Tipp searching for new hurling manager

The hunt for a new Tipperary senior hurling manager has begun after Michael Ryan and his management team stepped down on Thursday evening.

 

In his first season as bainisteoir, the Upperchurch Drombane man led Tipperary to All Ireland glory in 2016 against Kilkenny. The following season saw the Premier County lose out to eventual champions Galway in a Titanic All Ireland semi-final at Croke Park. However, in this season's revamped round-robin Munster championship, Tipperary bowed out early on after losses to Limerick and Clare as well as draws with Waterford and Cork.

 

Following the disappointing run in the Munster championship, the Tipperary County Board had backed Michael Ryan and his team of Declan Fanning (coach) and selectors John Madden and Conor Stakelum to remain at the helm.

 

However Thursday's statement from the outgoing Tipperary management team stated: "Having carefully considered what is in the best interest of Tipperary hurling and our current crop of players we believe the time is now right for a change of direction at management level.

"It is our hope that a change in management will bring fresh new thinking to ensure Tipperary continues to compete for top honours in the coming years."

 

Speculation as to the successor to Michael Ryan is sure to mount in the coming weeks as Tipperary County Board begins the process of finding a new manager ahead of the Allianz National Hurling League in 2019.