Tipp must prepare for massive test - Doyle

Newly-appointed Tipperary Senior hurling Manager Michael Doyle, and his selectors, Liam Sheedy and Kevin Fox will get together this weekend to formulate plans for the teams' long term preparations for the National league and championship of 2003.

For Michael, son of legendary Tipperary hurler John Doyle, taking over the senior management mantle is an ambition realised.

"It¹s the ambition of many players to manage their own county teams and I¹m honoured to be given the opportunity," Michael said.

While it is his first sojourn into inter-county senior team management, Doyle is no stranger to the role.

He managed Tipperary U21 side to Munster and All-Ireland victories in 1995, and served as a senior selector with colleague Murt Duggan during Len Gaynor¹s reign as Manager in 97 and 98, the team reaching the All-Ireland final in '97.

Aside of the inter-county stage, Doyle¹s experience in team management has been availed of by a number of clubs inside and outside Tipperary.

After his retirement from club hurling, he assisted Harps club Durrow, and later Galmoy. In Tipperary he has been associated with Mullinahone on their way to their first South senior title in the early nineties, Arravale Rovers, and in recent years Nenagh Eire Og.

Michael Doyle, a sales manager with Impact Printing Ltd, in Limerick, covers Tipperary and adjoining counties in his job. Hailing from a famous hurling family, his brother Johnny also played with distinction for Tipperary,

As a player he was unlucky that Tipperary hit on lean times during his career at senior level in the late seventies and eighties, but he was delighted to win two National league honours, and a Munster championship medal in 1987.

At underage level, he achieved considerable success winning an All-Ireland minor medal in 1976, and captaining Tipp U21 side to All-Ireland victory in 1979.

He served his club Holycross-Ballycahill over three decades at senior level winning the elusive county medal in 1990.

A versatile player, whose Uncle Fr Ray Reidy won an All-Ireland senior medals with Tipp, Doyle played both in defence and attack for his club, winning the man of the match award in the county final of 89.

When he retired from the hurling scene he turned to refereeing and was highly lauded for his expertise in this area, having refereed a number of county finals and a Munster U/21 final between Clare and Waterford.

His performance in that game prompted Clare Manager of the time Ger Loughnane to state that it was "one of the finest refereeing displays" he had ever seen.

Michael Doyle said that he was always anxious to put as much as he could back into the game of hurling after he had retired.

Now that he is in the hot seat he is pleased to have ranked among his charges several players from

his successful U/21 squad.

Fully conscious that he has a hard act to follow, and that the team faces a mammoth task against Clare in the first round of the championship next year Michael says his objective is to make the most of the National league campaign in the New Year.

"We will be trying hard to win all our games and build up a momentum. I know the player¹s well and I know what they are capable of doing," he said.

While initially Michael Doyle, Liam Sheedy and Kevin Fox will establish "a preliminary panel" in preparation for the New Year he vows to put in a huge effort with the squad with the long term goal of getting over the first very difficult championship hurdle.

"The Munster championship is wide open and there¹s no easy draw for anybody. We are meeting Clare again, that¹s the way the draw worked out and we have to be prepared for a massive test," he

said.

Assisting Doyle are two highly experienced men Liam Sheedy and Kevin Fox.

Sheedy from Portroe, and Fox from Eire Og Annacarty bring plenty experience to their respective positions, having played Senior hurling for Tipperary as well as serving behind the scenes as mentors.

Sheedy moves from the Intermediate grade having taken the side to Munster championship success this season.

Both hail from families steeped in hurling tradition. Liam¹s brother John and Kevin¹s brother Pat were two of the County¹s most loyal servants.

At a special meeting of Tipperary GAA Board on Tuesday evening, Chairman of the County Board Mr Con Hogan extended the thanks of the Board to the former Management team of Nicky English, Ken Hogan, and Jack Bergin, and extended good wishes to the newly appointed trio.