As expected, Davy Fitzgerald and John Allen have been confirmed as the new managers of the Clare and Limerick senior hurling teams.
Speculation linking both managers with their new jobs had existed for some time and the inevitable was confirmed at meetings of the respective county boards last night.
Pint-sized Fitzgerald has been given a three-year term with his native Clare and has appointed Louis Mulqueen and Mike Deegan as his selectors. His first Championship outing in charge of the Banner will see him up go up against his former charges in Waterford, who have yet to appoint his successor.
In Limerick, former All-Ireland winning Cork manager John Allen has been ratified as the new hurling bainisteoir and has appointed Eamon Meskell, Ciaran Carey and John Kiely as his selectors.
As he did in Cork seven years ago, Allen takes over from Donal O’Grady in the Treaty County after O’Grady called a halt to his tenure only one year after taking on the job.
O’Grady helped steady the ship in Limerick after the disastrous reign of Justin McCarthy, during which a number of players were exiled from the county set-up.
Allen served as the Rebel boss for three years and won an All-Ireland title in 2005, the last time the Liam McCarthy Cup ended up in anywhere but Kilkenny or Tipperary.
