Cahill freshens up Tipp senior hurling management

By Shane Brophy

With the knockout stages of the County Championships bubbling up nicely and enjoying the full focus of the split season, the first hint of the 2027 inter-county season came into view on Monday evening when Tipperary Senior Hurling manager Liam Cahill confirmed his new look management and support team for the coming season.

The Ballingarry clubman, heading into his fifth year in charge, has made a number of additions to his backroom team, as well confirming a number of departures. With coach David Herity having already departed to link up with his native Kilkenny, selectors Declan Laffan (Loughmore/Castleiney) and TJ Ryan (Clonoulty/Rossmore) along with Strength & Conditioning Coach Angelo Walsh (Borris-Ileigh) are also departing, who all played a big role in Tipperary’s All Ireland Championship success in 2025.

Long standing coach Michael Bevans (Toomevara) assumes the title of head coach, joined in his coaching team by Holycross/Ballycahill’s Aidan Stakelum who had been long touted in coming on board, and has a notable CV including coaching Loughmore/Castleiney to the 2024 county title, Thurles CBS to the 2025 Harty & Croke Cups, as well as Holycross/Ballycahill to the last two county under 21 ‘A’ titles and as been coach of their senior team for the past two years.

Coaching support will also be provided by Paul O’Brien from Dublin with the Crumlin clubman previously involved as performance analyst during Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning run in 2025, while he has also managed the Dublin under 20 hurlers and the Mount Leinster Rangers senior side in Carlow.

O’Brien will also have a selectorial role along with 2001 All-Ireland winner Brian O’Meara of CJ Kickhams Mullinahone and Sean O’Meara from Shannon Rovers who was previously involved with Kiladangan in their 2020 and 2023 county senior title successes.

Strength & Conditioning coach will be John Murphy from Clara in Kilkenny while Goalkeeping Coach is Diarmuid Cahill from Kilruane MacDonaghs, son of Dinny Cahill, who managed the Longford senior hurlers to Lory Meagher Cup success in this year, and would have come across Liam Cahill’s radar as manger of the Ballingarry intermediate hurlers.

Anne Marie Kennedy comes on board in the area of sports performance, having lengthy experience being involved in preparing teams and athletes at both national and international level. In a Gaelic Games context, she was a member of Jim Gavin’s historic Dublin Senior Football backroom team during their unprecedented five-in-a-row All-Ireland winning run, and has also worked with the Dublin Ladies Football team, the Clare Senior Hurling team, and the Galway Senior Football team in preparation for All-Ireland Finals.