"I took this on for one year only and that has ended now. It was a difficult way to finish up, but the lads did their best against a very good Laois side," he said.

"Don't mind Micko, Mick O'Dwyer don't matter. I said I would come here for 12 months and that was it. I made that statement from the very start. One never knows after that."

The much decorated Waterville man mentioned health concerns when talking about his decision to step aside, adding: "Well I only gave a commitment to do a year. As you know I have a bad ankle and I have a few things to do with the body. If I can get the body right you never know where I'll end up!"

Speculation is rife that it could prove to be the 77-year-old's last inter-county managerial role after stints with five different counties - his native Kerry, Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and most recently Clare.

O'Dwyer won four All-Ireland titles as a player with Kerry, and became the most successful manager of all-time when guiding the Kingdom to eight Sam Maguire Cup successes between 1975 and 1986.

He took his Midas touch to Leinster where he managed Kildare to a Leinster title and an All-Ireland final appearance in 1998, during his second spell in charge of the Lilywhites. A second Leinster Championship crown followed in 2000.

Micko was in charge for Laois' 2003 Leinster final victory over Kildare - the O'Moore men's first provincial success since 1946 - and his five-year tenure in Wicklow produced a Tommy Murphy Cup title and a thrilling All-Ireland qualifier run in 2009 when they beat Fermanagh, Cavan and Down.

He quit the Wicklow position in 2011 but returned to inter-county management this season with Clare. The Banner men showed promise in the spring's Allianz League, winning four of their seven matches, but despite a brave performance they lost 1-20 to 1-11 to Cork in their Munster semi-final clash last month.

O'Dwyer's final game in charge saw them at home to Laois in Ennis and although they led by four points closing in on half-time today, the midlanders bossed the second half to end Clare's interest in the All-Ireland Championship.

Reflecting on Clare's 2013 campaign, he admitted: "Generally overall, if we had beaten Limerick we would have went up to the third division, but leagues don't matter. This is what the game is all about - Championship.

"We didn't do well in the Championship. We played well in patches against Cork and put in a good performance, but we didn't play well today by any standards."