Jim Stapleton
Encyclopedia
James 'Jim' Stapleton (1863–1949) was an Irish
sportsman. He played hurling
with his local club Thurles Sarsfields
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team in the 1880s. Stapleton was the first player to captain a team to an All-Ireland
hurling title in 1887.
, County Tipperary
in 1863. He was born into an area that had a strong hurling
tradition, and he grew up playing the game with his local team. On the field of play Stapleton was widely known for his strength and his stamina. Off the field he was regarded as a sincere gentleman.
Jim Stapleton died in 1949.
with the famous Thurles Sarsfields
club. In 1887 he won his only county championship
title.
in the inaugural All-Ireland Hurling Championship
. They defeated Clare
in the opening round before advancing to the final following a semi-final victory over Kilkenny
. Fate played a large role in Stapleton having the mantle of captain bestowed on him for the inaugural All-Ireland final. Because of a dispute over the railway travelling expenses, seven players including the Thurles captain Dinny Maher were left standing on the platform of the morning of the match. Tipp's All-Ireland final meeting with Galway
proved to be their toughest test yet. At a crucial stage in the second-half Stapleton led a charge down the field. Spotting a free player he passed the sliothar to Tom Healy who went on to score the very first goal in an All-Ireland final. Stapleton, on the other hand, had the honour of being the first person to captain a team to an All-Ireland Hurling Final victory.
In 1888 Stapleton was among 50 Irish athletes and hurlers who traveled to the United States
to play in several hurling exhibition games. While many of the group stayed in America, Stapleton returned home where he continued his involvement with the infant Gaelic Athletic Association
.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsman. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Thurles Sarsfields
Thurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
and with the Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
senior inter-county team in the 1880s. Stapleton was the first player to captain a team to an All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
hurling title in 1887.
Biography
Jim Stapleton was born in ThurlesThurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
, County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
in 1863. He was born into an area that had a strong hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
tradition, and he grew up playing the game with his local team. On the field of play Stapleton was widely known for his strength and his stamina. Off the field he was regarded as a sincere gentleman.
Jim Stapleton died in 1949.
Club
Stapleton played his club hurlingHurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with the famous Thurles Sarsfields
Thurles Sarsfields GAA
Thurles Sarsfields is a Gaelic Athletic Association hurling club located in the town of Thurles in Tipperary, Ireland. The club was founded in 1881...
club. In 1887 he won his only county championship
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
title.
Inter-county
As a result of this victory in the county championship, Thurles were given the honour of representing TipperaryTipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the inaugural All-Ireland Hurling Championship
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
. They defeated Clare
Clare GAA
The Clare County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Clare GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Clare. The county board is also responsible for the Clare inter-county teams....
in the opening round before advancing to the final following a semi-final victory over Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
. Fate played a large role in Stapleton having the mantle of captain bestowed on him for the inaugural All-Ireland final. Because of a dispute over the railway travelling expenses, seven players including the Thurles captain Dinny Maher were left standing on the platform of the morning of the match. Tipp's All-Ireland final meeting with Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
proved to be their toughest test yet. At a crucial stage in the second-half Stapleton led a charge down the field. Spotting a free player he passed the sliothar to Tom Healy who went on to score the very first goal in an All-Ireland final. Stapleton, on the other hand, had the honour of being the first person to captain a team to an All-Ireland Hurling Final victory.
In 1888 Stapleton was among 50 Irish athletes and hurlers who traveled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to play in several hurling exhibition games. While many of the group stayed in America, Stapleton returned home where he continued his involvement with the infant Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
.