Surprised this hasn't been mentioned, or did I mis-hear the news this morning? I thought I heard that Tony Considine got the bullet from the Clare County Board last night? Whatever about the performances under Considine, I think Davy Fitz, his Father, and a couple of others did their county no favours at all this year with the constant sniping, and undermining of Considine.
Yep, looks like he got the bullet.
Unfortunate circumstances as he didn't have the full backing of everyone involved with Clare hurling.
In hindsight, he might have been a bit cuter in dealing with certain influential people.
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/story.asp?j=4854885&p=48549xx&t=gaa
Considine voted out as manager of Clare hurlers
15/08/2007 - 08:33:02
Tony Considine has been sensationally ousted as manager of the Clare senior hurlers, following a meeting of the Clare County Board last night.
Considine was appointed as Banner boss last October, succeeding Anthony Dally, but his first year in charge was shrouded in controversy which obviously caused the powers that be in the county much annoyance.
His early season fall-out with Clare's long-time goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald undoubtedly caused the most controversy.
County Board officials met to discuss Considine's future in the role last night, with the Executive Committee recommending that a change of management takes place.
An overwhelming majority backed the proposal, with 45 delegates voting in favour and just six against.
Clare's results were largely disappointing this year - they finished fourth in National League Division 1A, lost out to Cork in their Munster opener and despite an unblemished run in the All-Ireland qualifiers, eventual finalists Limerick got the better of them in the last-eight.
Considine, a native of Cratloe, was eager to continue his two-year term with Clare but the county's clubs have clearly spoken.
The Clare County Board will now invite clubs to submit nominations for the vacant position.
Presently a poisoned chalice, No players coming through, the last of the 95/97 crop leaving and no real championship form for some time.
Exactly. I think Clare have won something like 1 Underage Championship match since 2000. Or maybe that's just minor.
And then to have all the vested interests and power plays going on behind the scenes, not to mention lads like Loughnane and Davy Fitz writing newspaper articles.
Quote from: AZOffaly on August 15, 2007, 06:00:39 PM
Exactly. I think Clare have won something like 1 Underage Championship match since 2000. Or maybe that's just minor.
And then to have all the vested interests and power plays going on behind the scenes, not to mention lads like Loughnane and Davy Fitz writing newspaper articles.
Funny how the same guys who rebuilt the county are now doing their best to destroy it ???
Seems very harsh considering the players at his disposal at the moment, methinks theres more to it then results.
Quote from: tayto on August 15, 2007, 06:10:57 PM
Seems very harsh considering the players at his disposal at the moment, methinks theres more to it then results.
Agree, I thought they would have given him another year considering what he had to work with.. Do you reckon the rumours of Fitzy going to coach Tipp was enough to make them panic and decide to get rid of Tony in hope to lure Fitzy away from Tipp into the Clare hotseat?
clare are brutal but they'd be a lot better with fitz-griffin-carmody and conor plunkett all starting. 3 of the 4 left the panel because of Considine.As loughnane found out in Galway the game has changed and no team is going to respond like the Clare team of the 95-97 to them again.
Great interview with Considine on Off the Ball on Newstalk.
Both barrells on "mafia type person" and his sleveens on CCB.
Quote from: Punxsutawney Fergal on August 15, 2007, 06:18:35 PM
Quote from: tayto on August 15, 2007, 06:10:57 PM
Seems very harsh considering the players at his disposal at the moment, methinks theres more to it then results.
Agree, I thought they would have given him another year considering what he had to work with.. Do you reckon the rumours of Fitzy going to coach Tipp was enough to make them panic and decide to get rid of Tony in hope to lure Fitzy away from Tipp into the Clare hotseat?
ha possibly, plus what Indiana says above, Clare cant afford to lose key players because of a personality clash. Having said that I thought Brennan looked a very good keeper from what I saw of him.
Quote from: Shamrock Shore on August 15, 2007, 07:51:19 PM
Great interview with Considine on Off the Ball on Newstalk.
Both barrells on "mafia type person" and his sleveens on CCB.
He didn't hold back, McDevitt sounded like he was taken totally by surprise by Considines frankness ;D
missed the interview, can you pass on the gist of what considine was saying. Agree with most sentiments that Clare are limited enough at the minute and can't afford to lose their best players but i thought the performance against Galway would have kept him right for another year
Quote from: Punxsutawney Fergal on August 16, 2007, 08:11:17 AM
He didn't hold back, McDevitt sounded like he was taken totally by surprise by Considines frankness ;D
McDevitt obviously doesn't know the man.
If you ask Considine a question you'll certainly get an answer but be prepared to hear something you mightn'd like.
Pat Fitz was very divisive throughout the year but Considine didn't help his own cause by holding friendlies with other counties and not even telling the county board. Once he dropped wee Davy his number was up and the engineered vote of no confidence was rightly seen off by the clubs within the county to at least give Considine the year.
He took on a team who'd lost their centre back, full back and with Griffin opting out, his best scoring forward in a county who haven't done anything at underage for quite a few years. I'd say his heart ruled his head the day he decided to take on the job.
Is Mike Mac not favourite for the post now?
Reading Davy Fitz comments in the Irish star....and could do nothing but laugh,,,I use to have the utmost repsect for him until I read this article...I had known very little of the politics involved other than Davy had been shown the door....so in the star Davy Fitz said that the team sponsor liked to be in the changing room before matches, the secretary also shoulde be their and that the fact the manager did not want them in the vhanging room was a disgrace...whay the sponsor was doing in the changing room was beyond me, manager spot on...then came the punch line.....Davy's father was the secretary...well f**k I nearly fell off the stool laughing...and then with Davy being given the door...any Tom Fool would have known that Clare would be looking for a new manager....don't foot with the mafia :D...unreal...Davys a goodfella
tony butler shud be there
No doubt Considine can be "abrasive" and does himself no favours at times but his fate was sealed from the moment he crossed Davy Fitz. Personally I think the new Clare keeper did a fine job this year and don't see what Fitzgerald would offer, don't forget it was Fitzgerald who rained ball after ball into Gardners hand in the last 10 minutes of the semi final V Cork in 2005 - tends to want to get the big puck all the time rather than trying what's best to retain possession.
The Clare Manager's job is now possibly the worst in hurling, total no win situation - a team in serious decline with little new blood emerging and what appears to be a divisive element within the county. What will happen next year if the new manager decides that Davy Fitz is no longer up to it will he be knifed in the back too?
Doubtless the retrun of Griffin and Carmody would have a mammoth impact on Clare's scoring rate upfront but hard to see why any high profile manager would want to touch this in the present circumstances. At best Clare could reach an All Ireland semi with a kind draw but that's it but then so could about 5-6 other counties but with a lot less hassle attached.
Is it not true that Davy Fitz was not dropped at all but decided himself to leave the panel earlier in the season - something down to the fact that he wasn't prepared to do the same training as all the others?
Either way, no one in their right mind would touch the Clare job now
Great article in Sunday's Tribune about this anyone see it - in fairness the Clare management team were really shafted. As they say don't mess with the Boss's son or in this case the secretary's!