Updated 7.35pm
CLARE ALL-IRELAND winning coach Paul Kinnerk is set to take a break from the county’s senior hurling setup and won’t be involved for the 2015 season. Kinnerk has opted out due to a desire to pursue personal and educational interests but is in line to return in 2016.
Further changes have been made to Davy Fitzgerald’s backroom team with Mike Deegan moving from the role of selector to analyst while physical trainer Joe O’Connor is to maintain an advisory role. Michael Browne, former Clare title winning coach with Crusheen, is set to become a new selector.
28 year-old Limerick native Kinnerk has played a huge role in the success of Clare hurling in recent years. He was drafted in to the county’s minor coaching setup by Gerry O’Connor and Donal Moloney in 2010 and 2011 when Clare won Munster minor titles.
The following year he was recruited by Fitzgerald when he took over the managerial reins and Kinnerk’s coaching helped Clare claim All-Ireland senior glory last September.
Last Saturday he was involved for the third successive year as Clare were crowned Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 hurling champions. Kinnerk has worked closely in overseeing the development of players like Tony Kelly and Colm Galvin from minor hurlers in 2010 to All-Ireland and Allstar winners in 2013.
Kelly captained Clare to U21 success last Saturday against Wexford in Thurles and speaking before the game, he heaped praise on Kinnerk’s contribution.
“From a player’s point of view, he’s a dream to work with. When he’s serious, you’re serious with him and he’s another side to him. He’s everyone’s friend on the panel as well. I suppose we treat him as a member of the panel although he’s a member of the management team.
“The game plan he has for us suits us. The first touch and the quickness and the speed of the play comes from him. He’s built that into us more than anything else. We owe him a lot of credit for the way that we perform and what Clare have won underage.”
Kinnerk is also an accomplished Gaelic footballer, who won county senior titles in Limerick with Monaleen in 2010 and 2011. That brought him to the attention of former Limerick boss Maurice Horan and he was part of the county’s senior panel in 2011 and 2012.
