Colm Bonnar has been relieved of his duties as Tipp hurling manager

By Shane Brophy

The Tipperary senior hurling team will have a new manager in 2023 after Colm Bonnar was removed from the position.

The management committee of Tipperary GAA met last night to discuss the 2022 senior hurling season. Following a very comprehensive review the management committee have made the decision to “relieve” Colm Bonnar from his duties as Tipperary senior hurling manager.

In a statement, Tipperary GAA thanked Colm for his contribution during his time as senior hurling manager and wish him well in to the future.

It brings to an end the shortest managerial reign for a Tipperary manager since Michael Doyle in 2003 which also ended after just one year, but the Holycross/Ballycahill clubman did get Tipperary to an All-Ireland semi-final.

Colm Bonnar walked into a difficult situation last year with retirements and injuries impacting his squad but the performances on the field, particularly the defeats to Clare and Cork in Semple Stadium provided cause for concern, despite the good performances in the losses to Waterford and Limerick.

In recent weeks, leading players voiced their concerns to management and county board over the preparation of the team, and the subsequent decision by Tommy Dunne and Paul Curran to step away from the management team suggested all wasn’t running smoothly for Bonnar’s preparations for 2023.

In terms of a successor, there are no shortage of potential candidates. Top of the list will be former minor and under 20 All-Ireland winning manager and current Waterford boss Liam Cahill, who does have one year left on his term with the Deise, with his future set to be determined in the coming days.

Fellow inter-county managers Darragh Egan and Darren Gleeson will also be linked, although after just one year with Wexford and already preparing for next year, the time may not be right for Kiladangan’s Egan but Portroe’s Darren Gleeson might well be tempted after three successful years with Antrim, where he won two MacDonagh Cups.

After that, current Tipperary under 20 manager Brendan Cummins is also a potential candidate. While he has just one year done at that level, how his team were prepared and performed in the championship impressed many, and there is no guarantee when the job might become available again.