Cahill urges patience asnew 3-year term begins

By Shane Brophy

Liam Cahill has stressed the need for patience following his ratification as Tipperary senior hurling manager for another three years.

It was confirmed at a meeting of Tipperary County Board in Thurles on Tuesday evening of last week with Michael Bevans remaining on as Head Coach but the remainder of the backroom team has yet to be confirmed.

County chairperson Jimmy Minogue, in putting Cahill forward for ratification, said in discussions with the Ballingarry clubman since the end of Tipp’s disappointing 2026 campaign, the focus will be on youth for 2027 in building a new panel that can win the county’s 30th All-Ireland over the next three years.

It is something Liam Cahill reiterated speaking with Gary Toohey of Clubber TV prior to Friday’s opening round game of the County Senior Hurling Championship between Loughmore/Castleiney and Moycarkey/Borris in Templetuohy.

“I’m delighted, excited to get going again,” he said.

“Obviously, the start of the club championship is huge and it kind of brings everything back to starting again."

“I’m delighted with the vision of the County Board as well and the executive to put a new plan in place and really try to go after making us really competitive again over the next three years and obviously going after it as quick as we can here in 2027 also."

He added: “The step up is huge. Let's call it as it is.

“We have really good individual young players in Tipperary.

“It's trying to integrate them into what we saw in Croke Park last Sunday. That's the gauge. That's where the level is at."

"Some of these guys are going to take a little bit of time. It's going to take a lot of work, a bit of patience as well. I know in Tipperary it's something that we're not really blessed with.

"Having said that, we understand that it's a results-driven business as well. Our objective is to integrate as many as we can of those successful minor and under-20 winning teams, players into our senior squad and really go after it in 2027.

"It's a huge responsibility but I'm really proud that the county board and the majority of the people in Tipperary have the belief that we're capable of doing that.

"Michael Bevans will continue to coach the team from a leading coach perspective. Mikey and I have worked together for quite some time and we're really looking forward now to really going after this new conveyor belt of talent that's coming through and integrating it into the senior set up.

"Really making that, I suppose, transition from under-20 to senior a real priority now over the next three years. Get us back really competitive in 2027. Obviously, silverware comes along the way, albeit the better, but we have a three-year term now to really see can we deliver consistent performances in Tipperary and ultimately deliver the ultimate again over that period of time."

The Tipperary manager wasn’t in a position to confirm any other names as yet, with Holycross/Ballycahill’s Aidan Stakelum highly touted to join the coaching team.

"Aidan's name has been mentioned and obviously it is something that appeals to him,” Cahill said.

"I'm really conscious as well that he's involved with Holycross at the moment and we want him to let him go about his business with Holycross over the next couple of weeks and months.

“The possibility is there of Aidan Stakelum joining our set up, which is really exciting. His record speaks for itself. He has a lot of underage success with a lot of these players that are coming through. James Woodlock and Brendan Cummins as well. So, I think it's a bit of consistency and continuity again to really try and make what needs to happen to get these fellas up to the level required."

Cahill hopes too he can identify one or two more mature players from the club scene who might have missed out at underage, though he knows club form isn't always a reliable barometer.

"We always love to try and find that rough diamond there that maybe hasn't had that exposure but could still do a job for Tipperary.

"We can get it wrong too. Club hurling can fool you a little bit.

"You see a guy maybe scoring the lights out here tonight and you put him in against a Kyle Hayes or a Sean Finn and it's a different story.

"But if you're a performer for your club, you have to be given that opportunity to be in among the best players in the county and at least get an opportunity to wear that jersey, albeit at the pre-season side of the year, to see can you progress up to the level that's required.

"So, really looking forward to going after that and hopefully a few players will put their hand up as well."