Gerry O'Connor has stepped down as co-manager of the Clare U21 hurlers.

Serving alongside Donal Moloney, O'Connor helped Clare to an unprecedented three successive All-Ireland U21 titles. Prior to that, the duo also led the Banner to two Munster MHC success.

His involvement with underage teams in Clare goes back to 2005 when he worked with the U14s, but O'Connor told The Irish Independent that the time has come to step back due to work commitments:

"Ten years is a fair old innings and I can't complain about the enjoyment and time I got out of it.

"An awful lot of people put as much effort in as we did and got nothing. Some days, everything you do on the line works, based on information from the lads in the stand.

"But there was no difference in the level of preparation put in with the minor teams of 2010 and 2011 as there was with the U21 teams of 2012, 2013 and 2014.

"The reality is my job is a bit crazy at the moment, with an extensive amount of travelling. It was Germany last week, Poland for a week tomorrow and South Africa the week after. With Mincon, I'm in a position where I have to deliver and they have been incredibly good to me over the last four years.

"I'd love to stay on with Clare but there comes a time when you can't actually juggle everything.

"When myself and Donal sat down and spoke about this in the middle of the year, I'd put off a lot of travelling in July and August, that I'm doing now."

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