Cathal McInerney opts for football in 2015

CATHAL McInerney has opted to play inter-county football for Clare in 2015. The Cratloe dual player, who was man of the match in Clare’s 2012 All-Ireland U/21 final win over Kilkenny, started one senior hurling championship game for Clare in 2014 when he lined out against Wexford in Cusack Park. He was introduced as a second half substitute against Cork in the Munster championship in Thurles and as a brief blood substitute for John Conlon in Clare’s All-Ireland qualifier replay defeat in Wexford Park.

He joins his Cratloe club mates Podge and Seán Collins in opting to play inter-county football next year. Clare will open their division 3 NFL campaign at home to Wexford on February 1.

McInerney’s decision comes in a week when Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald confirmed that coach Paul Kinnerk, strength and conditioning coach Joe O’Connor and selector Mike Deegan have stepped down from their respective roles.

Kelvin Harold will fill the strength and conditioning role while Crusheen and Tulla championship winning manager Michael Browne will replace Deegan as a selector. Kinnerk’s successor has yet to be revealed. The Monaleen clubman coached the Clare minors to two Munster championship titles in 2010 and 2011, along with coaching the Clare U/21’s to three Munster and All-Ireland titles. Furthermore Kinnerk was the senior coach last year when Clare won the All-Ireland title. He was travelling this year for Clare’s Munster championship defeat to Cork although he subsequently returned for the two games against Wexford.

By Peter O’Connell