Considering the pillars of the Clare defence, Seanie McMahon and Brian Lohan, have retired from the intercounty scene, Tony Considine sat down with his new selectors Pat O'Connor, Ger Ward, Tim Crowe and Ciarán O'Neill last night to initiate plans for a new era.
Considine revealed the new management on Monday night but the jewel in the backroom team is undoubtedly physical trainer Dave Mahedy. He is Athletic Director at the University of Limerick and was part of Joe McKenna's Limerick management team that stepped down after defeat to Clare in this year's championship. His impressive CV includes an advisory role with Munster rugby.
Considine refused to dwell on the departure of McMahon and Lohan but securing the services of other senior players must be a priority if the Banner County are to avoid a complete rebuilding process.
"I'm not prepared to talk about players who are gone," he said in reference, one assumes, to McMahon and Lohan as no other players were mentioned. "Players are only holding onto the jersey before it is passed on and there is plenty of young talent to take up the baton in the coming years. The same (theory) applies to the manager."
Several established players could yet follow McMahon and Lohan out of the county scene, including Frank Lohan - who will play in Wolfe Tones' Munster club championship semi-final against Erin's Own this Sunday - Niall Gilligan, David Hoey, Alan Markham and Colin Lynch, who is 34 in January.
Losing a forward of Gilligan's stature would be a massive jolt to the Considine administration, especially considering he is yet to turn 30.
Another major doubt is Tony Griffin, who has returned to Canada to complete a Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics at Dalhousie University. After missing the second semester in 2006, to commit to Clare hurling, he may prioritise his education in 2007.
When asked the question about which players from last year's panel are certain to return, Considine replied: "That is a double-edged question. We the management will agree on the panel not anyone else. I have met a lot of players individually and will meet them as a group soon. Everyone I've met has been very positive so it is up to us (the new management) to take it a step further."
The failure of senior players to return before Christmas may not necessarily spell the end of their inter-county careers. They all have all clocked up plenty of miles and probably require a refuelling period, at least until the league gets underway, but this is undoubtedly a watershed period in Clare's hurling history.
There is plenty of incentive to return as Considine has surrounded himself with some of the most respected hurling men in Clare.
O'Connor just guided Loughrea to the Galway hurling title and will attempt to achieve a club All-Ireland success before giving his full commitment to the cause. Crowe has trained Limerick, he was a Clare selector under Len Gaynor and is a former international 400-metre runner; O'Neill's most recent success was to guide Kilmaley to the county title in 2004; Ward's achievements with Clarecastle are equally impressive.
"Everyone will be doing the hands -on stuff," added Considine. "What really pleases me is they are four real honest, shoulder-to-the-wheel type of men. Above all they were enthusiastic to get involved so that made it easy. They are fellas who have been successful at club level so now is the time for them to step up."
