Bevans Toome influences feeding off on Tipp's next generation

In modern Gaelic Games, the cult of the coach sees him almost more important than the manager.

It is he more than anyone who works hands on with the players night in night out, getting their skill levels up to the levels required to be competitive.

Many coaches go about their business in an unheralded fashion but since he first came on board with the Tipperary minors in 2014, Michael Bevans has been singled out time and again by Liam Cahill, whom he was worked along side over the last five seasons at minor and under 21 level.

This Sunday, he is preparing his third team in four years for an All Ireland final, off the back of minor finals in 2015 and 2016.

“I don't think about it too much,” Bevans admitted when reflecting on his success rate with Tipperary teams so far.

“It's an honour to be doing it.

“The lads that we have had, we have just been very lucky and really enjoy training them. They come to training and are mad for learning, mad to develop. Sometimes it doesn't matter what you do, it all comes down to the personality of the player.”

The Toomevara clubman learned from the very best, having worked under some of the best coaches during his club career where he won nine county senior hurling championship medals between 1994 and 2008, captaining them in victories in 2003 and 2008.

However, it is his juvenile coaches that have influenced his coaching style the most.

"The stand out two would be two teachers when I was growing up and they did so much in Toomevara with juvenile players were Neil Williams and Tom Hassett,” he revealed.
"They were in the club in Toomevara and training under 12 team after under 12 team. Even when you look back on what you have learned, a lot of that came from those underage days, your first influences at the club.”

 

To read more, pick up a copy of this weeks Nenagh Guardian locally or subscribe to our e-paper to access it online each Wednesday.