​By John Harrington

Tipperary hurling coach Declan Fanning says the Premier County’s star forward Seamus Callanan is in ‘very, very’ good shape for the Championship.

Callanan missed most of Tipperary’s Allianz League campaign through injury, and when he did return he lacked match-sharpness. Fanning believes that has since been addressed, though he admits the full-forward will be a marked man this summer.

“Yeah, he certainly will be,” said Fanning. “Seamus has been working really, really hard. He didn't get to play as much in the League as he would have liked, but he's got two rounds of club games in and he's in very, very good shape. He's looking forward to the Championship. I'm not sure we'll just be trying to pick out Seamus, we've plenty of good forwards with plenty of skill. We'll definitely be trying to get everyone of them on the ball as much as we can during the Championship.

Callanan has been nominated for the Hurler of the Year award for the last two years running and grown into the leader of the Tipperary attack. His former team-mate Fanning always expected him to blossom into the hurler he has become.

“Yeah, I certainly did,” he said. “I remember we used to always room together when I was involved. You could just see from the very minute he came in he was a very confident player. I wouldn't say cocky, but really, really confident in his own ability. And I think he loves being a central player. And once he got that central position he took on a leadership role. He's a very, very professional guy on and off the pitch. He looks after himself.”

Callanan displayed that professionalism at a young age when he failed to make the Tipperary team for the 2010 All-Ireland Final.

Rather than sulk, he gave an inspirational speech at Tipperary training after the team was announced, and then scored two brilliant points when he came on as a sub in the Final. Fanning has a vivid recall of the moment the then 20-year-old displayed leadership qualities beyond his years.

“I certainly do. It was in the dressing-room on the Thursday night before the All-Ireland. The team was after being named and we all went in. Like we did every Thursday night before a big game we would have spoken together and Seamus spoke that night. It would have been very easy for him to have his head dropped in the corner and make it all about him, but he didn't, it was all about the team. You just felt something was going to happen with the way he spoke that night. And he came on that day and he was excellent. I think I slagged him afterwards that when he did a long run and a hook I knew we were definitely going to win!”

If Callanan is in top form, then he can help address this Tipperary’s team habit of losing tight matches. During this year’s League they lost matches to Kilkenny, Waterford, and Clare in which they held winning positions late in the game. Fanning admits it is a failing they have discussed within the group ahead of Sunday’s Munster SHC Quarter-Final against Cork.

“Yeah, I think you would be very foolish not to talk about it and leave it to chance. Whatever we've done in the League we've looked at very closely, good or bad, and we've tried to work on everything. That's something we have been trying to work on. Getting the lads to see out games. Getting the lads to perform for 70, 75 minutes as much as they can. Yeah, we definitely wouldn't take that to chance.”

A high wide count played a part in those narrow League victories, but Fanning does not believe his players have been slightly rash with their shot selection.

“I'm not sure I'd agree,” he said. “I think we'd always encourage lads to go for a chance if they think it's on. We let the lads think for themselves on the pitch. it's as much about making your own decision out there as it is about us coaching you week in, week out. And drilling and trying to do stuff. We like them to be their own person on the field. If the decision is on take it and stand by it. That's what they've done and I think we've worked as much as we can on those things."

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