GAA:After guiding Tipperary to their first All-Ireland win since 2001, Liam Sheedy has decided to bow out at the top. In a move straight from left field, the Premier County manager announced he will step down with immediate effect.
Sheedy had been offered a two-year extension to his existing term, which expired this year, and naturally enough had been expected to accept. But the Portroe man, and his backroom team of Eamon O’Shea and Michael Ryan, have decided to call it a day.
“The management team informed the board that, much to their regret, it was not possible for them to continue,” the Tipperary county board announced this morning. “The board is deeply grateful to Liam, Eamon and Michael for the excellent job they did while in charge of the senior hurling team.
“No words can express our deep sense of gratitude to and admiration for them. While we are deeply disappointed with their decision, we totally respect it and we know it was a difficult one for them to make.”
Sheedy and his selectors, who found themselves working up to 16 hours a day during their three-year term, cited work commitments as the reason for stepping down. There was no suggestion of any discontent behind the scenes and Sheedy thanked the board for their “top class” support.
“Over the last three years we have given of our time on a voluntary basis to put in place a top class professional set-up that would allow the players to develop, grow and be successful,” Sheedy said in a statement. “Our aim when we took over was to take Tipperary hurling to a new level and we are very happy that we have achieved that.
“We all have responsible, demanding, professional jobs and we are very grateful to our employers for enabling us to carry out our role with Tipperary with such great support in what is a very challenging economic and working environment.
“However, we have found ourselves working up to 16 hour days in order to deliver in both roles and this is simply not sustainable on an ongoing basis. This has led to our decision to stand down.”
Although there was always an assumption Sheedy would continue for a fourth season, the man himself never actually gave any commitment. When pressed on his plans in the wake of Tipp’s momentous win over Kilkenny, he deflected the question, stating he didn’t wish to “get into that now”.
While his decision will come as a complete shock to Tipperary fans, the board must now begin the search for Sheedy’s successor. Tommy Dunne, who delivered the under-21 title this year and captained the 2001 All-Ireland winning side, is an early frontrunner.
Eight of the senior panel featured in the under-21 side that hammered Galway out of sight in this year’s under-21 final and the continuity the Toomevara man could provide would no doubt work in his favour.
