Colm Collins back for 10th season with Clare footballers

Colm Collins has been ratified as Clare senior football manager for 2023 at a county board meeting on Tuesday night.

It will mean Collins will take the Banner senior footballers for the 10th season in succession, making him the longest-serving inter-county manager in either code.

His backroom team has yet to be announced.

At the same meeting, Michael Neylon was named U20 football manager with Brian O Connell taking the Banner's minor hurlers.

Kilmihill native Collins has done a stellar job in nurturing the Clare senior footballers despite the huge popularity of hurling in the county.

This year they retained their Division 2 status, having been in the fourth tier when he took the job, and also reached the All-Ireland quarter-final, where they lost to Derry.

That was the second occasion Clare have reached the last eight on their manager’s watch.

Dublin ladies football manager Mick Bohan, Cork ladies manager Ephie Fitzgerald, former Cork star Paudie Kissane and ex Sligo forward Gerry McGowan have all coached the side at various junctures in his time at the helm.

Additional reporting: Eoin Ryan