The race to be the next Clare manager is taking shape.
Having failed to match the hope that sprung in the early days of his reign, Davy Fitz left Clare with a year left of his tenure. As glorious as the 2013 All-Ireland win was, the fact that Podge Collins next trip to Croke Park was with the footballers this year speaks volumes regarding the Banner's underachievement (and, admittedly, the GAA's proclivity for hosting the league in Thurles).
With Davy gone, two potential successors have emerged for the role of the next Clare manager.
The first is Anthony Daly, backed by a backroom staff of his All-Ireland winning teammate Brian Lohan, along with Tommy Dunne of Tipperary.
This would be Daly's second stint with Clare: he coached Clare from 2003 to 2006, a period of relative success: they underwhelmed in Munster but took Kilkenny to a replay in 2004, lost by a single point to eventual champions Cork in the 2005 All-Ireland semi-final before losing to Kilkenny in the 2006 All-Ireland semi-final, the game which prompted Daly's resignation.
He has since won a Leinster title with Dublin, and up to now has been involved with the underage set-up with Limerick, but it is increasingly evident he fancies his chances of being the next Clare manager.
Daly faces competition from a second nomination: the Under-21 management team of Donal Moloney and Gerry O'Connor are also nominated on a joint ticket. O'Connell and Moloney were the men who guided Clare to three All-Ireland hurling titles at Under-21 level between 2012 and 2014, and their familiarity with the current squad lends make them an attractive prospect.
It is unknown if there will be any other candidates in the running, with RTE reporting that the county board will make further progress in the appointment process over the coming days.
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