Brendan Maher: Tipp can take nothing for granted, even after All-Ireland glory
Maher captained Tipp to success in 2016 and was on the team that won again in 2019 but the county suffered a considerable dip immediately afterwards, failing to make it back to Croke Park until this summer.
Three-time All-Star Maher said Croke Park has always been a special place for Tipp teams, including his own, who felt they 'had a new lease of life' at the venue but getting there has been the hard part.
Speaking after participating in Monday evening's Hurling for Cancer Research charity game in Carlow alongside current Tipp stars including Darragh McCarthy and Noel McGrath, Maher said 2026 will see Tipp start at the foot of the ladder again.
"It's hard to see anything beyond trying to get a couple of wins in Munster and trying to get out of Munster," said Maher. "You saw what happened to Clare this year - it's going to be just as difficult for Tipp next year. You have a tough task playing Cork in the first round with the way the fixtures are. So I think the goal is just to get out of Munster whatever way you can and then hopefully have a crack at the All-Ireland again.
"But there are no guarantees. That's the beauty of the Munster championship. The All-Ireland win was this year, yes, but next year is going to be a case of starting all over again. Nothing is deserved or guaranteed and you have some great teams all around Munster."
Tipp took care of Kilkenny and Cork when they finally returned to Croke Park in this season's Championship.
"It probably was something that we would have referenced, that we felt that once we got up to Croke Park that we had a new lease of life and that it did give us a bit of fresh energy," said Maher, who called it quits after the 2021 season.
"You were getting up to the big stage and you felt like you were getting towards the business end of the Championship. Yeah, I think the experienced lads especially this year would have felt that, 'Once we get back up there, we'll be comfortable'. And I think the younger lads would have fed off that. Obviously it was six years waiting, that's a long time, but I do think that experience that the boys would have had helped a lot of the newer, younger lads."
Borris-Ileigh man Maher described McCarthy, who fired 1-13 in the All-Ireland decider, just his seventh Championship appearance, as a 'special talent' for Tipp.
"He's a great young lad and his attitude is what makes him so special," said Maher. "Hopefully he has a long period ahead of him in the blue and gold."
Maher confirmed that he will continue as a selector with Offaly for the 2026 season.
"I'll still be involved, that'll be my fourth year with them," he nodded. "They're a great bunch of players, some of them were playing in the Hurling for Cancer Research game as well. You would have seen Adam Screeney, Brian Duignan, Dan Bourke was on the line, he didn't come on because he's nursing a bit of an injury, and Liam Hoare went into goals. They're a great bunch and we've had a fair journey with them, trying to get up that ladder. We're in Division 1 of the League and the MacCarthy Cup again next year so hopefully they'll improve again."
As for Monday's charity game, which ended in a win for Jim Bolger's selection, against Davy Russell's team, Maher said it was a pleasure to take part.
"Everyone has family members that have been touched by it," said Maher of the fight against cancer. "I've lost a few unfortunately over the years. I hope the donations and support online was as generous as everyone that turned up for the game because it felt fantastic."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Extra.ie
an hour ago
- Extra.ie
Who is Michael Darragh McAuley? Dublin GAA icon steps into new role on Ireland's Fittest Family
Dublin GAA legend Michael Darragh McAuley will be one of the new coaches set to join Ireland's Fittest Family. The All-Ireland winner was one of three new coaches, alongside Ellen Keane and Andrew Trimble, alongside the returning coaches of Davy Fitzgerald, Anna Geary and Donncha O'Callaghan when the revamped show returns this autumn. Dublin GAA legend Michael Darragh McAuley will be one of the new coaches set to join Ireland's Fittest Family. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile Michael Darragh McAuley enjoyed a stellar career as a midfielder, making his debut at club level for Ballyboden St Enda's. He won three Dublin football titles, 10 Leinster titles and an All-Ireland club title with St Enda's in 2016. However, it was at county level where he really shone, winning eight — count em — All-Ireland titles, first winning in 2011, then again in 2013, and was also part of the six-in-a-row dynasty for the capital. As well as this, 'MDMA' (look it up!) won several individual honours; including two All-Star awards, a Sunday Game Player of the Year award in 2013, and a GAA Footballer of the Year that same year. He would retire from the inter-county game in 2021. In 2024, Michael took over as CEO of Sanctuary Runners — leaving the role this week. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile In 2023, Michael and fellow Dublin GAA legend David Hickey formed the Dublin Footballers Support Palestine, which advocates for Palestinians and puts pressure on the Irish government to take a stance against Israel in the ongoing Gaza War, which has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians, many of them civilians. In 2024, Michael took over from Graham Clifford as CEO of Sanctuary Runners, a solidarity-through-sport club that sees people run, jog and walk alongside asylum seekers, refugees migrants and Irish residents — but left the position earlier this week. 'I've had an amazing year at the helm of this very positive movement,' Michael said. 'I've made the difficult decision to move on to other projects, but I am still very committed to the power of community integration through sport. 'Although I will no longer be Chief Executive, I plan to continue to show solidarity in my Sanctuary Blue and I truly value the great friendships I've made all around the country.' Michael will be joining the coaches on Ireland's Fittest Family, where he'll be joining Andrew Trimble and Ellen Keane as well as Anna Geary, Donncha O'Callaghan and Davy Fitz. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile On Thursday (August 21), Michael was announced as one of three new coaches on the fitness competition show, Ireland's Fittest Family. Joining Paralympian Ellen Keane and former Irish Rugby star Andrew Trimble, Michael will be looking to make a statement alongside the two new judges, as well as returning judges in Donncha O'Callaghan, Anna Geary and Davy Fitzgerald. Also returning to the show will be host Laura Fox, with RTÉ confirming that the show will return as part of their autumn lineup.
RTÉ News
2 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Why a new team manager can be key to U20 footballers turning senior
Analysis: Timing, squad turnover and the arrival of a new manager are as important as talent for U20 players breaking into senior teams A few weeks ago, I wrote that minor success is not a reliable predictor of future senior representation. The response was lively. Several people rightly pointed out that the senior intercounty team is a bottleneck and there is only so much room. Even if an underage team is stacked with talent, there is still only one senior team they can graduate to and there are a finite amount of places. It's like a roundabout with traffic coming in from every road (different years of underage teams) - everyone's indicating to get in, but the circle is already full. All that said, there has long been a perception that the U21 (now U20) grade is a better indicator, than minor, of who will play senior football for Kerry. The logic is obvious: players are older, stronger and closer to senior standard. But the numbers, and the patterns behind them, tell a more complex story of the county. This follow-on to the minor piece looks at that story in more detail and at one crucial factor entirely outside a player's control: timing. Measuring the yield From 1994 to 2024, I tracked every Kerry U20/U21 panel and counted how many eventually started a senior championship match for Kerry. For the record, Kerry won All-Ireland U21 titles in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2008. As with the minor article, players could only be counted once (their final year). For instance, Noel Kennelly was a four year Kerry U21 from 1997 to 2000, but was only counted in the 2000 crop. Across those 31 seasons, the average yield is just over three starters per year. Some cohorts have produced no graduates - 2014, 2023, and 2024 have yet to deliver a senior championship starter - while others produced the backbone of a team, such as 1996 (10 players – numbers in brackets throughout indicate the number of players), 2011 (nine), and 2017 (nine). The peaks: when the stars align The most productive stretch came between 1995 and 1999, when Kerry won the U21 All-Ireland in 1995, 1996 and 1998. These years produced the core of the 2004 to 2009 golden era which saw six All-Ireland finals in six seasons and four Sam Maguires. The 1996 team alone yielded 10 senior starters, the highest on record, many of whom won the 1997 All-Ireland and carried the team into the next decade. Each significant spike in the past 30 years has come when a new manager arrived and fresh faces were needed Other notable spikes came in 2011 (nine) - thrashed 2-24 to 0-8 by Cork in the Munster final that year, yet several were All-Ireland senior champions in 2014 - and 2017 (nine) - beaten by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, yet supplied several key players to the present squad. The importance of timing This is one of those occasions where the numbers do not give the context. On the surface, you'd think these spikes represented exceptional crops. However, the numbers don't capture the role of luck and timing in a young player's break. Each significant spike in the past 30 years has come when a new manager arrived and fresh faces were needed, often after senior retirements signalled the end of a managerial cycle. Páidí Ó Sé's new tenure in 1996 brought in the 1995 and 1996 crop. Éamonn Fitzmaurice in 2012 introduced the 2011 group. Peter Keane in 2019 added more of the 2017 group, although Fitzmaurice had already begun integrating them in 2018. Keane's arrival came just after more than 10 senior players had retired between 2013 and 2016. In each case, the door opened not just because of quality, but because circumstance happened to turn the key. When the door stays shut However, some years yield almost nothing. 2014, 2023 and 2024 have seen no senior starters to date. 2002, 2003, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020 and 2021 have just one apiece. These low-yield years usually coincide with a settled, successful senior panel and management team. The 2020 and 2021 groups, for instance, have been trying to break into a team in its peak years. The starting side that beat Donegal in the 2025 All-Ireland final had an average age of 27.33, right in the sweet spot of a team's lifespan. The funnel narrows dramatically when a team is both experienced and winning. For players, this can mean years of frustration or being limited to panel roles. Some patient players eventually break through, but history shows that for many, the window doesn't open before they call it quits on their senior dreams. The last major intake came from the 2017 cohort, and they remain the spine of the current team. Between 2018 and 2022, yields have been modest (one to four players), and the 2023–2024 cohort have yet to produce a starter. This suggests Kerry could face a five year stretch with minimal senior turnover. That stability is good for results now and the current players, but bad news for those on the fringe and risky for succession planning. It can lead to sudden, mass retirements and a scramble to replace experience. This is precisely what happened at the end of the Kerry Golden Years era (1975–1986). A "famine" ensued where Kerry didn't win an All-Ireland between 1986 and 1997. How can teams deal with this replacement issue? One partial solution to replacing players still performing above the level of those coming through is an extended development squad for players aged 21 to 25. This is a group beyond the U20 grade who are kept in a structured, high-performance environment. Several counties already run similar systems, giving players above the U20 grade but not yet ready for senior football tailored programmes. Éamonn Fitzmaurice introduced a version of this during his tenure. The challenge is keeping players motivated during these "waiting years" and meeting the cost to the County Board. You are, in effect, running two senior teams. A formalised plan for this development squad could include strength and conditioning to senior standards; skills and tactical work aligned with the senior team and organised matches against other counties. A player who started in the 2019 final against Dublin told me about the last 10 minutes of that drawn game. For him, it was a blur. The Dublin players, in contrast, seemed in total control. They were in their sixth final. No young player can shortcut those experiences. Those same Kerry players now have, in many cases, four finals behind them. They carry the same assured mindset Dublin had in 2019. A newer member of the extended Kerry panel simply does not have that experience. How could they? Looking at the current age profile, the "ideal" time to be a Kerry U20 might be in three years' time, depending on the position they are vying for. But there is no ideal in sport. It is a game of cycles outside of the control of most. As much as we try to apply logic and reduce the role of chance, sometimes a player chasing the number 13 jersey is simply born in the wrong decade. Unless you're .
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Niall Horan gets emotional revisiting beloved ground
Niall Horan has recently opened up about an emotional return to his beloved Pride Park – the home of Derby County. The former One Direction star is a huge Derby fan and shared how much he loves the club and the ground itself when he returned to watch them take on Coventry City on Saturday. Unfortunately for Niall, it wasn't a victorious return, although he did get to see a lot of goals in the Rams' 5-3 defeat to Frank Lampard's side. Niall Horan is a huge Derby County fan. Pic: GMCD Derby were 3-2 up with 20 minutes to go but couldn't hold on as Coventry sailed to victory, scoring three goals in seven minutes to claim all three points. Niall spoke about his long time support of the English side and revealed he used to get up at 4am to watch their matches while he was in the US. He told BBC Derby: 'I get very emotional about being here. I love this place. I love this ground. I love the vibe it gives off. I just love Derby County. Niall attempts to watch as many games as he can. Pic: Steve Galli/REX/Shutterstock 'I probably get here twice or three times a season, but get to a lot more away games. 'When we're on the road, I find it easier to make a quick train journey somewhere on a Friday night or a Saturday, maybe in London or something like that. Something that's a little bit closer to me. 'But I do spend a lot of time in the States and travelling and stuff like that. But I watch every single game on Rams TV for my sins sometimes, but I've been up early across the planet to watch the Rams. Won't miss a game.' Niall watched on as Derby lost 5-3 to Coventry. Pic: Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images Niall went on to heap praise upon Derby manager John Eustace, who he believes in the best head coach in the EFL Championship. The singer continued: 'I love John, I think John Eustace is one of the best, if not the best, manager in the league. '(He's) one of the greatest British managers flying around. He's proving himself everywhere. He kept us up last season. He just needs to accumulate this team and make them look good. We've got a lot of injuries obviously, but today we were just sloppy. Unfortunately for Niall, it wasn't a victorious return, although he did get to see a lot of goals in the Rams' 5-3 defeat to Frank Lampard's side. Pic: GMCD 'I'm sure I won't be the only person to say that. We were all over the place. We didn't look energised, we didn't look like we could win a second ball. It was just very, very frustrating, but not a crazy day to be a Derby County fan. We've seen this before, and we'll be here again.' Niall's beloved side haven't had a great start to the new Championship season, losing 3-1 to Stoke City on the opening day before the defeat to Coventry. However, they did knock West Brom out of the EFL Cup in the first round on penalties. Derby have been drawn away to Premier League side Burnley in the second round, which will not be an easy task. Niall will be relieved that he still gets to watch Derby in the Championship after they narrowly avoided relegation to League One last season. The Rams' 0-0 draw with Stoke on the final day of the season was just enough to keep them up by a single point, but they rallied to win the two previous matches to escape the drop. Derby's late surge of form condemned Luton Town to back-to-back relegations. Niall will no doubt be keeping an eye on the side in their next Championship clash against Bristol City on Friday night.
