.jpg) Maher withTipperary in 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Native name | Pádraic Ó Meachair (Irish) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Paudie | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1989-02-09)9 February 1989 (age 37) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Garda[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Hurling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| *Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 16:30, 31 July 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pádraic Maher (born 9 February 1989) is an Irish formerhurler who previously played forTipperary Senior Championship clubThurles Sarsfields and at inter-county level with theTipperary senior hurling team. He usually lined out as a centre-back.
Maher first came to prominence as a hurler withThurles CBS. He played in every grade before eventually joining the senior hurling team as a 15-year-old. On 12 March 2005, Maher lined out at full-back when Thurles CBS suffered a 1-11 to 1-06 defeat bySt. Flannan's College fromEnnis in theHarty Cup final.[3]
As a student at theGarda Síochána College inTemplemore, Maher immediately became involved with the college's senior hurling team. On 25 February 2017, he won aRyan Cup medal after lining out in a 5-23 to 1-8 defeat of theInstitute of Technology, Sligo in the final.[4]
Maher joined theThurles Sarsfield's club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels and enjoyed much success. He won back-to-back Minor Championship medals in 2006 and 2007 before claiming back-to-back Under-21 Championship medals in 2008 and 2009. Maher was just 17-years-old when he made his first appearance for the club's senior team during the2006 Tipperary Senior Championship.
On 19 October 2008, Maher lined out at full-back againstToomevara in his firstTipperary Senior Championship final. He ended the game on the losing side following a 2-14 to 0-17 defeat.[5]
Maher played in a second successivefinal on 18 October 2009 when he lined out at full-back againstDrom-Inch. The game ended on a sour note when Drom-Inch midfielderJames Woodlock was stretchered off the field with a suspected fractured ankle after a clash with Maher. "James clashed with my leg – it was a horrific injury," said Maher after collecting his firstwinners' medal following a 0-14 to 0-05 victory.[6]
On 31 October 2010, Maher lined out in a third successivefinal. Playing once again at full-back, he ended the game with a second successive winners' medal while he also claimed theman of the match award after a 1-16 to 1-07 defeat ofClonoulty-Rossmore.[7]
Maher was appointed captain of the team for the2012 Tipperary Senior Championship. On 14 October 2012, he captained the team from centre-back when Thurles Sarsfields faced Drom-Inch in thefinal. Maher claimed a third winners' medal in four seasons after a 1-21 to 2-15 victory.[8] On 25 November 2012, he captained Thurles Sarsfields to their very firstMunster Club Championship title after a 1-21 to 1-16 defeat ofDe La Salle in theMunster final.[9]
On 2 November 2014, Maher lined out in his fifthfinal with Thurles Sarsfields. Playing in his now usual position of centre-back, he collected a fourth winners' medal after a 2-22 to 3-11 victory overdefending championsLoughmore-Castleiney.[10]
Maher was appointed Thurles Sarsfields captain for the second time in his career for the2015 Tipperary Senior Championship. On 25 October 2015, he captained the team from centre-back in a second consecutivefinal appearance withNenagh Éire Óg providing the opposition. Maher ended the game with a fifth winners' medal after the 1-18 to 3-11 victory.[11]
Maher retained the club captaincy for the2016 Tipperary Senior Championship. On 16 October 2016, he claimed his sixth winners' medal when Thurles Sarsfields completed their first three-in-a-row since1965 after a 0-27 to 1-15 defeat ofKiladangan in thefinal.[12]
On 8 October 2017, Maher captained Thurles Sarsfields for the third year in-a-row as the club reached a fourth successivefinal. He won his seventh championship medal after scoring a point from centre-back in the 1-24 to 0-11 defeat ofBorris-Ileigh.[13]
Maher first played forTipperary as a member of the minor team during the2006 Munster Championship. On 25 June 2006, he was an unused substitute when Tipperary suffered a 2-20 to 1-15 defeat byCork in theMunster final.[14] Maher made his first appearance for the team on 15 July 2006 when he lined out at full-back in Tipperary's 4-19 to 0-12 defeat ofCarlow in theAll-Ireland quarter-final. Maher retained his position on the starting fifteen when Tipperary facedGalway in theAll-Ireland final on 3 September 2006. He ended the game with awinners' medal following the 2-18 to 2-07 victory.[15]
On 8 July 2007, Maher was at full-back when Tipperary won theMunster Championship following an 0-18 to 1-11 defeat ofCork in thefinal.[16] On 2 September 2007, he was again at full-back for theAll-Ireland final against Cork. He claimed a second successive winners' medal following a 3-14 to 2-11 victory.[17]
Maher was drafted onto the Tipperary under-21 team in advance of the2008 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 17 July 2008 when he lined out at full-back in a 1-13 to 0-15 defeat ofLimerick. On 30 July 2008, Maher won aMunster Championship medal after a controversial 1-16 to 2-12 defeat ofClare.[18] He retained his position at full-back when Tipperary suffered a 2-13 to 0-15 defeat byKilkenny in theAll-Ireland final on 14 September 2008.[19]
On 28 July 2010, Maher won a second Munster Championship medal aftercaptaining Tipperary to a 1-22 to 1-17 defeat of Clare in thefinal.[20] He was again selected at full-back for theAll-Ireland final against Galway on 11 September 2010. Maher ended the game with anAll-Ireland medal following the 5-22 to 0-12 victory in what was his last game in the grade.[21]
Maher joined the Tipperary senior team in advance of the2009 National League. He made his first appearance for the team on 29 March 2009 when he came on as a substitute forShane Maher at left wing-back in a 2-19 to 4-11 defeat ofDublin.[22]On 3 May 2009, Maher lined out at right wing-back in a 2-26 to 4-17 extra-time defeat by Kilkenny in theNational League final.[23] On 31 May 2009, he made hisMunster Championship debut when he lined out at left wing-back in a 1-19 to 0-19 defeat of Cork.[24] On 12 July 2009, Maher started theMunster final at left wing-back and ended the game with awinners' medal following the 4-14 to 2-16 defeat ofWaterford.[25] He was switched to full-back for theAll-Ireland final against Kilkenny on 6 September 2009. Maher ended on the losing side following a 2-22 to 0-23 defeat.[26] He ended the season by being named in the full-back position on theAll-Star team.
On 5 September 2010, Maher was selected at left wing-back when Tipperary qualified to play Kilkenny in a second successiveAll-Ireland final. He claimed his firstAll-Ireland medal following a 4-17 to 1-18 victory.[27]
On 10 July 2011, Maher won a second Munster Championship medal after lining out at left wing-back in a 7-19 to 0-19 defeat of Waterford in theMunster final.[28] On 4 September 2011, he was again selected at left wing-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in a third successiveAll-Ireland final. He ended the game on the losing side following a 2-17 to 1-16 defeat.[29] Maher ended the season by winning a second All-Star award while he was also a nominee forHurler of the Year.[30]
On 15 July 2012, Maher lined out at left wing-back when Tipperary qualified to play Waterford in a second successiveMunster final. He ended the game with a third winners' medal in four seasons after scoring a point in the 2-17 to 0-16 victory.[31]
On 5 May 2013, Maher was selected at centre-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in theNational League final. He scored a point from play but ended the game on the losing side following a 2-17 to 0-20 defeat.[32]
On 4 May 2014, Maher lined out at full-back in a second successiveNational League final against Kilkenny. He ended the game on the losing side once again following a 2-25 to 1-27 defeat.[33] On 7 September 2014, Maher was again at full-back when Tipperary drew 1-28 to 3-22 with Kilkenny in theAll-Ireland final.[34] He retained his position for the replay on 27 September 2014, however, he ended the game on the losing side after a 2-17 to 2-14 defeat.[35] Maher ended the season by receiving a third All-Star award.[36]
On 12 July 2015, Maher was selected at centre-back when Tipperary faced Waterford in theMunster final. He ended the game with a fourth winners' medal following the 0-21 to 0-16 victory.[37]
Maher claimed a fifth Munster Championship medal on 10 July 2016 after scoring a point from left wing-back in a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat of Waterford in thefinal.[38] On 5 September 2016, he lined out at left wing-back for Tipperary'sAll-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. Maher ended the game with a second All-Ireland medal following a 2-29 to 2-20 victory.[39] He ended the season by winning a fourth All-Star award while he also received a second nomination for Hurler of the Year.[40][41]
On 28 November 2016, Maher was named as thecaptain of the Tipperary team for the2017 season.[42][43] On 23 April 2017, he lined out in his fourthNational League final. Maher ended the game on the losing side following a 3-21 to 0-14 victory for Galway.[44] He ended the season by winning a fifth All-Star award.[45]
Maher retained the captaincy of the team for the2018 season. He captained the team in a second successiveNational League final - his fifth overall - on 8 April 2018. Lining out at left wing-back, Maher ended the game on the losing side following a 2-23 to 2-17 defeat by Kilkenny.[46]
On 30 June 2019, Maher lined out at centre-back when Tipperary suffered a 2-26 to 2-14 defeat by Limerick in theMunster final.[47] On 18 August 2019, he was selected at left wing-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in theAll-Ireland final. Maher ended the game with a third All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3-25 to 0-20 victory.[48] He ended the season by receiving his sixth All-Star award.[49][50]
On 1 February 2022, Maher announced his retirement from club and inter-county hurling due to medical advice received regarding a neck injury.[51][52][53][54][55]
Maher was added to theMunster team in advance of the2012 Railway Cup. He made his first appearance for the team on 19 February 2012 when he lined out at centre-back in a 3-14 to 1-16 defeat byLeinster.[56]
On 15 December 2016, Maher lined out at left wing-back when Munster qualified to play Leinster in thefinal. He ended the game with aRailway Cup medal following the 2-20 to 2-16 victory.[57]
On 23 July 2022, Maher was named by newTipperary senior hurling managerLiam Cahill as part of his backroom team for2023.[58][59]In September 2023, Maher left his position as a selector with the Tipperary senior hurling team due to unforeseen changes in his work circumstances.[60]
Maher's memoir,All on the Line, was published in October 2022.[61]In January 2025, Maher was featured on the new series ofLaochra Gael.[62]
| Team | Year | National League | Munster | All-Ireland | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | Apps | Score | ||
| Tipperary | 2009 | Division 1 | 4 | 0-00 | 3 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-00 |
| 2010 | 7 | 0-01 | 1 | 0-00 | 5 | 0-00 | 13 | 0-01 | ||
| 2011 | 4 | 0-01 | 3 | 0-02 | 2 | 0-02 | 9 | 0-05 | ||
| 2012 | Division 1A | 6 | 0-03 | 3 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-00 | 10 | 0-05 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 0-02 | 1 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 9 | 0-02 | ||
| 2014 | 5 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 6 | 0-00 | 12 | 0-00 | ||
| 2015 | 7 | 0-02 | 2 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 10 | 0-02 | ||
| 2016 | 6 | 0-05 | 3 | 0-03 | 2 | 0-02 | 11 | 0-10 | ||
| 2017 | 8 | 0-06 | 1 | 0-01 | 4 | 0-03 | 13 | 0-10 | ||
| 2018 | 7 | 0-03 | 4 | 0-01 | — | 11 | 0-04 | |||
| 2019 | 6 | 0-01 | 5 | 0-03 | 3 | 0-01 | 14 | 0-05 | ||
| 2020 | 4 | 0-06 | 1 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 7 | 0-06 | ||
| 2021 | 5 | 0-00 | 2 | 0-00 | 1 | 0-00 | 8 | 0-00 | ||
| Career total | 76 | 0-30 | 30 | 0-12 | 30 | 0-08 | 136 | 0-50 | ||