John Maher (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John Maher was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Thurles Sarsfields
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team from 1930 until 1945. Maher captained Tipperary to the All-Ireland
title in 1945 and is regarded as one of Tipperary's all-time great defenders and is accorded iconic status in the county's hurling history. The only captain to be chaired, shoulder-high from Semple Stadium to Liberty Square, which happened in the aftermath of Tipperary's famous victory in the Munster Final of 1945.
, County Tipperary
in 1908. He was born into a family that had a strong association with the hurling
tradition of the area. His father, "Long" Dinny Maher, had been involved with the Thurles Blues
side that won the first ever All-Ireland
hurling title in 1887. He captained the team in some of the games, however, he played no part in the final due to a dispute over travel expenses. In later years, other members of the Maher clan were instrumental in the purchase of Thurles Sportsfield, later Semple Stadium.
Maher grew up on the family farm just outside the town and was educated locally. After a brief education he took over the family farm, got married and worked on the land for the rest of his life. In his playing days he was known as a fierce opponent who manned the Tipperary half back line like his life depended on it. Indeed, the legendary Mick Mackey of Limerick later said of John "a tough bony divil, oh you would know all about it if you got past him alright". John also holds the honour of being the oldest man ever to captain an All-Ireland winning team at either hurling or football when he lifted the Liam McCarthy at the age of 37 after the 1945 final. His grandson, Pa Bourke is a current member of the Tipperary panel and won an All Ireland medal in 2010 and also appeared as a substitute in the 2011 final loss to Kilkenny, a game in which Pa scored Tipperary's only goal.
John Maher died in 1990 just before that year’s Munster final. He was posthumously honoured in 1999 when the Killinan end of Semple Stadium
was renamed the Maher Terrace in his honour.
club and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title
in 1929 to begin a remarkable run of success. In all, he won nine county titles with ‘the Sars’ club. Maher’s other county medals came in 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1942 and a three-in-a-row in 1944, 1945 and 1946.
in the National Hurling League
1929-30. His first outing proved less than successful; however, Tipp bounced back in 1930. That year Maher collected his first Munster
title as Tipperary trounced Clare
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Dublin
provide the opposition. The first-half was a close affair; however, goals by Martin Kennedy
and captain John Joe Callanan
gave Tipp the edge. The Munster men hung on to win by 2-7 to 1-3, giving Maher his first All-Ireland
medal.
Tipp went into decline for the next few years as Limerick
emerged as the dominant team in Munster. Tipperary returned to the big time in 1937. That year Maher collected a second Munster medal as his side defeated Limerick, the reigning All-Ireland champions, in the provincial decider. Tipp later qualified for the All-Ireland final. The game itself was played in FitzGerald Stadium
, Killarney
and Kilkenny
provided the opposition. The game saw a surprisingly overwhelming victory for Tipp on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3. It was Maher’s second All-Ireland medal.
Tipperary hurling faced a traumatic few years following this victory. The county was excluded from the provincial championship in 1941 due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
in the county. As a result of this Cork were declared Munster champions and went on to win the All-Ireland title. In the delayed Munster final Tipp gained their revenge on Cork and Maher collected a third Munster medal.
In 1945 Tipperary were back at the top table in Munster once again. That year Maher was appointed captain of the Tipperary team. He won a fourth Munster title that year as Tipp defeated Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny provide the opposition, however, the game was a much closer affair than the previous meeting, Tipp took a 4-3 to 0-3 lead at half-time, however, ‘the Cats’ came storming back after the interval. Tipp held on to win by 5-6 to 3-6 and Maher collected a third All-Ireland medal and the Liam McCarthy Cup
.
Maher played for one final season in 1946, however, Tipp were defeated in their opening game. Maher retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success winning six Railway Cup medals. He first played for his province in the Railway Cup in 1934 and captured his first winners’ medal that year. Maher captured further titles in 1937, 1938, 1940, 1943 and 1946.
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,...
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 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 from 1930 until 1945. Maher captained Tipperary to 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....
title in 1945 and is regarded as one of Tipperary's all-time great defenders and is accorded iconic status in the county's hurling history. The only captain to be chaired, shoulder-high from Semple Stadium to Liberty Square, which happened in the aftermath of Tipperary's famous victory in the Munster Final of 1945.
Biography
John Maher 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 1908. He was born into a family that had a strong association with the 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 of the area. His father, "Long" Dinny Maher, had been involved with the Thurles Blues
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...
side that won the first ever 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. He captained the team in some of the games, however, he played no part in the final due to a dispute over travel expenses. In later years, other members of the Maher clan were instrumental in the purchase of Thurles Sportsfield, later Semple Stadium.
Maher grew up on the family farm just outside the town and was educated locally. After a brief education he took over the family farm, got married and worked on the land for the rest of his life. In his playing days he was known as a fierce opponent who manned the Tipperary half back line like his life depended on it. Indeed, the legendary Mick Mackey of Limerick later said of John "a tough bony divil, oh you would know all about it if you got past him alright". John also holds the honour of being the oldest man ever to captain an All-Ireland winning team at either hurling or football when he lifted the Liam McCarthy at the age of 37 after the 1945 final. His grandson, Pa Bourke is a current member of the Tipperary panel and won an All Ireland medal in 2010 and also appeared as a substitute in the 2011 final loss to Kilkenny, a game in which Pa scored Tipperary's only goal.
John Maher died in 1990 just before that year’s Munster final. He was posthumously honoured in 1999 when the Killinan end of Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium
Semple Stadium, located in Thurles, North Tipperary, Ireland, is the home of hurling for Tipperary GAA and for the province of Munster. It is the second largest stadium in Ireland with a capacity of 53,500....
was renamed the Maher Terrace in his honour.
Club
Maher played his club hurling with the legendary Thurles SarsfieldsThurles 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 and enjoyed much success. He won his first senior county title
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
in 1929 to begin a remarkable run of success. In all, he won nine county titles with ‘the Sars’ club. Maher’s other county medals came in 1935, 1936, 1938, 1939, 1942 and a three-in-a-row in 1944, 1945 and 1946.
Inter-county
Maher made his senior debut for 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 National Hurling League
National Hurling League
The 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...
1929-30. His first outing proved less than successful; however, Tipp bounced back in 1930. That year Maher collected his first Munster
Munster Senior Hurling Championship
The 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....
title as Tipperary trounced 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....
. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw 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...
provide the opposition. The first-half was a close affair; however, goals by Martin Kennedy
Martin Kennedy (hurler)
Martin Kennedy was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Toomevara and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1922 until 1936. Kennedy is regarded as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever players.-Club:...
and captain John Joe Callanan
John Joe Callanan
John Joe Callanan was an Irish sportsman. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Thurles Sarsfields in Tipperary and Collegians in Dublin. He also played hurling at inter-county level with both Tipperary and Dublin in the 1920s and 1930s...
gave Tipp the edge. The Munster men hung on to win by 2-7 to 1-3, giving Maher his first 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.
Tipp went into decline for the next few years as 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...
emerged as the dominant team in Munster. Tipperary returned to the big time in 1937. That year Maher collected a second Munster medal as his side defeated Limerick, the reigning All-Ireland champions, in the provincial decider. Tipp later qualified for the All-Ireland final. The game itself was played in FitzGerald Stadium
FitzGerald Stadium
Fitzgerald Stadium is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Killarney, Ireland, and is the home championship venue for the Kerry senior football team....
, Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
and 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...
provided the opposition. The game saw a surprisingly overwhelming victory for Tipp on a score line of 3-11 to 0-3. It was Maher’s second All-Ireland medal.
Tipperary hurling faced a traumatic few years following this victory. The county was excluded from the provincial championship in 1941 due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids...
in the county. As a result of this Cork were declared Munster champions and went on to win the All-Ireland title. In the delayed Munster final Tipp gained their revenge on Cork and Maher collected a third Munster medal.
In 1945 Tipperary were back at the top table in Munster once again. That year Maher was appointed captain of the Tipperary team. He won a fourth Munster title that year as Tipp defeated Limerick. The subsequent All-Ireland final saw Kilkenny provide the opposition, however, the game was a much closer affair than the previous meeting, Tipp took a 4-3 to 0-3 lead at half-time, however, ‘the Cats’ came storming back after the interval. Tipp held on to win by 5-6 to 3-6 and Maher collected a third All-Ireland medal and the Liam McCarthy Cup
Liam McCarthy Cup
The MacCarthy Perpetual Challenge Cup is a trophy awarded annually by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the hurling team that wins the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.-The trophy:...
.
Maher played for one final season in 1946, however, Tipp were defeated in their opening game. Maher retired from inter-county hurling shortly afterwards.
Provincial
Maher 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 inter-provincial hurling competition and enjoyed much success winning six Railway Cup medals. He first played for his province in the Railway Cup in 1934 and captured his first winners’ medal that year. Maher captured further titles in 1937, 1938, 1940, 1943 and 1946.