TIPPERARY OFFICIALS MET with Eamon O’Shea yesterday as both parties moved closer to an agreement that should see the county’s senior hurling team manager remain in charge for the 2015 season.
While it is understood that some background issues remain to be ironed out, Galway-based O’Shea has softened on the stance he adopted in the immediate aftermath of last month’s All-Ireland final defeat to Kilkenny.
It was widely anticipated at the time that O’Shea would step aside after two years in charge but the Kilruane MacDonagh’s man has another year of a two-year deal to run.
If O’Shea opted out at this stage, Premier County top brass would find themselves desperately searching for a successor, with no obvious candidate available at the present time.
Both parties met late last week and again yesterday evening, with board officials confident that O’Shea will stay on.
There may be a shake-up in O’Shea’s backroom team, however, with at least one, if not two, members of the medical staff understood to be leaving the set-up of their own volition.
U21 Boss
Meanwhile, on the football front it is believed that two-time All Star Declan Browne will not be the new manager of the county’s U21 team.
That position has been vacated by David Power, the new Wexford football boss, and a representative from the Tipp senior management team is expected to fill the void, with an influx of U21 stars expected to link up with Peter Creedon’s senior squad next year.
Former senior star Browne was linked with the U21 post but sources have indicated that the Moyle Rovers clubman will not step into his first intercounty management role
Creedon has confirmed, meanwhile, that he will remain in charge of the senior team for the 2015 campaign, and he will be assisted by Michael McGeehan and Mick O’Loughlin once again.
Poor auld Ray is missing a hashtag I think!