Liam Cahill has ruled himself out of taking charge of his native Tipperary after committing his future to Waterford.
Cahill had been in talks with Tipperary county board officials of late with a view to succeeding Liam Sheedy as their senior hurling manager but has said that “to step aside now from the Waterford journey would be the wrong decision”.
The Ballingarry clubman said the decision “has been the most difficult one I have had to make in recent years” but added that his ambition to manage Tipperary in the future remains intact.
Cahill has managed Tipp to All-Ireland success at minor, under-20 and under-21 level and having been linked to the senior job in 2018 before Sheedy emerged to take on the role for a second spell, he was appointed Waterford boss ahead of the 2020 campaign.
He guided them to last year’s All-Ireland final and this year’s semi-final, with Waterford seeing off Tipperary at the quarter-final stage, a game which proved to be Sheedy’s last in charge of the Premier.
“To be ever associated with the position of Tipperary senior hurling manager is a huge honour and I am extremely grateful to the county board for their recent approaches in this regard,” said Cahill in a statement issued through the Waterford county board.
“We discussed various matters and I can honestly say that making this decision has been the most difficult one I have had to make in recent years.”
Having worked with a number of players who are now part of the Tipp senior panel, Cahill said that their quality is “exceptional”, adding that “I have no doubt many of them will eventually leave a mark at senior level”.
He continued: “Since accepting the Waterford invitation to manage their senior hurling team two years ago the support we have received has been remarkable.
“The Waterford county board has been unstinting in its backing for everything we did. The reaction of the players, even when difficult decisions had to be made, was exemplary. Their dedication and loyalty left a deep impression on both of us for whom loyalty is paramount.
“In the circumstances we feel that to step aside now from the Waterford journey would be the wrong decision and for that reason we will be staying with the Waterford Senior hurling team for the coming year.
“I fully understand that this decision will please some but deeply disappoint many others. I have never made a secret of my desire to one day manage my native county and that ambition remains intact. We would be hopeful that this opportunity would present itself again in the future when the timing is right.
“For now, my commitment is to the Waterford senior hurling team where Mikey Bevans and I feel we have a sense of unfinished business. We made significant progress in the past two years but we feel that there is still more to come from this incredible bunch of players.
“Finally, I would like to wish the new Tipperary senior hurling manager the very best of luck in his new endeavours.”
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