Shane McGrath (hurler)
Encyclopedia
Shane McGrath is an Irish
sportsperson. He plays hurling
with his local club Ballinahinch
and with the Tipperary
senior inter-county team.
in 1984. He was educated locally and later attended the Limerick Institute of Technology
. It was here that McGrath first tasted major success on the hurling
field as he won two Fitzgibbon Cup
medals in 2005 and 2007. In 2009 Shane won a Ryan Cup medal as a student of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He is currently working as an Ambassador to the VHI GAA Cul Camps
. He has enjoyed some success but has yet to win a senior county title
.
minor hurling team in the early 2000s; however, he enjoyed little success in this grade. McGrath later joined the county under-21 panel and won a Munster
title in this grade as a substitute in 2004. Two years later in 2006 he made his senior debut for Tipp in a National Hurling League
game against Limerick
. Later that summer McGrath made his championship debut against the same opposition. Tipp subsequently reached the Munster final; however, Cork defeated McGrath’s side. 2007 also proved to be a mixed season for the Tipp hurlers, culminating in a defeat by Wexford
. The following year Tipp got off to a good start by winning the Waterford Crystal League. McGrath later collected a coveted National Hurling League medal as Tipp defeated Galway
.
In September 2009, McGrath was nominated for the 2009 All Star Team
. In October, 2009, he was picked in the 2009 Opel hurling team
of the year.
On 5 September 2010, McGrath started in midfield 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 McGrath's first All-Ireland winners medal in his second final.
in the inter-provincial hurling competition. He first played with the province in 2006, however, it was 2007 before he collected his first Railway Cup medal as Munster defeated Connacht
.
TV show called C'mon Caman on R.T.É 2 in March 2009. He was the mentor of the red hurling
team which got to the semi-finals.
The programme was aimed at children, with sixth class pupils from around Ireland taking part. Limerick hurler Ollie Moran was among those who also mentored in the programme, which was presented by Paddy McKenna, with Ger Canning acting as a commentator.
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 Ballinahinch
Ballinahinch GAA
Ballinahinch GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club which represents the village of Ballinahinch in North County Tipperary, Ireland. The club plays both Gaelic Football and Hurling.-History:...
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.
Early life
Shane McGrath was born in Ballinahinch, 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 1984. He was educated locally and later attended the Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology
Limerick Institute of Technology is an institution of higher education in Limerick, Ireland and is one of 13 institutes that are members of the Institutes of Technology Ireland . The Institute has four campuses in Limerick City, one in both Thurles and Clonmel in County Tipperary and a regional...
. It was here that McGrath first tasted major success on 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...
field as he won two Fitzgibbon Cup
Fitzgibbon Cup
The Fitzgibbon Cup the championship for top division of university hurling in Ireland. It is administrated by the Higher Education committee which is part of the Gaelic Athletic Association...
medals in 2005 and 2007. In 2009 Shane won a Ryan Cup medal as a student of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. He is currently working as an Ambassador to the VHI GAA Cul Camps
Club
McGrath plays his club hurling with his local club in BallinahinchBallinahinch GAA
Ballinahinch GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club which represents the village of Ballinahinch in North County Tipperary, Ireland. The club plays both Gaelic Football and Hurling.-History:...
. He has enjoyed some success but has yet to win a senior county title
Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship
The Tipperary Senior Hurling Club Championship is an annual club competition between the top Tipperary hurling clubs...
.
Inter-county
McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene 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 in the early 2000s; however, he enjoyed little success in this grade. McGrath later joined the county under-21 panel and won a Munster
Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship
The Munster GAA Hurling Under-21 Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Munster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1964 for players aged between 18 and 21 in the province of Munster in Ireland...
title in this grade as a substitute in 2004. Two years later in 2006 he made his senior debut for Tipp 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 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...
. Later that summer McGrath made his championship debut against the same opposition. Tipp subsequently reached the Munster final; however, Cork defeated McGrath’s side. 2007 also proved to be a mixed season for the Tipp hurlers, culminating in a defeat by 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...
. The following year Tipp got off to a good start by winning the Waterford Crystal League. McGrath later collected a coveted National Hurling League medal as Tipp defeated 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,...
.
In September 2009, McGrath 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...
. In October, 2009, he was picked in the 2009 Opel hurling team
GPA Gaelic Team of the Year
The GPA Gaelic Team of the Year known for sponsorship reason as The Opel Gaelic Team of the Year awards were an awards ceremony to honour the performances ofGaelic Athletic Association players...
of the year.
On 5 September 2010, McGrath started in midfield 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 McGrath's first All-Ireland winners medal in his second final.
Provincial
McGrath has also lined out for 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. He first played with the province in 2006, however, it was 2007 before he collected his first Railway Cup medal as Munster 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:...
.
Reality TV
Shane took part in a GAA realityReality
In philosophy, reality is the state of things as they actually exist, rather than as they may appear or might be imagined. In a wider definition, reality includes everything that is and has been, whether or not it is observable or comprehensible...
TV show called C'mon Caman on R.T.É 2 in March 2009. He was the mentor of the red 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...
team which got to the semi-finals.
The programme was aimed at children, with sixth class pupils from around Ireland taking part. Limerick hurler Ollie Moran was among those who also mentored in the programme, which was presented by Paddy McKenna, with Ger Canning acting as a commentator.
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 (1): 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
- 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 (1): 2008