John Haugh (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John Haugh was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with local club Toomevara
and also with Holycross
. He was a member of the Tipperary
senior inter-county hurling team from 1951 to
1961.
in 1930. A parish steeped in hurling tradition, it was only to be expected that hurling would interest him from an early age. He learned the skills and acquired the arts of the game from his masters and his peers and he became one of the great players of his parish and county.
senior team at the age of twenty and hurled with them until 1952. Finding employment in Thurles resulted in his transfer from Toomevara to Holycross
. John won a Mid Tipperary senior hurling title in 1954 and later that year went on to win his first county senior hurling title when Holycross
defeated Roscrea
on a scoreline of 6-5 to 2-3.
Haugh also won a Mid Tipperary junior football championship in his time with Holycross. When Toomevara regained senior status in 1956 John threw in his lot with his native parish. He played in his first North Tipperary senior hurling final in 1957 but lost to Nenagh
. This was the first of seven North final appearances in a row up to 1963. He won four North Tipperary championships during this period with Toomevara, the first in 1958 against Kilruane MacDonaghs
. Toomevara reached the county final that year but were beaten by Thurles Sarsfields
. John went on to win three more North titles with Toomevara by defeating Kilruane MacDonaghs
in 1960, Borrisokane
in 1961 and Kilruane MacDonaghs
again in 1962. In 1960 John won his second county title
when Toomevara defeated a Thurles Sarsfields side who were seeking their sixth county title in a row, the final score being Toomevara
3-15 Thurles Sarsfields
2-8. On this occasion Toomevara were more confident and were in excellent physical condition due to the work of Ossie Bennett, who went on to prepare Tipperary teams through the golden era of the 1960s. John had known the Sarsfields from the time he spent with Holycross and was fully intent on revenge for the times he had lost to them. He relished the challenge, gave an outstanding performance at midfield and inspired his teammates to a memorable victory over one of the greatest club teams of all time.
John was captain of the Toomevara
side that retained the North Division title in 1961 and became the very first recipient of the new trophy for the championship, the Frank McGrath Cup, presented in honour of Frank McGrath, who himself won three senior hurling championships with Toomevara in 1912, 1913, and 1914. Toomevara however lost their county title to Thurles Sarsfields in 1961. A great damper was put on the game beforehand when tragedy struck the Haugh family. John's brother, Gerry, a valued member of the team, was killed in a traffic accident near Clonakilty, Co. Cork. In the postponed final, John was sent off early in the game for what seemed a trivial offence. He also played in the North Tipperary final of 1966, which Toomevara lost narrowly to Lorrha.
display for North Tipperary in a Miller Shield game. The Miller Shield Tournament was an inter-divisional competition played in the spring. Soon after John was brought onto the Tipperary
senior panel and played his first game in a Tipperary jersey in a tournament game against Galway
for the Ballinakill College building fund. From there on he never looked back. He came on as a substitute in the first round of the 1951 Munster
hurling championship against Waterford
. In the Munster semi-final he lined out at centre-field against Limerick
. He didn't play in the Munster final but was selected at midfield alongside his clubmate Phil Shanahan
for the All-Ireland
final against Wexford
, which Tipperary won by 7-7 to 3-9. This was to be the first of John's three All-Ireland
medal's. He played all through the fifties at centre-field and didn't win his second All-Ireland
medal until 1958 when Tipperary defeated Galway on a scoreline of 4-9 to 2-5. Toomevara provided the leadership for Tipperary in the 1961 championship. Matt Hassett
was captain when they defeated Dublin
by one point 0-16 to 1-12 in the All Ireland Final. Dublin looked to be on the way to victory due to the dominance of Des Foley
at centre-field, but John was introduced from the subs bench in the second half in an effort to curb the rampant Foley. Such were his efforts that he changed the course of the game and ensured a Tipp victory and the return of the McCarthy Cup for the first time ever to Toomevara. This was John's last game for Tipperary but one that gave him the greatest satisfaction.
John also won four National Hurling League titles, the first one coming in 1952 when Tipperary beat New York
in New York. His other successes came against Kilkenny
in 1954, Wexford
in 1955 and Kilkenny again in 1957. In the last of those he was described as having a magnificent game and was going as powerfully at the finish as at the start. He received the Sport Star of the Week accolade in the Irish Independent for his display. He played in the famous League final of 1956 when Wexford defeated Tipperary, who appeared to have an unassailable lead at half time, but lost it to a thundering, storm-assisted Wexford rally in the second half. He also lost a National Hurling League final with Tipperary in 1953 to Cork. As well as winning three Munster Finals with Tipperary in 1951, 1958 and 1961, John also lost three Munster Hurling Finals in 1952, 1953 and 1954, on each occasion to Cork.
in the Railway Cup Interprovincial Championship. He first played for his province in 1954 losing to Leinster
in the final by 0-9 to 0-5. However, John annexed a Railway Cup winner's medal in 1955 when Munster who were captained by the great Christy Ring
defeated Connacht
in the final by a scoreline of 6-8 to 3-4.
John retired from hurling in 1968 after a long and successful career. He was chosen at midfield for the North Tipperary Centenary Hurling Team of 1951-2001.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
sportsperson. 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 local club Toomevara
Toomevara GAA
Toomevara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Toomevara in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 3** 1993, 2004, 2006...
and also with Holycross
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the areas of Holycross and Ballycahill five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:...
. He was a member of 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 hurling team from 1951 to
1961.
Early life
John Haugh was born in Ballycrinode in the parish of ToomevaraToomevara
Toomevara, officially Toomyvara , is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. The village is at the junction on the R445 where it meets the R499 regional road. The village was bypassed in December 2010 by the M7 Dublin - Limerick motorway. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of...
in 1930. A parish steeped in hurling tradition, it was only to be expected that hurling would interest him from an early age. He learned the skills and acquired the arts of the game from his masters and his peers and he became one of the great players of his parish and county.
Club
In 1950 John made his debut for the ToomevaraToomevara GAA
Toomevara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Toomevara in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 3** 1993, 2004, 2006...
senior team at the age of twenty and hurled with them until 1952. Finding employment in Thurles resulted in his transfer from Toomevara to Holycross
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the areas of Holycross and Ballycahill five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:...
. John won a Mid Tipperary senior hurling title in 1954 and later that year went on to win his first county senior hurling title when Holycross
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA
Holycross-Ballycahill GAA club is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the areas of Holycross and Ballycahill five miles outside Thurles in mid County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:...
defeated Roscrea
Roscrea GAA
Roscrea GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club is located in the town of Roscrea in North County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland. The club's ground ground shares its name with St. Cronan's BNS in Bray, Co. Wicklow. The club's colours are red and white and they play at Páirc Naomh Cronáin Roscrea...
on a scoreline of 6-5 to 2-3.
Haugh also won a Mid Tipperary junior football championship in his time with Holycross. When Toomevara regained senior status in 1956 John threw in his lot with his native parish. He played in his first North Tipperary senior hurling final in 1957 but lost to Nenagh
Nenagh Éire Óg GAA
Nenagh Éire Óg GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club, located in the town of Nenagh in North County Tipperary, Ireland.-History:Hurling has a long history in Nenagh, being played there long before the founding of the GAA...
. This was the first of seven North final appearances in a row up to 1963. He won four North Tipperary championships during this period with Toomevara, the first in 1958 against Kilruane MacDonaghs
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club is located in the areas of Kilruane, Ardcroney and Cloughjordan in north County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is named after Thomas MacDonagh, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation who was born and lived in Cloughjordan....
. Toomevara reached the county final that year but were beaten by 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...
. John went on to win three more North titles with Toomevara by defeating Kilruane MacDonaghs
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club is located in the areas of Kilruane, Ardcroney and Cloughjordan in north County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is named after Thomas MacDonagh, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation who was born and lived in Cloughjordan....
in 1960, Borrisokane
Borrisokane
Borrisokane is a town in North Tipperary, Ireland. In 2006 it had a population of approximately 1,145. It is situated on the N52/N65 National secondary road between Nenagh and Portumna and the N52 between Nenagh and Birr. It is close to Lough Derg which is only 12 km to the west. It is a...
in 1961 and Kilruane MacDonaghs
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA
Kilruane MacDonaghs GAA club is located in the areas of Kilruane, Ardcroney and Cloughjordan in north County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is named after Thomas MacDonagh, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation who was born and lived in Cloughjordan....
again in 1962. In 1960 John won his second county title
when Toomevara defeated a Thurles Sarsfields side who were seeking their sixth county title in a row, the final score being Toomevara
Toomevara GAA
Toomevara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Toomevara in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 3** 1993, 2004, 2006...
3-15 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...
2-8. On this occasion Toomevara were more confident and were in excellent physical condition due to the work of Ossie Bennett, who went on to prepare Tipperary teams through the golden era of the 1960s. John had known the Sarsfields from the time he spent with Holycross and was fully intent on revenge for the times he had lost to them. He relished the challenge, gave an outstanding performance at midfield and inspired his teammates to a memorable victory over one of the greatest club teams of all time.
John was captain of the Toomevara
Toomevara GAA
Toomevara GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in the parish of Toomevara in County Tipperary, Ireland. The club is almost exclusively concerned with hurling.-Honours:*Munster Senior Club Hurling Championships: 3** 1993, 2004, 2006...
side that retained the North Division title in 1961 and became the very first recipient of the new trophy for the championship, the Frank McGrath Cup, presented in honour of Frank McGrath, who himself won three senior hurling championships with Toomevara in 1912, 1913, and 1914. Toomevara however lost their county title to Thurles Sarsfields in 1961. A great damper was put on the game beforehand when tragedy struck the Haugh family. John's brother, Gerry, a valued member of the team, was killed in a traffic accident near Clonakilty, Co. Cork. In the postponed final, John was sent off early in the game for what seemed a trivial offence. He also played in the North Tipperary final of 1966, which Toomevara lost narrowly to Lorrha.
Inter-county
In 1951 he gave the first indication of his potential when he gave an outstandingdisplay for North Tipperary in a Miller Shield game. The Miller Shield Tournament was an inter-divisional competition played in the spring. Soon after John was brought onto 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 panel and played his first game in a Tipperary jersey in a tournament game against 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,...
for the Ballinakill College building fund. From there on he never looked back. He came on as a substitute in the first round of the 1951 Munster
Munster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
hurling championship against Waterford
Waterford GAA
The Waterford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Waterford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for all levels of Gaelic games in County Waterford. The County Board is also responsible for the Waterford inter-county teams. The county...
. In the Munster semi-final he lined out at centre-field against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
. He didn't play in the Munster final but was selected at midfield alongside his clubmate Phil Shanahan
Phil Shanahan
Phil Shanahan is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Toomevara and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1940s and 1950s.Pilib Ó Seanacháin...
for the 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....
final against Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
, which Tipperary won by 7-7 to 3-9. This was to be the first of John's three 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....
medal's. He played all through the fifties at centre-field and didn't win his second 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....
medal until 1958 when Tipperary defeated Galway on a scoreline of 4-9 to 2-5. Toomevara provided the leadership for Tipperary in the 1961 championship. Matt Hassett
Matt Hassett
Matt Hassett is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Toomevara and was a member of the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1960 until 1962. Hassett captained Tipperary to the All-Ireland title in 1961.-Biography:Matt Hassett was born in Toomevara, County...
was captain when they defeated Dublin
Dublin GAA
Dublin County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Dublin GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Dublin. The county board is also responsible for the Dublin inter-county teams...
by one point 0-16 to 1-12 in the All Ireland Final. Dublin looked to be on the way to victory due to the dominance of Des Foley
Desmond Foley
Desmond 'Des' Foley was an Irish sports star in the 1960s, specialising in the Gaelic games of Gaelic football and hurling. He was also an Irish parliamentarian and represented Fianna Fáil in Dáil Éireann....
at centre-field, but John was introduced from the subs bench in the second half in an effort to curb the rampant Foley. Such were his efforts that he changed the course of the game and ensured a Tipp victory and the return of the McCarthy Cup for the first time ever to Toomevara. This was John's last game for Tipperary but one that gave him the greatest satisfaction.
John also won four National Hurling League titles, the first one coming in 1952 when Tipperary beat New York
New York GAA
The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or New York GAA, is one of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area...
in New York. His other successes came against 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...
in 1954, Wexford
Wexford GAA
The Wexford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Wexford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Wexford. The county board is also responsible for the Wexford inter-county teams.-History:Hurling has been played in...
in 1955 and Kilkenny again in 1957. In the last of those he was described as having a magnificent game and was going as powerfully at the finish as at the start. He received the Sport Star of the Week accolade in the Irish Independent for his display. He played in the famous League final of 1956 when Wexford defeated Tipperary, who appeared to have an unassailable lead at half time, but lost it to a thundering, storm-assisted Wexford rally in the second half. He also lost a National Hurling League final with Tipperary in 1953 to Cork. As well as winning three Munster Finals with Tipperary in 1951, 1958 and 1961, John also lost three Munster Hurling Finals in 1952, 1953 and 1954, on each occasion to Cork.
Provincial
Haugh also lined out with MunsterMunster GAA
The Munster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Munster.-Constituent counties:*Cork*Clare*Kerry*Limerick*Tipperary*Waterford-Honours:...
in the Railway Cup Interprovincial Championship. He first played for his province in 1954 losing to Leinster
Leinster GAA
The Leinster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County Board to help develop Gaelic Games in Europe...
in the final by 0-9 to 0-5. However, John annexed a Railway Cup winner's medal in 1955 when Munster who were captained by the great Christy Ring
Christy Ring
Nicholas Christopher Michael Ring , better known as Christy Ring, was a famous Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with the Glen Rovers club from 1941 until 1967 and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1939 until 1963. Ring is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers in...
defeated Connacht
Connacht GAA
The Connacht Council are a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Connacht.-Constituent counties:*Galway*Leitrim*Mayo*Roscommon*Sligo-Special counties:...
in the final by a scoreline of 6-8 to 3-4.
John retired from hurling in 1968 after a long and successful career. He was chosen at midfield for the North Tipperary Centenary Hurling Team of 1951-2001.
Toomevara
- Tipperary Senior Hurling ChampionshipTipperary Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
:- Winner (1): 1960
- Runner-up (2): 1958, 1961
Tipperary
- All-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe 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....
:- Winner (3): 1951, 1958, 1961
- Munster Senior Hurling ChampionshipMunster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Munster GAA Hurling Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1888 for the top hurling teams in the province of Munster in Ireland....
:- Winner (3): 1951, 1958, 1961
- Runner-up (3): 1952, 1953, 1954
- National Hurling LeagueNational Hurling LeagueThe National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
:- Winner (4): 1952, 1954, 1955, 1957
- Runner-up (2): 1953, 1956