FORMER TIPPERARY DEFENDER Paul Curran has accepted a position on manager Eamon O’Shea’s backroom team for the championship summer.
Curran, 33, announced his retirement at the end of April but O’Shea has wasted no time in ensuring that the Mullinahone stalwart remains involved with the squad.
Premier County assistant manager Michael Ryan has confirmed that Curran will work with the Tipperary full-backs for the remainder of the season.
And his presence within the set-up retains another vital link to the All-Ireland winning team of five years ago as Declan Fanning, wing-back on that occasion, is a selector alongside O’Shea.
“Paul’s come in to do a bit of work with our inside back line. And we’re delighted to welcome him in,” said Ryan.
“If anything, we possibly are a bit under-resourced versus some of our competition but Paul was more than happy to come on board. He has got years of experience here and he’s got a lot to offer us. And we’re delighted to keep him on board.
He commands a lot of respect, given the years and years of service he’s given to us. It’s a step in the right direction for us and he is a very positive, experienced resource.”
Curran’s positioning on the backroom team will fuel speculation that he could become one of Ryan’s permanent selectors next year, when he assumes the manager’s role that will be vacated by O’Shea after the 2015 championship.
Meanwhile, Ryan played down fears surrounding clubmate James Barry’s fitness following Sunday’s challenge against Dublin, a game that marked the opening of new facilities at Upperchurch-Drombane GAA club.
Barry came off after 20 minutes with a dead leg sustained on club duty last Saturday.
But given the significance of the intercounty challenge at his local field, Barry wanted to tog out against the Dubs.
Ryan admitted: “He probably shouldn’t have played at all but he was very anxious to turn out. It’s a big day for the club but a huge day for James when Tipperary come to your home club.”
Ryan confirmed that Tipp centre back Paudie Maher is currently nursing a knee problem, while Maher’s Thurles Sarsfields clubmate Michael Cahill tweaked a hamstring in a recent club outing with Kildangan.
Neither player is any danger of missing the Munster SHC semi-final against Clare or Limerick next month while another Sars player, Denis Maher, is making steady progress as he continues along the road to recovery from a dislocated shoulder sustained against Galway in February.
Ryan added: “He (Maher) did a little bit of contact work with us last week. He’s working very hard and we just have to wait and see.”
Cork are very poor ,,!!!
When I saw the Cork team on Friday night with only 3 city players I new mass was over for the rebels this is the worst team Cork ever brought to Thurles sad.
Some dire stuff from Cork so far. Aimless balls down the field. They’ll need to improve drastically in the second half or this will be a rout
Great to see the sweeper system being destroyed early on.
That’s one poor cork team Christ above going to get throttled here today.
Early test of both teams ambition for the season. Nothing like the clash of the ash to kick off the summer.
Only this year it is starting with a whimper. Today and last night’s game both brutal.
Dire stuff from the rebels
It’s tipps year :-)
Premature to come out with that comment.
Barry Kelly is a shit ref.
Game over cork keep playing into tips hands
Cork are 11/4 in the bookies. As a Cork man I’ll take that price all day, championship hurling in Thurles, anything can happen!! Rebels Abú!!!
Never bet on your own team
Just been a pitch invasion by the Tipp supporters at the final whistle in Thurles. Where are the horse mounted police? Greyhounds even.
Cork really poor. The score is actually flattering should be down by more. Hopefully it will be a closer second half
Tipp’s full forward line is going to take some stopping of we’re going to get a result. Can never write us off in championship though, Rebels abú.
Good to see kieran Kingstons chopping and changing of the teams went so well for cork. He must be so proud…
Lots of stuff happening off the ball, ruining the flow of the game.
Cork are a big of a joke alright.
And cork lads coming on here giving out is golden. Long may it last.
What’s the longest ye have gone without an AI lads? Big 3 me hole.
Switchin over to watch Rory win the golf
Great shot from Rory there
You’re missing the comeback, three quick goals for cork
Dubai golf classic? Sounds like the Tommy Murphy cup.
As a Cork man….very disappointed. …maybe it’s a cunning plan….use the back door route to develop the team. .. ya right …will wake up from that dream soon..and come back to reality…
I never thought I would see the day when Cork hurling would hit such a low point even Kerry are putting in more professional performances.
No point having millions in the bank and no talent coming forward.
The OAP’S in county board.
we’ll need I say anymore!!!!!