SEAN STACK HAS stepped down as manager of Munster club champions Na Piarsaigh after five years in charge.
Na Piarsaigh lost out to Portumna in the AIB All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final earlier this month.
The Limerick club experienced huge success under Stack, winning their first ever county senior hurling title in 2011. They went on to win the Munster crown before losing the All-Ireland semi-final in 2012 to eventual champions Loughgiel Shamrocks.
Last winter Na Piarsaigh again collected county and provincial titles but fell short in their quest to qualify for the All-Ireland decider on St Patrick’s Day.
Defender David Breen paid tribute to former Clare player Stack for his contribution.
“Before he came in at first our expectation would only have been to get to the Limerick quarter final. But when Sean came in he would have just laughed at that kind of stuff.
“He would have a look at the Limerick championship and say ‘to be honest lads it’s not that competitive’. It was only then we realised that we should be aiming very high.
“Sean is a fantastic guy, fantastic manager, and he was there for five years. Obviously it was very disappointing for him, he thought there was no way we could lose that Portumna game, and I’d say he’ll be very sour about it.”
The Na Piarsaigh centre back admits they have been left in a ‘predicament’ due to the successful manager departing.
“It was read out there at a committee meeting last night,’ said Breen. “We have to find a manager and find one fast. We’ve got club league matches now in five weeks but we’ve got no-one at the moment. We’ll have a look around and see.”