Maher expects seamless transition to new management team

FAMILIARITY breeds contentment — or so says 2010 young hurler of the year Brendan Maher as All-Ireland champions Tipperary get ready to start their season under new manager Declan Ryan.

Although Liam Sheedy has stepped aside, along with coach Eamon O’Shea and selector Michael Ryan, Maher and his team-mates were delighted the back-room team, including physical trainer Cian O’Neill, have stuck around.

However, Maher also feels the players’ previous acquaintances with the new management, either at minor or U21 level or, like Brendan Cummins, Eoin Kelly and Lar Corbett, lining out alongside them for Tipperary, has made the transition seamless. All in all, over two-thirds of the All-Ireland winning panel have either been coached or played with a member of the management trio of Ryan, Tommy Dunne and Michael Gleeson.