met with Paul, and they are delighted to welcome him into the coaching setup.”
