O'Dwyer set for Clare job
Mick O'Dwyer is set to return to inter-county football management as Clare's new boss, with his appointment expected at next week's County Board meeting.
Sources within the county have revealed that the 76-year-old Kerryman is poised to succeed Micheal McDermott for what would be his sixth inter-county managerial position - including two stints with Kildare.
O'Dwyer has been out of the game since he finished up with Wicklow in the summer of 2011.
He most famously managed his native Kerry to eight All-Ireland SFC titles, and enjoyed Leinster Championship success with both Kildare and Laois.
He won the Tommy Murphy Cup with Wicklow and helped them reach the fourth round of the All-Ireland qualifiers for the first time.
The wily Waterville man will no doubt see potential in a Clare panel that reached this year's Munster final, although they suffered a 12-point defeat to Cork in the provincial decider.
The Banner men are due to face Limerick or Cork in a Munster semi-final next summer, following a tilt at promotion in Allianz League Division 4.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Alan Quirke is set to miss a considerable chunk of Cork's Division 1 title defence in the spring due to work commitments.
Quirke will leave for Lebanon next month on peace-keeping duty with the Defence Forces. He could be based there until April, meaning he will miss Cork's entire seven-match group phase in the Allianz League.
The Valley Rovers clubman may return home before then, but Rebels boss Conor Counihan is not short of quality replacements.
Ken O'Halloran from Bishopstown looks most likely to prosper in Quirke's absence, while Ballincollig stopper David Lordan and Sean Mellett from Carrigaline will also be hoping for opportunities in the county's number 1 jersey.
