Liam Sheedy

Infobox GAA player
code= Hurling
sport = Hurling


name = Liam Sheedy
irish = Liam Ó Siodaigh
fullname = Liam Sheedy
placeofbirth = Portroe
countryofbirth = County Tipperary
bday=24
bmonth=10
byear= 1969
dob =
height = 5’11”
nickname =
county = Tipperary
province = Munster
club = Portroe
clposition = Half-back
clubs =
clyears =
clapps(points) =
clcounty =
clprovince=
clallireland =
counties = Tipperary
icposition = Half-back
icyears = 1997-2000
icapps(points) =
icprovince = 0
icallireland = 0
nhl = 1
allstars =
clupdate =
icupdate =

Liam Sheedy (born 24 October, 1969 in Portroe, County Tipperary) is an Irish hurling manager and former player, currently embarking on his first season as manager of the Tipperary senior inter-county team. He played hurling with his local club Portroe and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1990s.

Playing career

Club

Sheedy played his club hurling with his local Portroe club and enjoyed some success. He won a county intermediate title with the club in 1990.

Inter-county

Sheedy first came to prominence on the inter-county scene in the early 1980s as a member of the Tipperary under-16 team. He won a Munster title at this level before later joining the county minor team. Sheedy won another Munster title with the minor team in 1987, however, Tipp were later defeated by Offaly in the All-Ireland final. Two years later in 1989 Sheedy was a key member of the Tipperary under-21 team that won the Munster title. Once again Tipp lined out against Offaly in the championship decider, however, on this occasion Sheedy ended up on the winning team and collected a coveted All-Ireland medal. He captured a second Munster title in this grade in 1990, however, Tipperary were later defeated by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final.

By this stage Sheedy was also a member of the Tipperary junior hurling team. He had more success with this team and captured a Munster title in 1989. Sheedy later added an All-Ireland medal to his collection, following a defeat of Galway in the junior championship decider. Two years later in 1991 he won a second Munster title before later picking up a second All-Ireland medal following a victory over London in the final. He made his senior debut in 1989 in a National Hurling League game against Dublin, however, he found it difficult to find a place on the team. By the mid-1990s he found his way onto the team. He lined out in the 1997 All-Ireland final against Clare, however, Clare won the game on a score line of 0-20 to 2-13. Two years later in 1999 Sheedy won a National League medal following a victory over Galway. He retired from inter-county hurling after the 2000 season.

Managerial career

In retirement from playing Sheedy became involved in team management. In the mid-2000s he took charge of the Tipperary minor hurling time. In 2006 the team lost the Munster final to Cork, however, Tipp later reached the All-Ireland final via the 'back-door system.' Galway provided the opposition on that occasion; however, Tipperary won the game. In 2007 Sheedy guided his minor team to a Munster victory over Cork. Once again Tipperary reached the All-Ireland final where Cork provided the opposition. Cork put up a good fight on the day, however, it was Sheedy’s side who captured a second consecutive All-Ireland title.

Sheedy’s performance as manager of the Tipperary minor team brought him to the attention of the county board when they were looking for a successor to Michael 'Babs' Keating as manager of the county senior team. In spite of a number of high profile names being mentioned, including Davy Fitzgerald, Sheedy got the job.

2008: First season

Sheedy's term in charge of the Tipperary senior team got off to a good start. In early 2008 his side breezed through the Waterford Crystal Cup before defeating Waterford in the final. Tipp were undefeated in that competition. In the National Hurling League Tipp's run of success continued. Sheedy's side defeated Laois, Offaly and Limerick and drew with Galway and Clare to come second in Division 1B. The team later defeated Waterford in the quarter-final and Kilkenny in the semi-final of the competition, resulting in a league final showdown with Galway. The final was tough, competitive game with Tipp preserving their unbeaten record in 2008 by defeated Galway on a score line of 3-18 to 3-16. Sheedy's next competitive game in charge was a Munster semi-final showdown with Cork on June 8, 2008. The omens pointed to a Cork victory as Tipp hadn't defeated Cork in the championship in Cork since 1923. On that occasion Tipp broke the hoodoo and defeated 'the Rebels' by 1-19 to 1-13. Tipperary later continued their unbeaten run with a 2-21 to 0-19 defeat of Clare in the Munster final. It was Tipp's first provincial final victory since 2001 and it gave the team a save passage into the All-Ireland semi-final.

Teams

References

* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Tipperary/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=44825 Profile of Liam Sheedy]