Micheál Webster

Micheál Webster (born 1 August 1977) is an Irish hurler and Gaelic footballer who played as a full-forward for the Tipperary senior team.

Webster made his first appearance for the Tipperary senior football team during the 2003 National League and was a regular dual player until his retirement after the 2009 hurling championship. During that time he won two Munster hurling medals. He has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.

At club level Webster is a dual county senior championship medalist with Loughmore-Castleiney.

Playing career

Club

Webster plays his club hurling and football with Loughmore-Castleiney and has enjoyed much success.

In 2004 he was a key member of the Loughmore senior football team that reached the county championship decider. Moyle Rovers were the opponents, however, a 0-9 to 0-6 victory gave Webster a coveted county football championship medal.^[1]

Three years later 2007 Webster was on the Loughmore-Castleiney team that reached the county hurling championship final. Drom-Inch provided the opposition, however, the game turned into a rout and was a largely disappointing affair due to its one-sided nature. A 0-22 to 0-13 victory gave Webster a county hurling championship medal.^[2] Loughmore-Castleiney later reached the provincial final against Tulla. In atrocious conditions Loughmore-Castleiney emerged the winners by 1-6 to 0-7 giving Webster a Munster medal.^[3]

Inter-county

Webster first came to prominence on the inter-count scene as a member of the Tipperary junior football team during an unsuccessful campaign in 2002.

The following year Webster joined the Tipp senior football team. He made his debut as a substitute in a National League game against Waterford and was used on a regular basis during the rest of the campaign.

In 2004 he made his championship debut with the Tipperary senior football team when he came on as a substitute in a defeat by Limerick.

By 2005 Webster had joined the Tipperary senior hurling team. He made his debut in a National League game against Down that year, and immediately became a regular member of the team.

After losing back-to-back Munster finals to Cork in 2005 and 2006 and a disastrous season in 2007, things began to change for Tipp in 2009. Tipperary qualified for the Munster final that year where they defeated a resurgent Clare team by 2-21 to 0-19.^[4] Webster collected his first Munster medal that day, however, Tipperary were subsequently defeated in a tense All-Ireland semi-final by Waterford on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-18.^[5] Cummins was once again presented with an All-Star award.

In 2009 Webster won his second Munster medal as Tipp defeated Waterford by 4-14 to 2-16.^[6] After a six-week lay-off and a facile semi-final win over Limerick, Tipperary 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.^[7]

References