Tony Considine served as manager of the Clare senior hurling team from November 2006^[1] until August 2007.^[2][3]

Considine was ratified as the Clare hurling manager to succeed Anthony Daly in November 2006 at a county board meeting in Ennis. He had previously served as a selector on the Clare all-Ireland junior winning team of 1993 under Mike McNamara. At senior level, he was also part of Ger Loughnane's backroom team (along with McNamara) that guided Clare hurling through a successful period between 1995 and 1998. Clare ended a 63-year wait to win the Munster title and 81-year wait to win the all-Ireland senior championship title in 1995.

The new incumbent had drawn the ire of certain GAA followers in Clare in October 2006 when he outlined his dismay and frustration on local radio in Clare that his close friend Ger Loughnane had accepted the role of the Galway senior management role urging Clare Gaelic Athletic Association leaders to stop talented GAA people leaving Clare.

Shortly after this juncture Considine was approached to take over the role of the vacant Clare manager's role which had been previously held by the hugely popular Anthony Daly who subsequently went on in 2007 to become a respected Gaelic games pundit on national television.

The new Clare manager, a native of Cratloe in south east Clare drew some satisfaction from the club delegates by announcing he would allow the county players to play for their clubs during the summer, something that had been essentially prevented by prior Clare managers over a twelve-year period.

Role with Clare ends

His reign as manager of the Clare county hurlers was shrouded in controversy for most of his tenure and it came as little surprise when he was overwhelmingly dismissed from his role on 14 August 2007 at the meeting of the Clare county board.

A series of events throughout most of 2007 brought controversy upon Considine and club delegates in Clare voted 45 to 6 to remove the management from their roles at the August board meeting of Clare GAA.

Controversies

His appointment did not please all grassroots followers in Clare Gaelic games as it was perceived by many that his appointment had been rushed through without due process by the county board officials and the consideration of other candidates.

Considine had spent a number of years as a controversial and very earnest pundit with the Irish Examiner newspaper where his critical viewpoint did not always draw the appreciation of players.

Upon his ratification as the manager in November 2006, he announced his backroom team of Tim Crowe, Ciaran O'Neill, Ger Ward, former Clare hurler and club coach Pat O'Connor and fitness coach and former Limerick trainer Dave Mahedy.

Six weeks after securing the services of Mahedy, it emerged that the ex-Limerick GAA and league of Ireland soccer physical trainer had decided to leave the Clare training set-up. Considine explained that Mahedy was only able to commit to a six-week period and consultancy role despite previous announcements that he would be a full-time member of the backroom team.

In the early season at the Waterford Crystal tournament, it was reported that the Clare management had asked a medical officer and county sponsor Pat O'Donnell to leave the team's dressing room prior to their meeting with Tipperary.

In February, the Clarecastle man Ger Ward stood down from his role as Clare selector after issuing a letter to the county board meeting outlying essential differences of opinion with the manager and was noted by many in the local media that he did not travel to Clare's opening competitive appearance of the year when running out easy winners over Down in Portaferry in the national league. It subsequently emerged that Tony Considine did not meet Ger Ward for a second proposed meeting in Ennis to discuss their issues. This incensed the Clarecastle club and further damaged the position of the under-fire manager. It was alleged that Ger Ward had issues over the reported treatment of certain players, including Davy Fitzgerald, a three time all-star recipient and two time all-Ireland winner within the Clare camp.

Several weeks before Clare's championship clash with Cork, in a stunning turn of events, the Clare manager had to survive an attempted vote of no confidence at a county board meeting. However the vote did not get off the ground for debate as a motion. This sparked senior members of the Clare panel to defend their manager and to call for people to allow the manager and players to get on with their role in trying to be successful.

On field performances

The Clare senior hurling team endured a poor 2007 failing to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Allianz National Hurling League. The division 1A campaign saw defeats to Wexford and Cork with the home win over Waterford the subsequent League and Munster champions the only highlight of a drab campaign.

On 27 May 2007, Clare lost by seven points to Cork in the Munster championship opening round game at Semple Stadium in Thurles, County Tipperary on a scoreline of 1–18 to 1–11. The pre-match scuffle between these sides resulted in Clare eventually handed one month bans to Colin Lynch, Alan Markham, Andrew Quinn and Barry Nugent.

The Clare manager subsequently saw his side draw Laois, Antrim and Galway in the back-door qualifiers.

In Clare hurling's most successful period, when three Munster titles and two all-Ireland titles were secured between 1995 and 1998, Tony Considine served as selector to Ger Loughnane the Clare manager of the time. Ger Loughnane was announced as Galway manager at the end of 2006 and the draw which pitted Clare his former team, against his new Galway charges drew huge interest and a large crowd to Cusack Park, Ennis on 7 July 2007 in the second of the backdoor qualifiers. In the match, Clare narrowly defeating Galway by 2–10 to 0–14 thanks to a goal in each half, first from Declan O'Rourke and in the second half from Niall Gilligan, which proved the difference between the two sides.^[4]

Prior to this, Clare defeated Antrim at Casement park and following an unconvincing final qualifier win over Laois at O'Moore park in Portlaoise, Clare emerged top of group A to qualify for the quarter-final of the all-Ireland.

On 29 July 2007,Tony Considine served his final game in charge of Clare as their near neighbours Limerick proved too strong to end the Clare team's championship hopes with Andrew O'Shaughnessy proving his credentials in the Limerick attack. Limerick defeated Clareand went on to reach the all-Ireland final in which they faced champions Kilkenny.

Post sacking

Tony Considine outlined to a number of media outlets that he was not officially told of his removal from the job in the wake of his and his backroom team's dismissal.

Clare's initial back room team of six was halved prior to the county board meeting on 14 August when Tubber man Pat O'Connor stepped down from his role.

Considine outlined his disappointment at the manner of his dismissal by likening members of the Clare county board to the 'mafia'.^[2]

It was speculated that Tony Considine would resume his work as a hurling media pundit.

Considine previously guided the County Limerick club Garryspillane to a solitary county senior title in 2005.

The Clare county board confirmed their intention to fill the vacant Clare role swiftly with Considine's former selector Ger Ward and former Clare hurler and selector Alan Cunningham early favourites for the role. Davy Fitzgerald reportedly ruled himself out of contention for the role.

References