Ryan raging favourite as Tipp insist search for boss ongoing

DECLAN RYAN was last night closing in on being appointed as Tipperary’s new senior hurling manager yet county board officials have denied that the announcement of Liam Sheedy’s successor is imminent.

Clonoulty-Rossmore native Ryan, an All-Ireland winner in 1989, 1991 and 2001, is regarded as the front-runner for the position and there is strong speculation within the county that this year’s All-Ireland U21 winning coach, Tommy Dunne, is set to assume a similar role with the senior squad for 2011.

County board PRO Ger Ryan, who is also a member of the sub-committee charged with finding the new manager, denied suggestions that a specially convened meeting of the county board was set to take place tonight to rubber-stamp the appointment. Ryan also insisted that the search was still ongoing.