John O'Brien (hurler)
Encyclopedia
John O'Brien is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling
with his local club Toomevara
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team. He plays as a forward on both teams.
in 1982. He was born into a family that had a strong association with local Gaelic games
and he quickly began playing hurling
.
, along with his brother Paddy. He has enjoyed much success with his club, winning Tipperary SHC
titles in 2000 and 2001. On both occasions he was awarded with the 'Man of the Match' award. O'Brien won further back-to-back county titles in 2003 and 2004, as well as winning a second Munster club title in the latter year. In 2006 he won another Tipperary SHC title before subsequently capturing a second Munster club title.
minor hurling team in the late 1990s, winning a Munster medal in 1999. Two years later in 2001 he made his senior debut in a National Hurling League
game against Laois
before making his championship debut against Limerick
in the Munster Championship
. He came on as a substitute in the Munster final to win his first, and only, provincial medal to date. O'Brien was also a member of the panel when Tipp later won the All-Ireland
title. Two years later he was a member of the Tipperary under-21 team that won the Munster championship. The following few years proved difficult as Tipp failed to win further provincial or All-Ireland honours at senior level.
Just before Christmas in 2006 O'Brien received severe leg injuries as well as a dislocated and fractured hip in a car accident. This will rule him out of the 2007 championship
until July. In spite of this he has still been appointed captain of the side for the year. He was named man of the match by RTE
in the Munster Hurling Final 2008
victory by Tipperary
.
In September 2009, O'Brien was nominated for the 2009 All Star Team
.
On 5 September 2010, O'Brien started at left half-forward and scored one point as Tipperary won their 26th All Ireland title
, beating reigning champions Killkenny
by 4-17 to 1-18 in the final
, preventing Kilkenny from achieving an historic 5-in-a-row, it was O'Brien's first All-Ireland winners medal.
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 plays 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 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 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. He plays as a forward on both teams.
Club career
John O'Brien was born in the parish of Toomevara, County TipperaryCounty 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 1982. He was born into a family that had a strong association with local Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
and he quickly began playing 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...
.
Club
O'Brien plays his club hurling with 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...
, along with his brother Paddy. He has enjoyed much success with his club, winning Tipperary SHC
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
titles in 2000 and 2001. On both occasions he was awarded with the 'Man of the Match' award. O'Brien won further back-to-back county titles in 2003 and 2004, as well as winning a second Munster club title in the latter year. In 2006 he won another Tipperary SHC title before subsequently capturing a second Munster club title.
Inter-county
O'Brien started playing for the 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...
minor hurling team in the late 1990s, winning a Munster medal in 1999. Two years later in 2001 he made his senior debut in a 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...
game against Laois
Laois GAA
The Laois County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Laois GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Laois and the Laois inter-county teams.-History:...
before making his championship debut 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...
in the Munster Championship
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....
. He came on as a substitute in the Munster final to win his first, and only, provincial medal to date. O'Brien was also a member of the panel when Tipp later won 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. Two years later he was a member of the Tipperary under-21 team that won the Munster championship. The following few years proved difficult as Tipp failed to win further provincial or All-Ireland honours at senior level.
Just before Christmas in 2006 O'Brien received severe leg injuries as well as a dislocated and fractured hip in a car accident. This will rule him out of the 2007 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....
until July. In spite of this he has still been appointed captain of the side for the year. He was named man of the match by RTE
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
in the Munster Hurling Final 2008
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....
victory by 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...
.
In September 2009, O'Brien was nominated for the 2009 All Star Team
GAA All Stars Awards
The All Stars Awards, currently sponsored by Vodafone, are given annually since 1971 by the Gaelic Athletic Association to the best player in each of the fifteen positions in Gaelic football and Hurling in Ireland. Additionally, one player in each code is selected as the player of the year...
.
On 5 September 2010, O'Brien started at left half-forward and scored one point as Tipperary won their 26th All Ireland title
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....
, beating reigning champions Killkenny
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...
by 4-17 to 1-18 in the final
2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final
The 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final was the 113th All-Ireland Final and the culmination of the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, an inter-county hurling tournament for the top teams in Ireland. The match was held at Croke Park, Dublin, on 5 September 2010 and was a...
, preventing Kilkenny from achieving an historic 5-in-a-row, it was O'Brien's first All-Ireland winners medal.
Honours
- 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 (2): 2001, 2010
- Runner-up (2): 2009, 2011
- 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): 2008, 2009, 2011
- Runner-up (2): 2002, 2005
- 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 (2): 2001, 2008