Len Gaynor
Encyclopedia
Len Gaynor is a retired Irish
hurling
manager
and former player. He played hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonagh's and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s. Gaynor later served as manager
of both the Clare
and Tipperary senior hurling teams.
titles in 1977, 1978 and 1979.
minor hurling team. He tasted his first success in 1962 when he won a Munster minor medal. He later joined the Tipp under-21 panel with whom he won both Munster and All-Ireland
medals in 1964 in the inaugural year of the competition. Gaynor won a second Munster under-21 medal in 1965.
medal at the start of 1965, before Tipp demolished all opposition in the provincial championship giving him his first Munster
title. Wexford
were Tipp’s opponents in the All-Ireland final, however, the game failed to live up to the two classic games between the two sides in 1960 and 1962. Victory went to Tipp on that occasion with Gaynor collecting his first All-Ireland
medal.
Tipp lost their provincial and All-Ireland crowns in spectacular fashion at the first hurdle in 1966 when a young Limerick
team took them by surprise. The team bounced back in 1967 with Gaynor collecting a second Munster title. By this stage, however, Tipp’s pool of players was ageing and the county’s hurling fortunes were in decline. Kilkenny
provided the opposition in the subsequent All-Ireland final and provided more than a match for Tipperary. Goals from Paddy Moran
, Martin Brennan
and Tom Walsh laid to rest a bogey that Tipperary had over Kilkenny since 1922.
Tipp crushed Cork in the provincial final again in 1968, giving Gaynor his third Munster title. For the fourth time that decade Tipperary faced Wexford in the championship decider, however, the Munster champions were now in terminal decline and surrendered an eight-point lead at half-time giving Wexford a 5-8 to 3-12 victory.
In 1971 Tipp defeated Limerick in the provincial decider, giving Gaynor a fourth Munster winners' medal. Kilkenny provided the opposition against Tipperary in that year’s All-Ireland final. In the All-Ireland final to be broadcast in colour by Telfis Éireann
, Tipp won on a score line of 5-17 to 5-14. It was Gaynor's second All-Ireland medal.
Gaynor retired from inter-county hurling in 1973.
of the Clare
senior hurling team. He had some success by steering the county to two consecutive Munster final appearances in 1993 and 1994, however, these games ended in huge defeats for Clare. He was replaced in 1995 by Ger Loughnane
. In 1997 Gaynor became manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Once again his tenure in charge was mixed, as Tipp were defeated in both the Munster and All-Ireland finals in the first year of the "back-door" system.
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...
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...
manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
and former player. He played hurling with his local club Kilruane McDonagh's 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 1960s and 1970s. Gaynor later served as manager
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of both the 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....
and Tipperary senior hurling teams.
Club
Gaynor played his club hurling with his local Kilruane McDonagh's club. He enjoyed some success at underage levels before later winning three consecutive senior county championshipTipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
titles in 1977, 1978 and 1979.
Minor and under-21
By the early 1960s Gaynor had made an impact as a member of 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. He tasted his first success in 1962 when he won a Munster minor medal. He later joined the Tipp under-21 panel with whom he won both Munster and All-Ireland
All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship
The All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of hurling played in Ireland...
medals in 1964 in the inaugural year of the competition. Gaynor won a second Munster under-21 medal in 1965.
Senior
Gaynor's skill at underage levels brought him to the attention of the senior selectors who elevated him onto the senior county team in 1964. He went on to win his first National Hurling LeagueNational 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...
medal at the start of 1965, before Tipp demolished all opposition in the provincial championship giving him 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. 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...
were Tipp’s opponents in the All-Ireland final, however, the game failed to live up to the two classic games between the two sides in 1960 and 1962. Victory went to Tipp on that occasion with Gaynor collecting 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 lost their provincial and All-Ireland crowns in spectacular fashion at the first hurdle in 1966 when a young 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...
team took them by surprise. The team bounced back in 1967 with Gaynor collecting a second Munster title. By this stage, however, Tipp’s pool of players was ageing and the county’s hurling fortunes were in decline. 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 in the subsequent All-Ireland final and provided more than a match for Tipperary. Goals from Paddy Moran
Paddy Moran (hurler)
Paddy Moran is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Bennettsbridge and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 1963 until 1972.-Early life:...
, Martin Brennan
Martin Brennan (hurler)
Martin Brennan is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Erin's Own and was a member of the Kilkenny senior inter-county team from 19678 until 1969.-References:...
and Tom Walsh laid to rest a bogey that Tipperary had over Kilkenny since 1922.
Tipp crushed Cork in the provincial final again in 1968, giving Gaynor his third Munster title. For the fourth time that decade Tipperary faced Wexford in the championship decider, however, the Munster champions were now in terminal decline and surrendered an eight-point lead at half-time giving Wexford a 5-8 to 3-12 victory.
In 1971 Tipp defeated Limerick in the provincial decider, giving Gaynor a fourth Munster winners' medal. Kilkenny provided the opposition against Tipperary in that year’s All-Ireland final. In the All-Ireland final to be broadcast in colour by Telfis Éireann
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...
, Tipp won on a score line of 5-17 to 5-14. It was Gaynor's second All-Ireland medal.
Gaynor retired from inter-county hurling in 1973.
Managerial career
In the early 1990s Gaynor served as managerManager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
of the 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....
senior hurling team. He had some success by steering the county to two consecutive Munster final appearances in 1993 and 1994, however, these games ended in huge defeats for Clare. He was replaced in 1995 by Ger Loughnane
Ger Loughnane
Ger Loughnane is a Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Feakle and with the Clare senior inter-county team in the 1970s and 1980s...
. In 1997 Gaynor became manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. Once again his tenure in charge was mixed, as Tipp were defeated in both the Munster and All-Ireland finals in the first year of the "back-door" system.