Backroom quality key for Tipp’s Ryan

THE mark of a strong leader is to surround himself with strong people. Ego doesn’t enter the equation. Fawning yes men are dismissed. Discussion is encouraged.

In senior hurling manager Declan Ryan, Tipperary has one such leader. Last year, to great acclaim at the manner of their play, Tipperary won a magnificent All-Ireland final and in the process denied Kilkenny what would have been a record-setting five in a row. Manager Liam Sheedy subsequently ended his tenure but the new man faced a difficult situation. He was taking over a side who must surely have had their cutting-edge blunted to some extent. He had to get to know them within months while simultaneously imposing his own mark on them. And, more importantly than anything else, he had to win.

“It was a huge opportunity for whoever took on the role and a huge challenge at the same time,” Ryan said.

“Only for the backroom team involved I wouldn’t have taken on the job. There’s a fantastic backroom team and the responsibility and workload is shared very evenly. Having good people working with you made it an easier decision to make. The quality of people we were able to bring on board in the new management set-up. We’re happy with the way things have gone since.”

Those people included Tommy Dunne and Michael Gleeson, with physical trainer Cian O’Neill — a crucial cog in the Tipp machine of the last couple of years — remaining in situ. Tommy is a former Tipp All-Ireland-winning captain from 2001 and has worked with Declan before at underage level. But in his own right he’s a serious operator, a qualified modern coach bursting with new ideas. Gleeson was manager of Thurles Sarsfields for the past two years, guiding them to two successive Tipperary SHC titles.

Good men, strong men, all bringing their own particular talents to bear in pursuit of a single aim — retention of that All-Ireland title.

Of course, none of that would be worth a damn if they didn’t have the most vital ingredient of all, the players. And those players share that same single ambition.

“One thing we’ve learned is that this is a very committed group of players,” he said. “They’re a fantastic group to be working with. Anything we’ve asked them to do to date they’ve done very well and to the best of their ability. They’re hungry for success, with an appetite for very hard work and that’s what has brought the team to the level they’re at and hopefully we can maintain that going into the semi-final.”

Sunday against Dublin in Croke Park is another obstacle to be negotiated in what has been an impressive season. Starting as hot favourites, Ryan is backing his side to put in a performance that will ensure another September meeting with Kilkenny.

He said: “Dublin have a very big panel, and I’m sure they’ll be going gung-ho. We don’t expect things to be as easy, we just hope we can be as good as we can be on the day.”

With a guy like Declan Ryan at the helm it’s more than hope; it’s cold, calculated planning.