Tipp trainer O'Neill steps down

Dr Cian O'Neill has parted company with the Tipperary senior hurling set-up, stepping down as the team's physical trainer in order to 'pursue new challenges'.

In a statement released by Tipperary GAA today, Declan Ryan, his management team and the County Board wished O'Neill well and thanked him for 'his outstanding service to our senior squads over the past four years'.

"Cian made a very significant contribution to the Tipperary senior hurlers over those years and played a very important part in the team's successes since 2008, including last year's All-Ireland victory, three Munster titles and one National League," the statement concluded.

The Kildare native is the course director for the BSc Physical Education programme at the University of Limerick, and has written a doctoral thesis entitled, 'Determinants, Factor Structure and Variation of the Joint Flexibility of Irish Adults'.

O'Neill played Gaelic football to a high standard with Moorefield before a serious back injury curtailed his playing career. As a trainer, he first came to prominence with the Limerick senior footballers before making the switch to the small ball code with Tipp.

His partnership with then Tipperary boss Liam Sheedy was a key element in the county's breakthrough in recent seasons, with the players becoming better conditioned than ever before and more able to cope with the rigours of an inter-county campaign.

Losing someone of O'Neill's calibre is a considerable blow to Ryan as he bids to get the Premier County side back challenging for honours next season.

Eamonn O'Shea, who worked closely with O'Neill as the team trainer and selector, stepped down after the 2010 season along with Sheedy.