Weight of expectation sits easily on Ryan’s shoulders

IT goes without saying that those Tipperary players named in Declan Ryan’s first league team also attending All-Ireland winning captain Eoin Kelly’s wedding tomorrow will be minding themselves.

Although he won’t be back in harness until next month, the groom wouldn’t want it any other way — and neither would the manager.

No fears for Ryan there, though. A vengeful Kilkenny side are no sight for hungover eyes.

“They’re all mature men,” said the Clonoulty-Rossmore man of hisplayers. “Anyone going to it will be on their best behaviour no doubt because we’ve a huge night to look forward to on Saturday night so it’s a big weekend all in all.”

Even more so given Tipperary will be without four of the forwards who featured in last September’s victory — Kelly, Lar Corbett, John O’Brien and Seamus Callanan. Also, with Declan Fanning having retired and full-back Paul Curran now out with a shoulder injury, the Tipperary team is sure to have a youthful complexion.

“We have a few injuries but it’s a great opportunity for the other guys in the panel to step up to the plate and they have loads of ability. It’s going to be a learning curve for management and players on Saturday night.

“It’s also going to be a test of our resources with the number of injuries we have at the minute.

“I’ve no doubt that every lad we have in the panel is capable of wearing the blue and gold jersey with plenty of pride and ability.”

Kilkenny themselves are without some of their stars in Henry Shefflin, John Tennyson and Richie Power but Ryan is not kidding himself. They’re going to pack an almighty punch.

“Kilkenny will be coming to Thurles with all guns blazing. They will probably have the edge on us in the motivation stakes, the same as Tipp would have had on them in the previous league meeting.”

Tipperary will still expect, though. The ingredients are all there to justify it. The legacy Ryan and his selectors — Tommy Dunne and Michael Gleeson — have been handed is so rich.

A winning backroom group also remains intact. And Ryan is a proven manager, having won an All-Ireland minor title in 2007. Plus, he and his sideline cohorts already know several of the players inside-out.

“I’m sure it’s helped the players and the managers equally,” said Ryan of the management and players’ previous working relationships.

“It was a huge shock when the previous management stepped down but regardless of who is involved the players have to be at their best to compete at the level we’re playing at.”

Ryan can’t anticipate he’ll be given many breaks nor does he ask for many. The 46-year gap since Tipperary strung two All-Ireland titles together will be thrown at him while Liam Sheedy’s shadow will be a big one to step out of.

“I’m sure it will be mentioned in the media about us hoping to put back-to-back All-Ireland titles together,” noted Ryan.

“But as far as we’re concerned we’re going to try and play as well as we can any day that we’re representing the blue and gold. The rest will take care of itself then.”

Tipperary won’t need reminding they’re a big deal in this year’s competition. The ferocity of the opposition playing against them will see to that as will their first three games all being played under lights.

Saturday in Thurles is followed by a Croke Park date with Dublin on February 19 before they entertain Waterford in another evening game in Semple Stadium on March 5.

“I don’t know if it’s Tipp-Dublin or Cork-Dublin or Jedward that is going to attract that crowd,” Ryan chuckled about Saturday week’s entertainment.

“Our first three games are under lights and there’ll be a bit of buzz about them. But we’ll have to be at our best not just for those but also the last four games because nothing is going to come to us handy.”

However, Ryan senses his players know that. Even if he has only had less than four weeks with them.

“They have prepared very well and they are very diligent about going about their business. I wouldn’t have any worries in that regard.

“Training has been going very good since they came back from Jamaica. They’re all in good shape and they’re very enthusiastic so it’s a matter of getting down to business now and producing it on the day or, in Saturday’s case, the night.”