Eoin Kelly among candidates for vacant Tipperary minor hurling manager position

Tipperary hurling legend Eoin Kelly is in the running to become the county's new minor hurling manager.

The Mullinahone man has been interviewed for the position this week as Tipperary officials continue the process of appointing a successor to James Woodlock ahead of the 2027 campaign.

Kelly has put forward a management ticket which is understood to include highly regarded Roscrea man Trevor Fletcher as coach.

The potential appointment would see one of Tipperary's greatest ever hurlers take charge of one of the county's key underage teams, with Kelly having accumulated considerable coaching experience since bringing his inter-county playing career to an end.

The former Tipperary captain was part of Liam Sheedy's senior backroom team before subsequently becoming involved with Waterford, where he spent three seasons as part of their senior hurling set-up.

Kelly stepped away from the Waterford set-up ahead of the 2026 season.

He would also be able to call on the considerable coaching experience of Fletcher should his management ticket get the nod.

The Roscrea man has built up an impressive coaching CV at club level around the country and guided Shinrone to a historic first Offaly Senior Hurling Championship title in 2022.

Fletcher has also gained inter-county experience with Down, having been involved with their senior hurlers in recent seasons.

The Tipperary minor position became vacant following Woodlock's move up to take charge of the county's U20 hurlers.

The Drom & Inch man spent six seasons in charge of the Tipperary minors after initially taking over ahead of the 2021 campaign.

Several interviews took place this week with several other candidates in contention, but Kelly has now put his case forward to Tipperary officials as they consider who will lead the county into the 2027 Munster Minor Hurling Championship.