The Tipperary GAA Discussion Thread

What do we know?

The Tipp County Board spoke to Cahill twice - very quickly after Waterford were beaten. And the Waterford board probably had more meetings than that.

There are a couple of journalists that have Cahill's ear and vice versa. Cahill is very open with journalists and often hurries to address camp issues with the media. Just one recent example (rule number one of management - protect your players and don't make it about yourself- Cahill broke that rule after the Clare game:

"“I have to throw everything at this now. Too many players failed today for my liking. I’m going to look at it really stringently and rigorously. I have 37 on the squad and they’re all putting in great work. We had 11 guys training earlier this morning that trained really, really hard.

“They must be looking in at that saying, ‘What have I to do to get into the squad?’"

He'll get away with that kind of thing at Waterford where they're desperate for success. Then he had to address it after the Galway game:

""But the players fought for everything today, the pride in that Waterford jersey. They really fought for me as well, and for that I'm indebted to these players, they're with me 100% and I really need to make that clear to everybody, we have a great relationship.""

Cahill is inexperienced in a lot of ways. Likes the mic. Talks too much to media. Ran his mouth about structures in Tipp after beating Tipp and talked the talk about his love for the county and then pulled the rug. He has to curb that if he is going to manage a top side where the media scrutiny is microscopic.

The obvious shock of multiple journalists (particularly Tipp journalists), including the county board, reveals the obvious. Discussions had gone well. It was lined up and the rug was pulled.

Waterford have their own benefactors and stakeholders. While their county board might not have a lot of money, they do have people putting in money.

While Cahill was open to the Tipp board that he was still meeting the Waterford board, that he sent out the training programme to the Waterford lads before he told the Tipp board meant that was being organised, and well, that suggests that he never really considered the Tipp job. He has been talking out of both sides of his mouth. He has been bending over backwards trying to please everyone, but I think Cahill and Bevans might have cut their ties here. Particularly if Tipp's games with Waterford turn into bad blood games - this is a real possibility.

When you see the ultimate insider GAA journalist like John Fogarty with words from Cahill's mouth, you know Cahill is still trying to manage this through the media. As is the Tipp county board. But that's tricky, it's a bit like a guy who has a small business online, who spends his time trying to bully people online - it's not good for business, is it?

Cahill and Bevan's Waterford have yet to figure out how to score goals against Limerick - when it really mattered, they scored 17 points and 19 points against Limerick. Easily contained. This year, they scored 14 points from play against Limerick. Their tactics, one up front, were of a side looking to get stuck into a better team and not get trashed rather than going out to win. It will be interesting to see how Waterford play tactically next year. It's been underwhelming so far. A final and a semi-final against the top side without landing any real blows in terms of incisive, direct, and effective play that really troubles the opposition. They've never got out of Limerick's grip - never caused a ripple of panic in Limerick. No cups to show for it. But Waterford have the man they wanted and Tipp didn't get the man they approached. These things usually don't go to plan.

Tipp can't continue to get bogged down in it, anyway. And they haven't - board is going ahead full steam.

The bolded content is totally unacceptable

Heard it was his hand. Same job I suppose. Terribly unlucky year - misses the intercounty championship and now the club. Chap has no luck is right.

Great result for Tipp football yesterday. Despite late pull outs from their camoige contingent to face Galway today.

Aisling McCarthy scored 1-7. Good saves from the keeper in goal.

Hopefully the camoige team can make a real game of it against Galway today. Up against it. But they've come on a tonne this year.

How do I do that?

Nenagh 2-21(27)

McDonaghs 1-26(29)

Two late goals for Nenagh

Egan is the new manager of Wexford. Top coach, has the all the credentials. Hope it goes well for him.

...

Some people are of the belief that it's going to be Willie Maher with the possibility of Horgan as selector or coach.

He has certainly served his time. You couldn't begrudge Bonnar. Coaching Dicksboro at the moment, I think.

Loved him as a player - hope it goes well for him.

But I'd have to see who the whole coaching ticket is - and what kind of coaching team he is going to bring to the table.

Agree 100%

Colm Bonnar confirmed on a 3-year term.

Brendan Cummins is the under 20 manager.

 SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2021 | BY JONATHAN CULLEN

Following a meeting of our Management Committee, which was held this evening, Tipperary GAA are delighted to announce that Colm Bonnar has been appointed as senior hurling manager for a 3 year term. Colm Bonnar is bringing extensive previous experience to his new challenge of being manager for the Tipperary Senior hurling team. Apart from his 17 years playing with Tipperary teams between 1982 and 2000, where he played in 17 Munster Finals (winning 11) and 10 All-Ireland finals (winning 5), Colm’s management career has also seen him build up a catalogue of experience and success across many teams.

Following retirement from playing with Tipperary, Colm first cut his teeth at intercounty coaching where, with Michael Cleary and Sean Hennessy he coached the Tipperary camogie team to their senior All Ireland win of 1999. He then joined Gerald McCarthy (later Justin McCarthy) with Waterford senior hurlers as coach/physical trainer when they won their first Munster title in 2002 after a 39 year gap.

Colm then moved back to his native county as Physical trainer/selector of the Tipperary senior team with Ken Hogan from 2004-2005, unfortunately with little success in this period. Colm progressed on from this however to manage the Wexford senior hurling team from 2008 to 2011 where they won the div 2 league final, beating Clare in the final.

Colm got a great insight into Kilkenny hurling and further success when he co-managed with Andy Moloney and coached Ballyhale to a club All Ireland title in 2015. Then, in a 3 year period from 2017 to 2020, Colm was the manager of the Carlow senior hurlers where in successive years, he brought them from Div 2, to Div 1B and up to Division 1 hurling. In this time Carlow had their most successful period in hurling winning the Christy Ring, Joe McDonagh and they played in the Leinster Senior hurling round robin championship.

Throughout all of this time Colm Bonnar has been ever associated with the Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) and the Fitzgibbon Cup where he has managed WIT to 6 Fitzgibbon cup championship wins and numerous Fresher All Ireland hurling wins. He also managed WIT to their first Purcell Cup and Ashbourne cup (camogie) wins.

Colm is currently involved with Padraig Fanning (ex Waterford Hurling boss) and the Dicksboro senior hurling team.

Colm says that he ‘relishes the opportunity to take on his biggest, but proudest challenge as Tipperary Hurling Manager. I realise that one of the most successful Tipperary teams ever is obviously coming to a natural transition with the departure of Liam Sheedy and the recent retirement of Brendan Maher and I would like to congratulate them on their amazing careers for Tipperary. However, I am confident with the experience still in the current squad and the many successful u20/21 and minor teams over the last number of years, there are many talented hurlers in Tipperary bursting to take their opportunity to be successful at senior level, just like I am as the new manager.’

‘I will bring to this role, all my playing and managerial experience, my passion for the game and for Tipperary, along with a track record of success and getting the most out of teams and players.’

Colm has also studied extensively to build on his experience and holds Honours degree in Sports Management, a Master in Management in Education, a Setanta College Diploma in Personal Training and Strength & Conditioning and a Diploma in Sports Psychology. Colm is currently working in the Student Life and Learning Department in WIT.

The management committee have also appointed Brendan Cummins as Manager of the under 20 hurling team, he will be joined by former Kerry senior hurling manager Fintan O’Connor as coach. The under 20 management have also been appointed for a 3 year term.

Tipperary GAA wish both team managements the very best of luck and look forward with enthusiasm to the coming year’s

Journalist trying to burying Cahill in an Examiner article - use of the word snub and turning his back on his own county - have no relation to the words of his interview:

Liam Cahill: Time will be the judge of whether Tipp snub was right call

Liam Cahill insists he has no regrets about turning his back on his native county to remain in charge of the Waterford senior hurlers.

FRI, 17 SEP, 2021 - 21:05

TOMÁS MCCARTHY

Liam Cahill insists he has no regrets about turning his back on his native county to remain in charge of the Waterford senior hurlers.

Cahill admitted that he spoke to Tipperary top brass about succeeding Liam Sheedy, but ultimately felt that he couldn’t turn his back on the Déise squad.

Speaking on WLR’s Lár Na Páirce show Friday night, Cahill also revealed that his decision has resulted in some mixed reactions in Tipperary, adding that “ultimately, time will be the judge of whether this decision was right or not”.

However, the Waterford manager is convinced that there is more to come from his charges.

“I feel with this group of players that their potential hasn’t fully bottomed out yet. I hope that there’s a little bit more to find in these boys.

They have given us everything over the last two years. They were a very hard bunch of players to walk away from.

The Ballingarry man admitted that he held talks with the Tipperary County Board after Liam Sheedy departed last month.

“That discussion was in private and that’s where it will always remain with me. Obviously, the rumour mill for a role of the magnitude of the Tipperary senior hurling manager can gather legs.

“I can genuinely say that it wasn’t anything that the Tipp County Board did or didn’t say, or it wasn’t that anything that Liam Cahill or Mikey Bevans did or didn’t say.

“Ultimately, it was the draw back to the Waterford players, the Waterford senior hurlers, that really nailed down our decision.

“Yes, we were torn between two groups of players but, for me, the rapport we have built up with the Waterford senior hurlers over the past two years is something Mikey and I couldn’t walk away from.”

The local reaction in the Premier County has been mixed.

“As I said in my statement, it would please some and not others, and that’s exactly how it has been.

“For me, the ultimate easy thing to do was to say ‘yes’ to Tipperary, 100%. The desire to manage your own county is always there.

“To be as honest as I can, I’m not the first Tipperary man to say no to the Tipperary senior hurling job. Maybe people aren’t aware of that. I know for certain that a lot more high-profile names and a lot bigger names than me in Tipperary have been asked to take on Tipperary in the past and said no.

“It didn’t seem to create the same disappointment in Tipperary people. I won’t say it bothers me but people should be aware of that.

People say that the Tipp job mightn’t come around again and I mightn’t be asked, and that’s OK in my headspace. If that’s not to be, it’s not to be.

“It won’t ever stop me from putting my hand up to get involved in Tipperary Games Development or underage hurling in Tipperary in the future. I don’t do those grudge matches, if you want to call it that.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been at a funeral or two over the last couple of weeks, and I’ve met a lot of people that have wished me luck as well.

“A lot of local club people here have expressed their good wishes in continuing in the role in Waterford. I’ve met one or two that have expressed their disappointment, but they have expressed it in a respectful way and they’re entitled to do that.”

Cahill has been impressed by the attitude of the Déise players since he took over in the winter of 2019.

“Ultimately, the respect they gave us from day one. We made difficult decisions when we started out and, through the two years we worked together, these players, they have treated myself, Mikey Bevans, Stephen Frampton, Tom Feeney, and Stephen Molumphy, and all the backroom team, with the upmost respect.

“That’s something that you don’t come across too often. There’s usually, in a team environment, one or two that will challenge you — and not challenge you for the right reasons. I know you’re not going to keep 35 or 36 players happy all the time, but these players love feedback and they love trying to improve. As I said, that’s something that you don’t get too often in a set-up across the board.”

After losing to Limerick in an All-Ireland final and semi-final, Cahill’s ambition is to lift a trophy with Waterford in 2022.

“If our term finishes in Waterford without silverware, it will be classed a failure. That’s where I believe these players are capable of delivering. I know pundits in certain areas and fellas with big opinions will think that this Waterford team aren’t capable of dining at the top table.

“I think we’re up there, we’re up there in the top three or four teams in the country. It’s like anything, you have to keep knocking on the door to break through. That’s exactly what we’re going to do with these players.

“Silverware will be the gauge. This year is a big, big year for these players. It’s a big year for me and the management team. Ultimately, there’ll be no stone left unturned to make sure that silverware is delivered this year of some sort.”

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He said in a few interviews, he will take his time in assembling a team. A month i think. But the word is that Cairbre Ó Cairealláin is staying on. I wonder who is puck out analyst and stats men will be. Crucial parts of a backroom team these days. Think the fixtures will be what they were set to be until Covid hit. No dates yet. But we're set to play Waterford at their home and Clare will be in Thurles I think. Cork will be in Thurles and Limerick will be in Gaelic Grounds I'd say.

Tommy Dunne to be Egan's coach at Wexford next year?