Another Banner headliner bows out

Gaelic Games: Seán McMahon announced his retirement from intercounty hurling yesterday, ending 13 years of service to the Clare cause.

It follows the decisions of Brian Lohan, who hung up his famous red helmet after this summer's All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Kilkenny, and manager Anthony Daly to step down.

McMahon, who turns 34 this month and has a young family, will continue to hurl for St Joseph's Doora-Barefield. He made his debut for Clare in the National Hurling League against Offaly in October 1993 before being selected for the county under-21 team.

A first championship appearance followed in May 1994 against Tipperary and McMahon soon became the centrepiece of a fearsome defence instrumental in ending the county's 81-year wait for an All-Ireland title in 1995.

And that is where McMahon remained for over a decade, winning an All-Ireland medal again in 1997 and picking up three All Star awards, in 1995, 1996 and 1998. The last All Star came after Clare retained the Munster championship, only to be ousted from the championship in the controversial semi-final against Offaly when a refereeing time error forced a rematch despite a Clare victory. He was named Texaco Hurler of the Year in 1995.

McMahon produced many heroic performances for the Banner but none more so than the 1995 Munster semi-final against Cork when he broke his collarbone but refused to leave the field as manager Ger Loughnane had already used the full quota of replacements.

McMahon went to corner forward for the dying minutes. There, he forced Timmy Kelleher to concede a line ball. Fergie Touhy put the ball into the square and Ollie Baker snatched a dramatic winning goal. McMahon dramatically recovered for the provincial final victory over Limerick.

A further exodus from Clare is expected over the winter but other senior players are expected to remain silent at least until next Tuesday's county board meeting when a new manager is expected to be ratified.

Mike McNamara, the current under-21 manager and a selector under Loughnane when Clare won All-Ireland titles in 1995 and 1997, is certainly the people's favourite, as proven by a recent Clare FM straw poll, and is expected to see off the challenge of Limerick native Liam O'Donoghue.

Meanwhile, Crossmolina and Mayo footballer Michael Moyles has been told his football career is almost definitely over because one more bad blow to his back could leave him paralysed.

Moyles (29) has been struggling with injury all season and doctors have told him he should never again play contact sport.

"As far as the doctors and specialists are concerned, if I was in contact again there's a chance that a bone in my back would sever my spinal cord," Moyles told the Mayo News.

It means he cannot line out for his club Crossmolina - with whom he won an All-Ireland club title in 2001 - in next Sunday's county semi-final against Ballina Stephenites.

Doctors and medical specialists in Ireland, Britain and the US have warned Moyles that "one more big hit" could lead to long-term damage after an MRI scan earlier this year showed a bone in his back had moved dangerously close to his spinal cord.

"Getting the news was obviously very upsetting but you just have to remember that there's more to life. If I'd found out later and kept playing on there was a chance I'd end up in a wheelchair," he added.

However, Moyles has assumed a new role in the Crossmolina backroom team this season. The sports and recreation graduate from IT Sligo is training Deel Rovers once a week.

Two more intercounty managerial loose ends have been tied up with the reappointment of Tomás Ó Flaharta and Séamus Qualter as managers of the Westmeath football and hurling teams for the 2007 season.

Both men were returned unopposed at meetings of the Westmeath football and hurling boards this week and were ratified by a full meeting of the county board on Wednesday night.

Qualter will be rejoined by his outgoing selectors John Donoghue and Christy Murtagh, but Ó Flaharta will take a few days before finalising his team of selectors. Last year he had Frank Mescall and county secretary Paddy Collins as his selectors, but he has been given the go-ahead to appoint three selectors this year.

There was speculation that Ó Flaharta would also take over the under-21 football team next season, but this has been knocked on the head. Outgoing manager Richie O'Donoghue is believed to be the favourite for the post.

• A footballing school of excellence is to be established in Kildare before the end of the month, while the county board will also seek increased provision of coaches and funding, in an attempt to stop the slide in football standards in the county in recent years. County chairman Syl Merrins, made the revelation at a special meeting of the clubs to address issues of concern.