LAST UPDATE | 21 Sep 2018
LIAM SHEEDY IS set for a shock return as Tipperary senior hurling boss according to reports this morning.
The 2010 All-Ireland winning manager is expected to be put forward for ratification at a Tipperary county board meeting on Monday night, reports the Irish Examiner.
2018 All-Ireland U21 winning boss Liam Cahill and 2012 All-Ireland winning manager Willie Maher were believed to be the frontrunners to succeed Michael Ryan until Sheedy threw his hat into the ring.
The Portroe clubman is a popular figure in the county, having guided the Premier to two Munster crowns and the Liam MacCarthy during his stint between 2008 and 2010.
The 48-year-old resigned shortly after stopping Kilkenny’s ‘drive for five’ in 2010, citing work commitments as the reason for his surprise departure. In the intervening years, he has had some involvement with various club, county and college sides, in addition to his media work with RTÉ.
Incidentally, Sheedy poured cold water on the prospect of taking over for outgoing boss Ryan last month.
“It’s a massive appointment but that job will be hotly contested because they’ll still be one of the favourites for the Munster championship and for major honours next year,” he said on The Sunday Game.
“Whether it’s me or Nicky English, there’s always going to be names like that bandied around but ultimately, it’s a massive, massive commitment and they’ll need a bit more spare time than I have.”
Sheedy currently works as Bank of Ireland’s director for Munster while he’s also chairman of Sport Ireland’s high performance unit and is a member of the Irish Sports Council. In the past, he chaired the Hurling 2020 Committee.
He was on the shortlist to replace Paraic Duffy as GAA director general earlier this year, before Tom Ryan was eventually appointed to the role.
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Ruddock Leavy Heaslip O Brien Van der Flier Murphy Fardy Conan Deegan Leinster back row strength is unreal If carlsberg did backrows they would probably not be as good as Leinsters
Rare to see two players joining straight from school in Aungier and O’Sullivan.
I just don’t know how Leinster are going to keep all these backrows happy but I hope they do.
The talent level being brought through is amazing.
@Gustave H: the great thing is the talent is flowing to the first team and beyond so they must know the way to keep them all happy.
@Gustave H: Let Ulster sign them to let them get game time.
@Christiaan Theron: I don’t think it’s a case of letting them. They want to stay and fight for their place.
From what I heard Ulster went in heavily for Jack Conan and he’d no interest.
@Gustave H: True. There’s one or two that would want to do a serious bit of thinking though. It’s admirable wanting to earn the starting spot here, but playing week in week out and in Champions Cup games in Ravenhill would stand to them more than a few Pro12 games during the Six Nations. It’s a short career, and waiting in line didn’t work out for Ryan or Madigan.
Some of these kids should go on loan to Ulster and London Irish
@Aidan O: They don’t want to.
@Lf: Shows how ambitious they are. Every player knows they have to play regular on the 23 for a province to get capped.
@Christiaan Theron: You’re right Christian, it does show how ambitious they are. Instead of moving to another lesser side backing yourself to get into a team packed full of talent that’s more likely to challenge for trophies shows serious ambition and confidence.
@Christiaan Theron: Heaslip, O’Brien, Leavy, Murphy, Van der Flier, Conan and Ruddock. All Irish internationals
@Oval Digest: You mean like Marty Moore and Ian Madigan now presently lost to the Irish national side.
@Christiaan Theron: did James Ryan not get capped for Ireland before playing for Leinster?
@Christiaan Theron: Haha those support my point! Both stayed and were in the Irish squad, when they left they were found out a bit and left out.
Why would you want to head to Ulster or London Irish if you were an ambitious, talented player from Leinster?
If anything, it would show a lack of ambition to move.
@Christiaan Theron: Ulster should try developing their own players instead of relying on Saffers and other provinces.