THE DECISION TO exclude Cathal Barrett from his panel could define Michael Ryan’s tenure as Tipperary senior hurling manager.
That’s according to former Tipp midfielder James Woodlock, who believes Barrett’s absence significantly weakens the Premier County in their bid to successfully defend their All-Ireland senior hurling title.
The All-Star corner-back was dropped from the panel for disciplinary reasons shortly after Tipp’s Munster quarter-final defeat to Cork in Thurles back in May.
Despite some defensive frailties, Tipp rebounded in recent weeks with wins over Westmeath, Dublin and Clare that have set up a semi-final meeting with favourites Galway, to whom they suffered a heavy defeat in April’s Allianz League final.
Nevertheless, Ryan — who guided Tipp to All-Ireland success last season in his first year in charge – last night ruled out the possibility of a return to the panel for Barrett ahead of their clash with the Tribesmen at Croke Park on Sunday week.
“He’s a massive loss. Cathal Barrett is the best corner-back in the game — Paul Murphy, Donagh Maher is having a great season — but he’s a massive, massive loss,” Woodlock told Oisin Langan and Shane Stapleton on the Off the Ball Friday podcast.
“The pace, the aggression, the hurling he has, and he takes on his man every time, he comes outside and delivers a superb ball. I think he’s an absolutely massive loss there for his pace alone and his man-marking ability. But if he was to be involved, it would have been last Tuesday night that he would have been back in training — and he’s not.
“I would hate to see Tipperary bow out in a semi-final stage or an All-Ireland final stage with Cathal Barrett looking at the telly. I don’t think the Tipp public are going to thank any management team for leaving off the best corner-back in Tipperary, and have him watching the telly while we progress on to an All-Ireland semi-final.”
Although he was dropped from the panel, Barrett had also been sidelined since the Cork game due to a knee injury. He made his return last Sunday at wing-back in a club game for Holycross-Ballycahill against Drom & Inch, for whom Woodlock was playing at centre-back.
“Cathal played well. He was absolutely a bit rusty because he is only coming back, but how much is that game going to bring him on? What would a training session have done on Tuesday night for him, with another training session tonight and a panel match at the weekend with Tipp?” said Woodlock, who retired from inter-county hurling in 2015.
“There’s pros and cons, and I can absolutely see Michael Ryan’s side. He’s got to here and he might not want to disrupt things inside with the players. That’s his prerogative on it but I’d hate for our season in Tipperary to be defined on a hurler that’s there, that wants to play, and just isn’t going to play.
“We don’t know the reasons. Obviously Michael is the manager and he makes that call. But the Tipperary public, I’m not too sure if they really care what he did if he plays and we can win an All-Ireland semi-final or an All-Ireland final.”
Woodlock added: “I said in the paper after we were beaten by Cork that I still think we have the team to win the All-Ireland final. I probably had accounted for having Cathal Barrett at this stage. I still think we can do it, but Michael is going to define, I suppose, his managerial career for the last two years on whether this decision is right or wrong, and he’s happy enough to stick with it.
“And it’s his decision, he’s the manager and it has to be taken at that.”
I agree with Ryan’s call to leave him off the panel. The manager sets out his rules at the start of the year and it’s up to the players to follow them. Why should he get preferential treatment just because he is one of their stand out stars? Coady has had the same approach in kilkenny for years and that’s worked well. Missing the opportunity to win an all Ireland medal this year should hurt him enough to spur him on for next year, to fight for his place and stick to the rules.
@d: or turn him off hurling altogether.
@John: If it turns him off he doesn’t have the passion and love for the sport that you need to give 100% so in that case the tipp panel are definitely better off without him.
@d: i wouldnt have the passion if i knew another player on the panel who has done worse is left on it. Every1 should get the same treatment. But it seems there is some rules for some and none for others.
@John: I agree with you there, should be the same rules for everyone. But only the manager and players know the true in’s and out’s of what actually happened so you have to trust the managers call in that situation in my opinion.
@John: there is some cryptic stuff there?? Who done worse?? Doubt if I think what it is is actually worse tbh
@John: we dont know whats going on behind closed doors…so u cant compare one with the other…
If a player has broken a team behaviour code that the rest of the panel has adhered to.There has to be a penalty or else you lose the dressing room. Why is the debate about pressure on the manager. The manager kept his end not the player in question. I admire Ryan for his stance (easier said then done)
@DB: what did he do?
More than drinking obviously????
@Seamus McSpud: No on the beer with the man gave this article that’s the word on the street
Couldn’t disagree more. Speak for yourself James.
@Ewan Scott: Exactly. Although the county board would probably want him back to get some value for the money he’s after costing them.
Michael Ryan deserves backing here especially from former players who should appreciate rules are rules. Very easy to take this populist approach from outside the bubble. But it has no value.
Why would an ex player like woodlock come out and say this… stirring crap in the public… he as a recent player should know what goes on behind closed doors…. michael ryan os doing what he feels best… and fair play to him.. woodlock should not be speaking out in public like this… hes bang out of order… he should be getting behind the team…hes played with enough of them
@David Costello: must be personal if he is stirring shite. Not right as you say from a former player unless he has an agenda
@David Costello: he’s getting paid for to write articles and give interviews. He’s Probably just trying to drum up a bit of controversy for the sake of his own pockets.
@David Costello:
That typical Tipp really.
Think they have a divine right to all Irelands but better at talking about it and critiquing each other and everybody else
@Seamus McSpud: i take exception at that comment…. as a tipp man i dont feel tipp have a divine right to an all ireland….yes there can be inhouse criticism, over the top at times… we aint kk or kerry who are or have been in all irelands on a regular basis…
@Anne Moloney: one player doesnt make his team…mick ryan is in a no win situation… if we lose sun week….people will be on his back over it…. he has put the rumours to bed last night…time to get on with supporting the team…. dont need ex players stirring shite
Are all the other players going by the rules if so fair enough if not then there could be a problem if Tipp win all is forgotten if they loose we will have very angry Tipp supporters
@Anne Moloney: If those angry supporters can’t accept why he’s not on the panel then it says more about them.
@Mick Power: Bang on – They’re only sunshine supporters if that’s the case
@John Fitzpatrick: It was woodlock and himself on the beer in the first place why he was showing the door.
@Anne Moloney: your obviously referring to the gk…. his situation is totally different….barrett broke the teams code of conduct… obviously on more than one occasion…. mick ryan is towing the line and sticking to his principles…
It’s only an armature sport the players should do want they want like everyone else we all have to go to work on Monday morning they train like professional other sporting players and get nothing for it only the gas getting richer