The Tipperary hurling management team of Mr Michael Ryan; hurling coach Mr Declan Fanning; and selectors Mr John Madden and Mr Conor Stakelum, have all decided to step down following a disappointing Championship campaign for Tipperary, which saw them crash out of the competition in the inaugural Munster round-robin phase.
The Drombane-Upperchurch Liam MacCarthy cup winner in 1991, Mr Michael Ryan, had been first appointed as Tipperary manager in 2015 having served as a selector under both Mr Eamon O’Shea and Mr Liam Sheedy.
During his term he guided Tipperary to an All-Ireland title in his first 2016 season in charge, with a decisive victory over Kilkenny. In the following season, 2017, Tipperary lost out to eventual winners Galway at the All-Ireland semi-final stage by just a single point. However this year, Tipperary failed to make headway in four Munster games; having drawn with Co. Cork and Co. Waterford, but losing to both Co. Limerick and Co. Clare.
Accepting the decision of the Tipperary hurling management team, Mr John Devane, (Tipperary County Board chairman) expressed his gratitude, stating:- “As chairman of Tipperary County Board, I wish to express the sincere thanks and appreciation and that on behalf of all Tipperary supporters to our Senior Hurling Management team who have today confirmed their intention to step down from their roles,” he said. “Each one, Mick, Declan, John and Conor have given selflessly of their time over the past three years for the greater good of Tipperary, reaching the pinnacle of success in their first year with All Ireland glory. In particular, manager Mick Ryan has given unparalleled service over many years on the field of play and on the sideline as a selector, initially under two separate managers before stepping up to that level himself in 2016. As players and management we couldn’t have asked for more of them and I wish them every success now and for the future.”
In a full statement from Management announcing their decision, they declared:-
“On behalf of the Tipperary Senior Hurling Management team, we wish to confirm that we are stepping down from our roles with immediate effect.
Having carefully considered what is in the best interest of Tipperary hurling and our current crop of players, we believe the time is now right for a change of direction at Management level. It is our hope that a change in management will bring fresh new thinking to ensure Tipperary continues to compete for top honours in the coming years.
We wish to sincerely thank the Tipperary County Board and its Officers for giving us the opportunity 3 years ago to take on the Management of the Senior Hurling Team.
We enjoyed some fantastic days and endured some equally disappointing defeats which are all part and parcel of sport at every level. It has been a great honour and privilege for each of us to have been entrusted with these roles.
We are extremely fortunate in Tipperary to have such a positive and active Tipperary Supporters Club which has been supporting Tipperary Hurling at all levels since 1987. Tipperary Supporters Club has given us fabulous support and encouragement and we are very grateful to them for the tireless work they do for the benefit of Tipperary Hurling.
Our back-room team have been key to preparing our players over the last 3 years and we have been exceptionally well served by a fully committed team who did everything within their power to help our players.
We would especially like to acknowledge and thank the Tipperary public who have been fantastic supporters through thick and thin during our Management term.We wish we could have delivered more success particularly this year with the new hurling structures and fantastic hurling that has been played in this year’s Championship.
And finally we wish to thank the players who have worked tirelessly with us and given their all for Tipperary. These are extraordinary young men whose passion and commitment for our game has made working with them so enjoyable and rewarding for us every single night we trained or played our game.
We wish the players, the new Management and back-room team every success for 2019 and beyond, as we re-join the Tipperary supporters in Semple Stadium and around the country encouraging our players to great victories again.”
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