Larkin slams Tipp's 'tasteless' statement on Bonnar

Eight-time All-Ireland winner Eoin Larkin branded Tipperary's handling of Colm Bonnar's dismissal as "tasteless", saying the departed boss deserved at least one more season in charge after a trouble-filled year.

Tipperary county board released a statement this morning saying its management committee had last night voted to "relieve Colm Bonnar from his duties" as manager after serving just one of his three-year term in the role.

Bonnar, an All-Ireland winner with Tipperary as a player in 1989 and 1991, told Tipperarylive.ie this afternoon that he was "extremely disappointed" with the decision, noting that when he took the job, it was made clear that the county were entering a "transition and rebuilding period."

Tipperary endured a difficult 2022, losing all four of their games in the Munster hurling championship, finishing bottom of the table. Before the season began, they were hit with a raft of retirements and effective season-ending injuries, feted stalwarts like Brendan Maher and Padraic Maher stepping away, the latter unexpectedly with a career-ending neck injury.

Larkin, the 2008 Hurler of the Year, told RTÉ 2fm's Game On that while Bonnar had endured a tough season in charge, there were significant mitigating factors, and he was especially critical of the curt county board statement announcing his departure.

"My reaction first and foremost would be surprise," Larkin said.

"There's no debating that they had a tough season, with injuries, and Padraic Maher retiring at the start of the year due to a longstanding neck issue.

"I suppose Tipperary people in general would be disappointed with the year they had. But I don't think anyone expected that Colm Bonnar would be, as the Tipperary county board said 'relieved of his