Colm Bonnar has been axed as Tipperary senior hurling manager after the team’s poor showing in 2022.
Bonnar was appointed for a three-year term last year but following a “very comprehensive review” of his first season at the helm, the county board has decided to remove him from the role.
A statement from Tipperary released on Thursday morning reads: “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.
“Tipperary GAA wish to thank Colm for his contribution during his time as senior hurling manager and wish him well into the future.”
With uncertainty over his future in Waterford, as reported by Mirror Sport last night, Liam Cahill could well come into the reckoning to succeed Bonnar after turning down the opportunity to succeed Liam Sheedy last year. Current Tipp under-20 boss Brendan Cummins will also likely be considered for the role.
Bonnar, an All-Ireland winner as a player with Tipperary in 1989 and ‘91, endured a luckless tenure with Brendan Maher retiring before he even took charge with Padraic Maher then forced into quitting the game completely earlier this year due to a neck injury.
On top of that, Seamus Callanan didn’t feature at all in the Championship as a result of a hand injury while John McGrath ruptured an Achilles tendon in the Championship defeat to Clare.
Amid that backdrop, Tipp lost all four of their games in the Munster round robin, with heavy home losses to Clare and Cork particularly hard to stomach and the nature of those defeats likely played a significant part in the decision to dispense with Bonnar’s services.
The former Wexford and Carlow boss suffered for the fact that he wasn’t the first choice for the role from the outset and, critically, it is also believed that, as part of the county board’s review, players expressed frustration at the level of preparation under Bonnar’s regime.
And the writing was on the wall when it emerged this week that his coach Tommy Dunne and selector Paul Curran were standing aside.
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