James Carrig will continue in his role as manager of Wolfe Tones senior hurlers for 2017.
By Jamesy McConigley
Carrig was ratified at the club’s recent AGM meaning he will enter his third year in charge. He will be joined in the dug-out by Denis Riordan, Bernard Fitzgibbon and Niall O’Connor. Cyril Killeen will take charge of Strength and Conditioning in the club while Bryan Williams will replace Paul Lee, who steps aside after two years involved.
Wolfe Tones were one of the surprise teams of the 2016 Clare SHC. Their highlights included ending Sixmilebridge’s reign as county champions and a first round victory over neighbours Newmarket-on-Fergus.
James told The Clare Herald that at present he is “just really seeing exactly what players are coming back playing really because look we have a few older fellas and the main aim from last year is just to win the first round like, simple as that and stay senior”.
Since 2015, Carrig has brought the Shannon club back to the senior ranks. The current format puts an emphasis on winning the first round game to avoid relegation battles which the Newmarket-on-Fergus native is keen to avoid. “Newmarket and Kilmaley were in the relegation final last year and no team wants to be in that situation, from our point of view it’s just simple, win the first round and build from there.”
Niall O’Connor came on board as trainer with the Tones in 2016. He will continue in the same capacity for the year ahead and has recently joined the backroom team of the Clare senior hurlers of which his father Gerry is Joint Manager.
“He’s involved in the back-room team somewhere, Gerry will definitely give him some job like but look we’re glad to have Niall for another year, he’s an up and coming coach in fairness with good knowledge of the game and look if he’s involved in the Clare set-up as well that would only bring more experience to him and maybe we could benefit from it as well” Carrig stated.