A MASSIVE LOSS; GAA O'CONNELL LEAVING.

Byline: PADDY HICKEY

CLARE hurling boss Ger O'Loughlin says Brian O'Connell's decision to emigrate to Australia is a massive blow to the Banner County.

O'Connell, who had served as Clare captain for the last three years, moved Down-Under last autumn on a temporary basis, but has now returned to Australia for the foreseeable future.

"Originally, Brian was in Australia for three months from last October," said O'Loughlin on the Wolfe Tones, Shannon star, who is a qualified civil engineer.

"He came home before Christmas for his brother's wedding, but earlier this month he decided to go back to Australia long-term. He was in limbo with the job situation in this country not being very favourable, and while he was home he had plenty of time to think about his future.

"And the fact that some of his mates had already gone to work in Australia was also probably a major factor."

On O'Connell's attributes as a player, Clare legend O'Loughlin (right) said: "You'd always regret losing a player of Brian's quality, and as he was only 26, he was really coming into his prime as an inter-county hurler.

"Brian is a born leader, and his enthusiastic approach to training and his overall application was absolutely first class. And with a number of new lads coming into the panel, having Brian around would have been a great asset to the set-up.

"Brian was unlucky to pick up a serious finger injury on his catching (left) hand about a month before we played Waterford (in the Munster SHC last June), and an operation would not have solved the problem.

"But despite that, he bravely soldiered on, though he might have felt that his form was a bit up-and-down."

O'Loughlin has decided to award the vacant team captaincy to defender Pat Vaughan, and the vice-captaincy to attacker John Conlon.

Vaughan hails from current Clare champions Crusheen, but that's a mere coincidence as the Banner management decide on their choice of captain.

"Pat Vaughan has been a regular and very consistent player for Clare for the last eight or nine years, " said O'Loughlin, a member of the Banner All-Ireland winning sides in 1995 and 1997.

"He wouldn't be the most vocal of players, but he leads by example and would be very well respected by the other lads on the panel."

However, Vaughan will be an absentee when Clare open their 2011 competitive campaign with a Waterford Crystal Cup clash against IT Tralee, at Ennis, on Sunday.

"Pat has a bit of a groin strain," said O'Loughlin.

"But he's a lad who looks after himself very well, so hopefully he will be back for our first league match against Limerick (at Ennis on February 13)."

O'Loughlin will be unable to call on no fewer than 14 college-tied members of his panel, as well as four players from the Clonlara club who are going to Barcelona next week.

CAPTION(S):

GONE Brian O'Connell soars for a high catch and, right, new Clare hurling skipper Pat Vaughan