Ryan appointed new Tipperary manager

Three-time All-Ireland winner and former Tipperary minor boss Declan Ryan has been appointed to succeed Liam Sheedy as manager of the Premier County's senior hurlers.

Tipperary County Board tonight approved the appointment of the Clonoulty Rossmore clubman for a two-year term.

Ryan won three All Ireland senior hurling medals with Tipperary in 1989, 1991 and 2001.

As expected, he will be assisted by former All-Ireland winning captain, Tommy Dunne, who has agreed to act as team coach while Michael Gleeson of the Thurles Sarsfields club has been named as a selector.

The trio held the same titles in 2007 when they guided Tipp's minor hurlers to All-Ireland victory.

Dunne was also coach to the Tipperary U-21 team which won this year’s All Ireland title and was manager of the Toomevara senior hurling team this year. Gleeson managed Thurles Sarsfields to victory in the Tipperary senior hurling championship in 2009 and 2010 and has also managed Thurles Sarsfields minor teams to win county titles in both hurling and football.

The appointments follow the surprise resignation of Sheedy last month after three years in charge that culminated in Tipperary winning the All-Ireland Senior Hurling title this year.

Sheedy, who quit along with his own backroom team of coach Eamon O’Shea and selector Michael Ryan, cited work commitments for his departure after three years at the helm.