Five reasons why high-flying Tipperary are becoming the new Kilkenny

Jackie Cahill looks at five ways in which Michael Ryan’s Tipperary are emulating Brian Cody’s Cats.

1. Michael Ryan’s leadership

There was a degree of scepticism when it was announced Michael Ryan would succeed Eamon O’Shea in the Tipperary hot-seat – even before the latter’s final season in charge (2015). But Ryan’s appointment has proven a shrewd one by county board officials, and the Upperchurch-Drombane man has hardly put a foot wrong since taking over from O’Shea.