Pádraic Maher's word of warning for Tipp's rising stars
Allianz today announced the launch of the 2026 Allianz Football and Hurling Leagues, marking the start of a new season and their 34th year as title sponsor of the inter-county competition. As part of the announcement, Allianz also unveiled a new campaign that sees the evolution of its ‘Stop the Drop’ campaign into #KeepPlaying. Launched in 2024, ‘Stop the Drop’ was designed to address the critical issue of declining sports participation among young people. #KeepPlaying is the next phase of this initiative – championing the importance of staying involved, dealing with challenges and supporting and having the support of those around you. To bring #KeepPlaying to life, Allianz has partnered with GAA legends, Graham Geraghty and Paudie Maher – both of whom have lived the full arc of a senior county career. From Paudie Maher’s leadership during a golden era for Tipperary hurling, to Graham Geraghty’s ability to evolve his game across changing teams. Pictured at the announcement are Meath footballing legend Graham Geraghty, left, and Tipperary hurling legend Paudie Maher. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
By John Harrington
Tipperary hurling legend, Pádraic Maher, has warned the Premier County’s latest generation of rising stars that you can’t take success for granted.
Back in 2010 Maher was one of six young Tipperary hurlers along with Noel McGrath, Brendan Maher, Patrick Maher, Michael Cahill, and Seamus Hennessy who won both the All-Ireland senior and U21 finals within a week of each other.
Last year arguably the best crop the county has produced since then repeated the feat as Darragh McCarthy, Sam O’Farrell, Oisín O’Dongohue, and Paddy McCormack won All-Ireland medals in both the senior and U20 grade.
That all suggests Tipperary are well positioned to challenge for the Liam MacCarthy Cup again this year and for the rest of the decade, but Maher knows from painful experience there are no guarantees in sport.
Great things were expected from his class of 2010 but they wouldn’t win another All-Ireland until 2016.
“Exactly, it doesn't guarantee anything,” said Maher today at the launch of the 2026 Allianz Leagues.
“I remember from my own experience back in 2010, people thought we were going to win the next two or three All-Irelands at senior but it doesn't work like that.
“Especially the standards that every county is hitting now. It's great to have the success underage and giving youngsters a taste of it, but it doesn't guarantee success will keep coming, you have to stay doing the hard work.
“Darragh McCarthy is well-known now. Oisín O'Donoghue is well-known now. There are going to be more eyes on them and more opposition analysis on them. Likewise for the rest of the younger crew coming through.
“You have to step up as well yourself. What the boys done last year is probably not going to be enough this year. They're going to have to find something extra.
“It's great to have the potential there and it is looking promising but, again, we know from our own experience it doesn't guarantee success either.”
Tipperary start their 2026 season with an Allianz Hurling League Division 1A clash with Galway at FBD Semple Stadium on Saturday evening.
They started last year’s campaign with a big win over the same opponents and went all the way to the final.
Maher believes they’ll be keen to have another good rattle off the competition this year.
“I think so, yeah. The League helped them a lot last year. From Day One against Galway above in Salthill Liam Cahill got the players he wanted onto the pitch and there was only a couple of changes each day as the rounds went on. He got a bit of continuity in his team and squad and got to the League Final.
“Fair enough, they got a bit of a beating in that, but I think long-term it stood to them a lot. He got to see what his strongest 15 was from the League and I think it bore fruit for him in the championship.
“They were only beaten by Cork in the League Final and the Munster round robin and everything else other than that worked out for them. I think it suited Tipp last year and I think they'll go along similar lines this year, getting his team in order and maybe making one or two changes every week.
“I think there's a lot of importance on the League in terms of getting your team together and getting a bit of continuity because you have to be right from the very first round of the Munster Championship. I think having a strong League campaign is very important.”
Maher was a hugely proud man last year watching his brother Ronan climb the Croke Park steps and lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup as Tipperary captain.
He’d seen at close quarters how the criticism that the Tipperary team shipped in 2024 after failing to win a single Munster championship match stung his brother, so it was very satisfying to see him turn that on its head.
“It meant the world to us,” says Maher. “It was one of the proudest days we ever had up in Croke Park as a family and as Tipperary people seeing him lift the Cup.
“Seeing what he went through, him personally and the group of players the last couple of years, they took a few bad beatings in Munster and there was a lot of negativity around the place.
“To flip that on its head and come back and win an All-Ireland and for him to be captain, it was definitely one of the proudest days we've ever had in sport. Probably up there as the best.
“He's going into his fourth year this year now as captain. The first two were probably a nightmare for him and then last year was what dreams are made of. He turned it on its head, the group turned it on its head, and hopefully those good times will continue for them."
