Shane McGrath (hurler)

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Shane McGrath
Personal information
Irish nameSeán Mac Craith
SportHurling
PositionMidfield
Born (1984-09-12) 12 September 1984
Ballinahinch, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
OccupationPrimary school teacher
Club(s)
YearsClub
Ballinahinch
Club Titles
Tipperary titles0
Colleges(s)
YearsCollege
Limerick IT
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles2
Inter-county(ies)*
YearsCountyApps (scores)
2006-presentTipperary33 (0-23)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles4
All Irelands1
NHL1
All Stars1
* Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 19:50, 31 October 2012.

Shane McGrath (born 12 September 1984) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a midfielder for the Tipperary senior team.[1]

McGrath made his first appearance for the team during the 2006 National League and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. During that time he has won one All-Ireland winners' medals, four Munster winners' medals, one National Hurling League winners' medal and one All-Star award. He has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

At club level McGrath plays with Ballinahinch. McGrath was appointed Tipperary Senior hurling captain for the 2013 season.[2][3][4]

Playing career

Club

McGrath plays his club hurling with his local club in Ballinahinch. He has enjoyed some success but has yet to win a senior county club championship.

University

McGrath also enjoyed much success with the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in the universities and colleges series of games. In 2005 he was on the LIT team that defeated near neighbours University of Limerick in the final.

In 2007 he won a second Fitzgibbon Cup medal as the National University of Ireland, Galway were defeated by 2–15 to 0–13 in the final.[5]

McGrath also won a Ryan Cup medal as a student of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick in 2009.

Inter-county

McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary intermediate team in 2003. He enjoyed little success during his three years in this grade.

In 2004 McGrath joined the Tipperary under-21 hurling panel. He found it difficult to break onto the starting fifteen and finished his time in this grade without any major successes on the field of play.

McGrath made his senior competitive debut for Tipperary in a National Hurling League game against Limerick in 2006. Later that season he made his championship debut against the same opposition, however, Tipperary went on to lose a second successive Munster final to Cork.[6]

In 2008 Tipp remained undefeated in the National League before meeting Galway in the final. In an exciting game Tipp emerged victorious by 3-18 to 3-16 and McGrath collected his first National League winners' medal.[7] Tipperary later reached the Munster final where they defeated a resurgent Clare team by 2-21 to 0-19.[8] It was McGrath 's first Munster winners' medal. Tipperary were subsequently defeated in a tense All-Ireland semi-final by Waterford on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-18.[9] In spite of falling short in the championship, McGrath later collected his first All-Star award.

McGrath won his second Munster medal in 2009 as Tipp defeated Waterford by 4-14 to 2-16.[10] After a six-week lay-off and a facile semi-final win over Limerick, Tipp qualified for an All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. For much of the match it looked as if Tipp would pull off a shock and deny 'the Cats' a record-equaling four-in-a-row. Two quick goals in the space of a minute, one from a penalty by Henry Shefflin, sealed a 2-22 to 0-23 victory and defeat for Tipperary.[11]

After surrendering their Munster title to Cork at the first hurdle in 2010, Tipperray regrouped in the qualifiers and reached a second successive All-Ireland decider. Kilkenny, a team chasing an unprecedented fifth successive championship, provided the opposition and a great game was expected. Tipperary got off to a great start which was bolstered by an early Lar Corbett goal. He subsequently completed a hat-trick of goals and Tipperary had a fourth by Noel McGrath to deny Kilkenny's drive-for-five and secure a remarkable and convincing 4-17 to 1-18 victory.[12] It was McGrath's first All-Ireland medal in any grade.

Tipperary returned as provincial kingpins once again in 2011. A 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing of Waterford in the southern decider gave McGrath a third Munster medal.[13] For the third successive year, Tipperary faced off against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.[14]

In spite of an indifferent National League campaign, Tipperary were regarded as potential All-Ireland champions once again. A 2-17 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford in the provincial decider gave McGrath a fourth Munster medal in five seasons.[15] Tipperary later faced a humiliating 4-24 to 1-15 defeat by eventual champions Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.[16]

Inter-provincial

McGrath has also been a regular on the Munster team during various inter-provincial campaigns. He won his sole Railway Cup medal in 2007 following a 2-22 to 2-19 defeat of Connacht.[17]

Honours

Team

Limerick Institute of Technology
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
  • Ryan Cup (1): 2009
Tipperary
Munster
  • Inter-provincial Championship (1): 2007

References

  1. ↑ "Senior Hurling Panel". Tipperary GAA website. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Shane McGrath new Tipperary hurling captain". Nationalist. Retrieved 19 February 2013. 
  3. ↑ "McGrath named as new Tipperary captain". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 February 2013. 
  4. ↑ "McGrath honoured by Premier captaincy". Hogan Stand. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013. 
  5. ↑ "Canning canes NUIG". Hogan Stand website. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2012. 
  6. ↑ "Cork dig deep to retain Munster championship". Hogan Stand website. 25 June 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2008. 
  7. ↑ "Tipp win Division One crown". Hogan Stand website. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008. 
  8. ↑ "Munster SHC final: Tipp end seven-year wait". Hogan Stand website. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Waterford shock Tipp to book final spot". Hogan Stand website. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 
  10. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-14 Waterford 2-16". RTÉ Sport. 12 July 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009. 
  11. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-22 Tipperary 0-23". RTÉ Sport. 6 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
  12. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-17 Kilkenny 1-18". RTÉ Sport. 5 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Tipp show appetite for destruction". Irish Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
  14. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16". RTÉ Sport. 4 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011. 
  15. ↑ Clerkin, Malachy (16 July 2012). "Clinical Tipperary complete first task". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
  16. ↑ Moran, Seán (30 August 2012). "Kilkenny trample over Tipp tradition". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012. 
  17. ↑ "RTÉ Sport: Munster 2-22 Connacht 2-19". RTÉ Sport. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012. 


Sporting positions
Preceded by
Paul Curran		 Tipperary Senior Hurling Captain
2013 		Succeeded by
Brendan Maher


2008 All-Star Hurling Team
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