A former Clare U-21 football manager feels Eoin Cleary’s decision to step away from the county football panel for 2024 is a “big bang” for the squad.
The Miltown man has informed his team-mates that he will not be available for next year’s campaign, and plans to go travelling next summer, but has not closed the door on a return in the future.
Cleary missed the latter stages of Clare’s championship campaign this year with a pelvic injury, and is still currently sidelined with the issue.
It is understood Cleary’s departure may not the only one for the new manager to contend with, as a number of other players are believed to be opting off the panel for next year.
Clare FM analyst Joe Garry, who managed Cleary at U21 level, says no one in Clare football will begrudge him the time away from the squad.