County lifted by Sheedy return

How quickly time moves on

Liam Sheedy's return as Tipperary senior hurling manager comes two weeks short of eight years since he stepped down in the wake of the Premier County's All Ireland final success.

His departure then came as much of a surprise as his return has since the word broke last Thursday that the Portroe man was the nominated choice of the selection committee to succeed Michael Ryan.

No disrespect to Liam Cahill and William Maher who were the front-runners in the race for so long and would have been worthy selections in their own right, but once Liam Sheedy put his hat into the race, even at a late stage, it was an easy decision for the selection committee to put forward his name for ratification to last Monday nights County Board meeting, where is was done without dissent.

It isn't just that Liam Sheedy is an All Ireland winning manager, it is the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to set-up that will be of huge benefit, not only for the experienced players that are already there, but also for the younger players that are likely to be drafted onto the new panel in the coming weeks.

For new and old players alike, this is an exciting appointment and one which makes Tipperary instant contenders for championship 2019. While he might not want that pressure on him straight away, the experienced members of the panel don't have time to waste to win their next All Ireland. Of the panel that played in the 2018 championship, just six remain from the one Sheedy guided to All Ireland glory in 2010; Brendan, Padraic & Patrick Maher, Michael Cahill, Noel McGrath and Seamus Callanan.

 

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