New Clare GAA manager vows to ‘support the players' amid Munster SFC format fall-out as he sounds off on strike threat

The Irish Sun

11 hours ago

Four counties came out swinging against the controversial change
NO SEED OF DOUBT New Clare GAA manager vows to 'support the players' amid Munster SFC format fall-out as he sounds off on strike threat
NEW Clare football boss Paul Madden is prepared to back his players amid the fall-out over the decision to seed the Munster SFC.
Representatives from the Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford panels have voiced their opposition to the move, which will ensure Kerry and Cork are kept on opposite sides of the provincial draw for 2026.
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Paul Madden has been appointed Clare football manager
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
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He gave his thoughts on the controversial change to the Munster senior football championship
Credit: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
They are now 'evaluating potential next steps in response', as outlined in a statement issued by the Gaelic Players Association.
And former Banner ace Podge Collins claimed it is a 'very realistic' possibility that those counties will refuse to partake in the provincial championship as a means of protest.
Madden is currently in the process of putting together a backroom team, having had his appointment as successor to Peter Keane announced on Tuesday night.
He told SunSport: 'We're in Division 3 and it's going to be a fairly steep learning curve for me and whoever comes in with me.
'I would hope to have people involved who have been there and done it before.
'There's obviously a lot of controversy around the seeding for the Munster Championship next year and it is what it is. I support the players in their viewpoint. From my perspective, if we're scheduled to play a game, we'll turn up to play that game and we'll go out to win it, whoever it may be against.'
Clare's journey to a fourth consecutive Munster final, as well as a place in the revamped All-Ireland series, could potentially be made more hazardous by the new seeding system.
On the prospect of strike action, Madden said: 'I'll have to speak to the players first as I'm still only beginning to settle into the role.
'I think at this stage, the format is laid out for 2026 and I don't think it's going to change, whether we sit out and protest or not.
'My job will be to prepare the team as best I can for every game we play. And I'd like us to play as many games as we can.
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'If we go out and get promoted from Division 3, we won't have to worry about anything.
'But from the players' perspective, the four counties are really disappointed by the ruling.
'The Clare players are obviously the ones I'm concerned about and if they have a very strong opinion on something, I'll certainly do my best to support that wherever I can.'
Following consecutive one-year reigns under outside managers, supporters will hope that the appointment of a Clare man is a step towards long-term stability.
Keane took charge for 2025 following the departure of fellow Kerry native Mark Fitzgerald. Madden, who led Éire Óg Ennis to three Clare SFC titles before stepping down at the end of last season, has been handed a three-year term.
He said: 'I obviously would have had dealings with Mark Fitzgerald and Peter Keane because we had maybe between seven and ten players from Éire Óg on the county panels.
'I had a number of conversations with Peter Keane over the last 12 months, certainly at the start of his tenure. They're both really good football guys. Good guys with huge experience.
'Look, the reality is that coming to another county with huge travel involved, it's going to be a challenge.
'I know county managers cite that as a reason why they depart, but it is a factor.
'There are positives coming from outside as well because you can get into your car and go home, so you don't have to listen to criticism that may come your way. But that's all part and parcel of it.
'For me personally as a Clare man, I'm honoured and delighted to be chosen to take on this role and I'll endeavour to give it my best shot.
'I do believe that there's a cohort of talented footballers within the county and that there's a very good structure in place in the underage systems.
'That means there'll be a continuous conveyor belt of talent coming through for the years to come — I'm fairly convinced of that.'