Colm Bonnar is no longer the manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. In a statement issued by the management committee of Tipperary GAA on Thursday morning, it was said they have decided to "relieve" Bonnar "from his duties".
Bonnar, a two-time All-Ireland winner as a player with Tipperary, was appointed last September on a three-year term as the successor to Liam Sheedy. He had previously managed Carlow and Wexford at inter-county level.
His first season in charge was a major disappointment for Tipperary. They lost all four of their games in the Munster Hurling Championship, and would have faced a relegation playoff had Kerry won the Joe McDonagh Cup final.
8 May 2022; Tipperary manager Colm Bonnar during the Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match between Limerick and Tipperary at TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
"The management committee of Tipperary GAA met last night to discuss the 2022 senior hurling season," reads the statement.
"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 in to the future.
"Tipperary GAA will be making no further comment in relation to this decision."
Tipperary will now begin the search for the successor to Bonnar. Liam Cahill, the Tipperary man currently in charge of the Waterford senior hurling team, was linked to the role at the time of Bonnar's appointment. However, he recently said that despite a disappointing season with the Deise, he will be remaining as manager.
"It’s going to take a job of work with management and players to see can we come up with some of the answers in relation to our demise in form so rapidly over the last number of weeks," Cahill told TG4.
"We are all very adamant that we will dust ourselves down and pick ourselves up and go again — that’s what we do as players and management, and we can’t wait for next December to come around and get back on the horse again, and get going."
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