McNamara is also a publican and night club owner in Scariff and served as manager of the Offaly and Clare senior inter-county teams.
After a relatively lacklustre National Hurling League campaign, Clare were drawn to meet Waterford in the quarter-final of the Munster Championship and were installed as underdogs.
A close game developed in the second half as Clare ate into Tipp's lead, however, in the end victory went to Tipperary by 2–21 to 0–19.
On Drivetime Sport the following Monday Mike McNamara said that Clare will not play NHL Division 2 next year against the likes of Antrim and Carlow.
In October 2009, McNamara's tenure as Clare hurling manager looked to be under threat after it emerged the players had sent a letter to the County Board seeking his removal from the post.
[11] At the meeting on 27 October 2009, the Clare county board gave McNamara their full backing despite the growing opposition from some players.
[13] After a Clare County Board meeting in Ennis on 10 November 2009, McNamama made a stirring address, confirming his desire to stay in place as manager of the Banner hurlers, reflecting on the progress made in 2009 and outlining his plans for next season.
He spoke to delegates present for close to 30 minutes after members of the media had been asked to leave the room.
A letter from the 27 player panel was read out at the meeting explaining that only one squad member had sided with McNamara in the vote of confidence on 1 November.