Ryan takes Tipperary reins

GAELIC GAMES:THE TIPPERARY county board last night ended weeks of speculation by appointing Declan Ryan as new senior hurling manager for a two-year term.

Ryan’s appointment was widely anticipated as was that of the new team coach Tommy Dunne, with Michael Gleeson of county champions Thurles Sarsfields completing the new management team.

Ryan, the three time All-Ireland winner and former county minor manager, emerged as the leading contender to succeed Liam Sheedy, once another former county star, Nicky English, ruled himself out of contention. Ryan in fact succeeded Sheedy as minor manager in 2006 and led Tipperary to the All-Ireland title in the grade in 2007, when Dunne also acted as team coach.

More recently, Dunne was part of this year’s Tipperary under-21 team management, alongside Ken Hogan, and which managed to match the achievement of their senior counterparts by winning the All-Ireland.

Sheedy’s decision to step down last month, despite the All-Ireland success, left a massive vacancy, especially with his selectors Michael Ryan and Eamonn O’Shea following suit. But early last week Ryan’s name emerged as the most likely choice of the nine-man committee who put his name forward for ratification last night.

This leaves Meath as the last county to appoint a senior manager for 2011, in this case football, and all going to plan at this evening’s full county board meeting in Navan, that position will go to former Monaghan manager Séamus McEnaney and his backroom team of trainer Marty McElkennon and former All-Ireland winning Armagh coach Paul Grimley, along with successful Skryne manager Liam Harnan.

McEnaney is the preferred choice of the three-man committee set up to find a successor to Eamonn O’Brien, although it remains to be seen exactly how well this is supported by the club delegates.

There has been speculation that a considerable number of clubs are set to vote against McEnaney, who would be the first outside manager to appointed in Meath, although there are also reassuring reports that he has the backing of the players. Some clubs have mandated their delegates on how to vote, while others will leave it up to the delegates on the night.

There was nothing at all uncertain about Brian Cody being reappointed as manager of the Kilkenny hurlers for a 13th year, and Monday’s meeting of the Kilkenny county board also ratified the return of his selectors Martin Fogarty and Michael Dempsey.

It was also announced that Adrian Ronan would take over as minor hurling manager from Richie Mulrooney, who has guided the county to two of the last three All-Ireland titles, while Michael Walsh would remain on as under-21 hurling manager.

Finally, the Dublin women’s football team will defend their All-Ireland title next year with a new manager after Gerry McGill’s decision this weekend to step down after four years in charge. McGill, a Donegal native, called each member of his All-Ireland winning squad prior to last Saturday’s medal presentation night to inform them of his decision.