COLM BONNAR HAS expressed his extreme disappointment at being let go as Tipperary senior hurling manager.
An All-Ireland winner as a player with the Premier county, Bonnar took over in September 2021 for a term that was meant to last three years.
But the Tipperary county board announced this morning that Bonnar had been ‘relieved of his duties’ in the wake of a disappointing maiden campaign that saw Tipperary lose all four games in the Munster hurling championship.
“I am extremely disappointed with the decision of the executive committee of Tipperary GAA regarding my position as Tipperary senior hurling manager,” said Bonnar in a statement released exclusively this afternoon to tipperarylive.ie.
“The terms of reference I was given for my three-year term was stated clearly by the executive committee at the Tipperary convention in December 2021, where it was stated that Tipperary were entering a transition and a rebuilding period. The manager will need time to add new players to the panel and patience was urged for this rebuild.
“I presented a detailed presentation to the 15-person executive Wednesday evening, this encompassed my review of 2022 and my plans for 2023. I have since been informed by the county board that I am no longer in the position of Tipperary senior hurling manager for the coming years.
“I am an honourable and a very committed Tipperary man, with an experienced management career, who has always giving my heart and soul to Tipperary hurling, both as a player and manager. I took on this task in good faith.
“Tipperary hurling will always be in my heart and I wish all involved the best of luck as I again become a passionate supporter of our great county team.”
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I feel for him. Definitely not given enough time. You can’t rebuild a squad in a year. And removing managers like this is not GAA style. I think the Tipp County Board think it’s the Premier League instead of the Premier County.
@Sumsoar Khan: beaten by Kerry in their first game. Poor league – struggled to beat Laois and recorded a 1 point win over a woeful Kilkenny team. But the performances in Munster against Clare and Cork were shocking. He has lost the dressing room and two of his selectors jumped ship yesterday. The writing was on the wall and he should have stepped away rather than wait to be pushed. He was a tremendous servant to Tipp on the field of play but was out of his depth in this position.
@offtheball: ah I think that’s an unfair reflection on him, considering the players at his disposal and the retirements/injuries, I don’t think you can judge him on that season alone. He surely deserved another year or 2 to put his stamp on it, get fresh faces into a intercounty setup routine etc. Understand the above results, poor for a regular contender etc but it needs to be said he wasnt left a top squad by those before him.
@offtheball: a woeful Kilkenny ? I dont think Clare would agree !!
A horrible way to treat anybody give the man a chance at least what did the best board expect in the first year. Lousy decision they must have Cahill lined up.
A very disgruntled Limerick man.
@Richard Ryan: Davy Fitzgerald must be lurking in the background?
I love to see Tippeary county board trying to manage a the tipp team and see how they do.To many soccer thing’s creeping into GAA first penalties now sacking manager before he had time to prove himself very unfair what next
To be fair to him whilst the new crop are developing you can sympathize with him there, but on the other hand tactically they were found very badly wanting at times and also they were very up and down for matches. Up against Waterford, down against Clare, up against Limerick and down against cork.
@Darren Mullins: Teams in transition rarely have the consistency of top quality established ones. Seems harsh by the Tipp county board.
If Cork have a poor year next year I’d doubt Pat Ryan will be shown the door. Cody was was given time by Kilkenny & that worked out well.
Despicable way to treat a man with such syrong Tipp credentials imho.
He stepped into the breach when the team was in a difficult period between retirements and injuries.
It wasn’t a good year but at very least the man should have got another season to see if he and his backroom team could turn things around.
Obviously the selection committee ,with the blessing of the County Board, had other ideas and no doubt a potential candidate has been sounded out!
Laughing stock on the pitch and now off it, how they can blame him and do this after one year is pathetic
Two figures jump from that article…10 the amount of months he got from a 3 year contract,hardly time enough to have a baby never mind rebuild a top team….And 15 person executive, What the actual ….Now there’s something to be shaved before another word said or ye are at nothing.
Very harsh treatment of Bonnar. Lohan had a very bad start in Clare and has turned a corner and probably unlucky not be contesting an All Ireland final. These managers need time. Shefflin will also need time in Galway
I did but it wasn’t shown