Seamus Callanan’s mantra remains same: keep getting better

Transition is too big a word, says Seamus Callanan, when assessing the state of Tipperary hurling.

Despite the range of high-profile retirements – Lar Corbett, Shane McGrath, James Woodlock and Conor O'Mahony – Callanan believes Tipp are no further or indeed nearer a first All-Ireland since 2010.

"Look at Kilkenny, " he says. "They lost a lot of lads to retirement and they were still able to win the All-Ireland. We've a few fresh faces, all looking forward to the year. So I think transition is too big a word. The core of the panel is still there from 2009. There's a good bit of experience there. And you need fresh faces coming through."

At 27, and in his ninth season, Callanan is now the most experienced player on the panel. “Yeah someone told it to me there one day. I was very insulted! Look, there’s a lot of lads around my age that have a good few years experience and a lot more left in the tank as well. It’s a positive anyway.”

Indeed he enjoyed his best season ever in 2015 and was nominated for hurler of the year. The loss of Corbett and company is not ideal, yet he understands.

“Hurling isn’t everything either. There are people there with young families and everything that have to be taken into consideration. The lads that have retired from Tipperary owe nothing to Tipperary. They were great servants for years, so best of luck to them with their retirement.”

What he's also looking forward to is his first season under Michael Ryan, who served as selector under both Eamonn O'Shea and Liam Sheedy.

“Obviously it gives him a good chance to stamp his own hurling type onto the scene. Eamon drilled great confidence into me, and once you get a taste for it, the level of training and preparation, it all adds up.

“But you have to up it again, try harder. I certainly think I was a different player last year. I think that was obvious, to be honest.”