Eoin Kelly thinks Brian Hogan’s refusal to discuss Tipperary hurling with the media in recent weeks was “taken out of context”.
Ahead of the launch of the Fitzgibbon Cup two weeks ago, it was announced Tipp and UCD goalkeeper Brian Hogan would not be discussing his intercounty side. This is not the first time the Tipp hurlers have been involved in perceived media bans in recent years, with the issue arising under Michael Ryan in 2017 and 2018.
However, former All-Ireland winning captain with the Premier, Kelly feels such an order would not come down from manager Liam Sheedy.
“My honest gut feeling on that, I’d say that was taken out of context,” he said. “Having known Liam Sheedy and his work involving media, he doesn’t have a problem with media. Believe me, going forward this year, I think Tipperary will be very open to the media.
“You would have had an inexperienced player coming to a launch, and maybe he felt it was just about the Fitzgibbon I’d say. I don’t know exactly what happened. I don’t think there was a media ban. I’d say it was blown a small bit out of context.
“I’d say that was just a loose comment, to say ‘Brian, look don’t say too much about Tipp’. And maybe Brian, being inexperienced might have taken it to heart and said ‘this is a Fitzgibbon launch’.
“All the uproar from last year, there was no way,” added the Mullinahone man. “It’s just Liam Sheedy’s style. He has no problem. Even last year, Michael Ryan, that created a big media news flash.”
Given Sheedy’s return, there is great hype surrounding the men in blue and gold for the year ahead. With the bulk of the 2016 All-Ireland winning team still in the prime of their careers, the Premier are well placed for a tilt at honours in 2019. However, Kelly urged for patience among the Tipperary public:
“I wouldn’t have a very high expectation level for Tipp this year, I wouldn’t be expecting them to win the All-Ireland final because it’s Liam Sheedy’s first season in. He’s trying to blend U21s into the squad, into the team, with the experience that’s there.
“Could Tipperary win the All-Ireland? Yes they could. But I think it’s just such a tough-structured Championship. I think Seamus Harnedy described it best when he said, ‘it’s a lottery’.
“The potential is definitely there but I wouldn’t be demanding an All-Ireland straight away. Tipperary, the expectations are always very high but I wouldn’t be demanding an All Ireland straight away, that’s a very hard ask.”
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Given the new round-robin format introduced in 2018, the importance of home advantage was highlighted, and Tipperary have failed to win any of their last three Munster Championship games in Thurles.
“Under Liam Sheedy’s regime, he’d want to make his home, Semple Stadium, a fortress,” opined Kelly. “So he’d really focus on his home games in the league and in the championship.
“There’s more home support there so you want to give them something to cheer about, and see what you’re trying to instill into the team. I’d expect Tipperary to be very strong at home this year. They’ll probably win most of their games at home, league or championship.”
The six-time All-Star is confident that his former mentor is the right man to lead Tipp forward.
“He brought another level of professionalism and expertise,” Kelly said of Sheedy’s previous tenure, which spanned three years and culminated in the 2010 All-Ireland title.
“He’ll probably bring that intensity and the drive back into Tipperary that we’ve only really seen spurts last year, we’ve seen it for 25 minutes but he’ll probably instill that in them for 70 minutes plus. You’re not going to dominate a 70-minute game, but I think Tipperary will go to the wire in every game they play, come the league and championship.
“It’s exciting for Tipperary going forward, and he has some young players that we’re going to see how he’ll blend them into the team because you need fresh legs to move a team on. That’s what Liam Sheedy brings – he brings a high intensity and he brings a professionalism that the players just feed off.”
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