Cahill hits the ground running
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Padraic Maher BRIDGET DELANEYImage 2 of 5
Michael Bevans BRIDGET DELANEYImage 3 of 5
TJ Ryan BDImage 4 of 5
Declan Laffan PicasaImage 5 of 5
New Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill is interviewed by Paul Collins at the Team Tipperary GAA Race Day at the Galway Races on Monday Photos: Bridget Delaney BRIDGET DELANEYBy Shane Brophy
New Tipperary senior hurling manager Liam Cahill has not wasted any time in putting his management team together and it is one that shows he is driven to bring success back to Tipperary.
Ahead of last weekends first round county hurling championship games, Cahill confirmed the three men that would join himself and coach Michael Bevans, most eye-catching of them being recently retired Padraic Maher.
The Thurles Sarsfield’s clubman was an outstanding servant to Tipperary hurling as a player, making a total sixty championship appearances, winning 3 All Ireland senior hurling titles and 6 All Stars before he was forced to retire from playing earlier this year on medical advice. He is currently a selector with the Thurles Sarsfields senior team who got the better of Borris-Ileigh last Saturday, a Borris team with Michael Bevans in their management.
Loughmore-Castleiney’s Declan Laffan has proven himself to be a top-class manager and coach at club level and has guided his native parish to numerous county titles at various levels. In 2013 he was at the helm when the Mid club claimed an historic double, winning the Tipperary senior hurling and football championships becoming the first ever Tipperary club to do so.
Declan is currently the manager of Laois side Clough-Ballacolla, who he has guided to county senior hurling success in 2020 and 2021, and they also reached the Leinster club final last year.
Clonoulty/Rossmore’s TJ Ryan has previously worked as a selector with Liam Cahill at minor, under 20 & under 21 level and was an integral part of a management team that was responsible for guiding Tipperary to several Munster and All Ireland titles in those grades.
TJ will bring a vast amount of experience and knowhow to the Tipperary senior hurling set up. TJ has previously managed Clonoulty/Rossmore’s senior hurling team and was the man in charge when they reached county finals in 2010 and 2011.
The Tipperary senior hurling management team appointments will now go to the next county committee meeting for final ratification.