New look Tipp beginning to take shape

By Shane Brophy

With all bar two of the adult county finals in hurling and football having come to a conclusion, Tipperary hurling manager Liam Cahill has begun to finalise his training panel ahead of the start of collective training in just over a months’ time.

Following on from the retirement of Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher a couple of weeks ago, last week saw his forward colleague Dan McCormack call time on his inter-county career.

The Borris-Ileigh clubman was part of the panel for ten years and leaves with 2 All-Ireland medals won in 2016 and 2019 as a combative half-forward who was ultra-reliable and also very adaptable as he was equally comfortable in midfield and half-back lines.

“After careful consideration and reflection, I have decided that now is the right time for me to announce my retirement from inter county hurling with the Tipperary senior hurling team,” he said in a statement.

“Since joining the panel in 2015 it has been a huge honour to represent Tipperary and I will always cherish the time I got to wear the blue and gold at the highest possible level.”

McCormack first lined out for Tipperary as minor in 2009 when they fell to Waterford in the Munster Final and was also a minor a year later. McCormack was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the 2012 Championship and played at midfield when Tipperary suffered a defeat by Clare in the Munster final. He was an unused substitute for the 2013 final defeat to Clare, and was eligible again in 2014 where he scored two points from wing-forward in a 5-19 to 1-25 extra-time defeat by Clare in the Munster semi-final.

McCormack was drafted onto the senior panel by Eamonn O’Shea in advance of the 2015 campaign but it was under new manager Michael Ryan that Dan made the breakthrough, making his first appearance in a 1-23 to 0-12 defeat of Dublin in the 2016 National League, going onto make his championship debut against Cork later in the year, and has been an ever present since, being part of a Tipperary match-day panel for all 42 championship matches since, making 40 championship appearances, and was an unused sub twice (both in 2024) scoring 1-16.

Reflecting on Dan’s contribution, Michael Ryan said he was integral in Tipperary turning the tide on Kilkenny in winning the 2016 All-Ireland Final, with McCormack starting at wing-forward.

“I had seen him play against us (Tipperary) for two or three years with UCC, and I remember him playing on a young Paudie Maher back then and Dan was very good at putting himself about, being a real nuisance, winning ball,” he recalls.

“I fundamentally believed that we were unbalanced in Tipperary and dependant on Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher to bring the physical challenge to the opposition.

“At the time we were being pushed around by Kilkenny a fair bit. The emphasis seemed to be too much on flair and ability but struggled to win enough primary ball. So, it was about balancing the team a little bit, so we didn’t need to be as fussy or accurate in terms of the ball that was coming out of the back-line.

“Dan McCormack was integral to us turning that screw back on them.

“He has given tremendous service since. A really strong, really committed guy. You can throw out all the cliches but he’s one guy you would bring into battle with you every day of the week.”

McCormack’s retirement announcement last Thursday was followed a day later by the revelation that Cathal Barrett had been omitted from the Tipperary panel for 2025.

The Holycross/Ballycahill clubman confirmed his departure to the Irish Independent with the 31-year-old defender adding that he wasn’t retiring.

“I have been informed by the manager [Liam Cahill] that I have not been selected for the training panel in 2025,” confirmed the 2-time All-Ireland winner and All-Star.

“I am very disappointed in this regard as I feel I have loads to offer but such is life, and the decision is outside of my control. I’ll work away myself and put myself in contention if needed.”

The Nenagh Guardian understands that a training panel is in place for the coming place with gym programmes issued ahead of the start of collective training on December 1st. All players on the panel have been informed as to their inclusion but at least one more high profile retirement is expected, along with Maher and McCormack, while a number of other 2024 panellists have not been retained, alongside Barrett, but have not been confirmed as yet.