CLARE ALL-IRELAND U21 winning manager Gerry O’Connor has stepped down from his role after three hugely successful years in charge.
O’Connor confirmed to TheScore.ie this evening that he had taken the decision to depart the position that he had filled in a joint management role with Donal Moloney.
The duo presided over a golden era for Clare hurling. They guided the county to successive Munster minor titles in 2010 and 2011 before winning three successive Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland and Munster U21 crowns between 2012 and 2014.
In the wake of Clare’s latest final triumph over Wexford last month, O’Connor has revealed that the travel involved in his job with Shannon-based company Mincon will prevent him continuing on in 2015. Moloney is set to remain as manager and will soon assemble a backroom team.
“It wasn’t an easy decision to make and not one that I wanted to make. I have travel commitments with work all year and there’s a lot of international travel on a monthly or weekly basis.
“I’ve had a very understanding boss who’s helped me do a lot of that travel between October and January ever year. But it’s becoming harder and harder to manage that. The decision to leave is purely down to work commitments. I would love to continue but it’s just not doable any more.”
O’Connor has worked with some of the brightest talents in Clare hurling with ten players who featured at some stage in the 2013 All-Ireland senior hurling final replay, having been managed at some stage by O’Connor at U21 level. He is confident that there is a bright future ahead for the county.
“They were all fantastic players that we worked with and they’ve great futures ahead of them at senior level. Their level of success has been incredible. Donal is still in charge now and the future of Clare hurling at U21 level is in very good hands. Donal’s putting an incredibly formidable team together as we speak and there’s a lot of good potential there.”
