Tony Maher

Tony Maher (born January 12, 1945 in Cork, Ireland) is an Irish retired sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club St. Finbarr's and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1969 until 1975.

Biography

Tony Maher was born in Cork in 1945. He was educated at Greenmount School and later attended the famous Coláiste Chríost Rí where he developed a great talent for hurling. Maher worked as a textile dyer after leaving school, before spending some time employed by the Ford Motor Company and later the Office of Public Works.

Playing career

Club

Maher played his club hurling with the famous St. Finbarr's club on the south side of Cork city, a club where he enjoyed much success during a career which spanned three decades. He won his first county senior championship winners' medal in 1965 following 'the Barr's' 6-8 to 2-5 defeat of UCC.^[1] The club later represented Cork in the provincial club series and even reached the final. A 3-12 to 2-3 defeat of Waterford's Mount Sion gave Maher a coveted Munster club winners' medal.^[2]

After St. Finbarr's lost the 1967 county final to Glen Rovers, the club bounced back to reach the championship decider again the following year. A remarkable 5-9 to 1-19 defeat of divisional side Imokilly gave Maher a second county championship title.

After an absence of six years St. Finbarr’s were back at the top of the local hurling world again in 1974 following a defeat of Blackrock. It was Maher's third county championship title. Once again the 'Barr’s' were the Cork representatives in the provincial club championship and reached the final. Newmarket-on-Fergus were the opponents on that occasion; however, the game was a poor one. A 0-7 to 0-3 victory gave Maher his second Munster club title. The subsequent All-Ireland club final on St. Patrick’s weekend saw St. Finbarr’s take on the Fenians of Kilkenny. St. Finbarr’s ability to get goals at crucial times proved to be the difference in the 3-8 to 1-6 victory. It was Maher's first All-Ireland club title.

In 1977 Maher collected a fourth county championship title following a victory over north side rivals and reigning champions Glen Rovers. Once again St. Finbarr’s reached the Munster club final where Clare champions Sixmilebridge provided the opposition. An interesting game developed, however, St. Finbarr's were the easy winners by 2-8 to 0-6. It was Maher's third Munster club medal. He later lined out in the subsequent All-Ireland club final. Rathnure, the Wexford and Leinster champs, were the opponents. The first-half was a disaster for St. Finbarr’s as a gale-force wind resulted in the Cork side trailing by 0-8 to 0-1. The second thirty minutes saw St. Finbarr's take control with Jimmy Barry-Murphy scoring the deciding goal. A 2-7 to 0-9 victory gave Maher a second All-Ireland club winners' medal.

In 1980 Maher was in the autumn of his club hurling career. In spite of this he secured a fifth county title following a two-point win over Glen Rovers. A fourth Munster club winners' medal quickly followed after a 2-12 to 1-14 defeat of Roscrea. The subsequent All-Ireland final pitted Maher's St. Finbarr's side against Ballyhale Shamrocks. Maher's side were beaten on that occasion. Shortly afterwards he brought the curtain down on his club hurling career.

In retirement from the game Maher's service to the St. Finbarr's club has been described as exceptional. He became chairman of the club during a very successful period between 1987 and 1996. He later served as secretary of the club.

Inter-county

Maher's talent was spotted at an early age and in 1963 he wore a Cork jersey for the first time when he played on the minor team. Two years later in 1965 Maher won his first Cork Senior Hurling Championship medal with "the Barr's." At inter-county level he progressed onto the under-21 side and won an All-Ireland Under-21 medal in 1966. A second Cork County Championship medal followed in 1968, the same year he made his debut for the Cork senior hurling team in the National Hurling League.

In 1969 Maher won his very first NHL medal, before later claiming his first Munster Championship medal. However, Cork lost to Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Cork were back in 1970, with Maher winning his second NHL and Munster titles, as well as his only senior All-Ireland medal. In 1971 Maher's hurling skills were honoured when he was an All-Star Award-winner. In turn, he got the honour of becoming Cork's first ever all-star winner .^[3] His team-mate Ray Cummins was also honoured. Another Munster title followed in 1972, however, Cork were defeated yet again by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. He also collected his second All-Star award.^[4] Another National League title followed in 1974, before Maher claimed a third Cork County Championship medal with St. Finbarr's. This victory allowed Maher to go on and win a Munster club title, before winning his first All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship medal in early 1975. He won his fourth and final Munster title in 1975, bring his senior inter-county career to an end. He continued to play club hurling with St. Finbarr's, winning two more County Championships in 1977 and 1980, and an All-Ireland club title in 1978. His last game for St. Finbarr's was the 1981 All-Ireland club final, which they lost.

References

Teams