Patrick 'Bonner' Maher's return a 'huge boost' for Tipp hurlers
Patrick Maher of Tipperary in action against Niall O’Leary of Cork during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A Round 2 match between Tipperary and Cork at Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary.
By John Harrington
Pádraic Maher’s enforced retirement on medical grounds is a huge loss for the Tipperary hurling team, but the scales are rebalanced somewhat by the imminent return to duty of Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher.
He missed the 2021 championship campaign after rupturing his Achilles and the business end of the 2019 All-Ireland winning campaign due to a torn cruciate ligament so hasn't been seen all that much in the blue and gold over the last three years.
He's back in business now though after making his competitive return to action last weekend in the Fitzgibbon Cup with TU Dublin and his fellow Lorrha-Dorrha club-man and former Tipperary manager, Ken Hogan, believes he still has a lot to offer the Premier County.
“I think it's a huge boost for everybody,” said Hogan. “It's a huge boost for his club, it's a huge boost for the county. To come back after two serious injuries...cruciate ligament injuries are one thing, but when you rupture an achilles tendon it's a savage injury to incur.
“From his point of view to get over that game last weekend in the FItzgibbon and to be playing again this week, that's the first barrier he's got to jump. He's moving well, he's in absolutely superb shape.
“People talk about age, but age to me is just a number. Patrick's endurance levels are so high so I expect him to come in and play in a big way.
“He has lost out on a couple of years so I think he's going to come back and be a huge player for Tipp. He is the ultiimate ball-winner .
“Niall O'Meara is not available this year for Tipperary so I think Patrick will slot in there and hopefully he'll get a good run without any injury problems.
“He leads by example and he's one of those warriors we still have on board.”
The Allianz Hurling League was officially launched today. This is the 30th season that Allianz has sponsored the Allianz Leagues, making it one of the longest sponsorships in Irish sport. Pictured at the launch at Lorrha-Dorrha GAA Club in Tipperary are Tipperary goalkeeper Brian Hogan, left, and his father and former Tipperary goalkeeper Ken Hogan who played in the first year of the Allianz sponsorship.
Tipperary goalkeeper Brian Hogan, son of Ken, has seen at close-quarters how his club and county colleague has left no stone unturned to return to full fitness since rupturing his Achilles in training last year.
“He's obviously done huge work,” says Hogan. “I'd meet him in the gym a good bit in Birr. One of the Birr lads owns a gym in there and he'd be in there working away the whole time doing his rehab, doing his training, always looking after his nutrition.
“I remember in 2019 when he got the cruciate injury, every night he was there in training on the spin bike at the sideline while we were training, watching us training. He was there just training away on his own. He gave us a massive boost, it was inspirational to look on at the way he trained to get back from that injury and go again this year.
“He's incredible. Nothing ever fazes him. He keeps coming, keeps coming and always wants to do more.
“Having him back is huge because he was a big loss in the half-forward line. I remember in 2019 the moves that he makes for puck-outs, it's a pleasure trying to find him with puck-outs in that half-forward line.
“The work-rate that he brings to the Tipp team is immense. It's fantastic to have him there training away, even for the young lads to see how he looks after himself and how he trains, it's great for them lads too.”
A ruptured Achilles tendon has ended many sporting careers, but Ken Hogan, who manages Maher at club-level, says he still has the athleticism to make a big impact at the highest level of the game.
“In a sense he's a freak of nature,” says Hogan. “The type of game he plays, he wins hard ball, he breaks the tackle, he's very fast, he's very strong, he wins all the fitness tests still inside with Tipperary.
“That's a great example for the young fellas who are taking him on to see this guy at this stage of his career still taking on the best. His fitness results are still outrageous, and that's a barometer of the standards that Patrick sets for himself.
“From that perspective, I think that type of man is needed in the set-up. That guy who will show that type of leadership. He's not vocal, he never was, but he leads by example. He takes the hit and he's so unselfish in his play. He's a guy who will make things happen in that forward line.
“I think he still has a lot to contribute. He can play from number eight where he's played with Lorrha in a big way, right up to number 15. I think he can settle into any of those positions and be versatile and move around where Tipperary need him most.”
