Ronan Maher

Maher first came to prominence as a hurler with Thurles CBS. He played in every grade before eventually joining the college's senior team and lined out in several Harty Cup campaigns.[2]

During his studies at Mary Immaculate College, Maher was selected for the college's senior hurling team during his second year. On 27 February 2016, he lined out at right wing-back when Mary Immaculate College faced the University of Limerick in the Ftzgibbon Cup final. Maher ended the game with a winners' medal following the 1-30 to 3-22 victory.[3]

On 25 February 2017, Maher again lined out at centre-back when Mary Immaculate College qualified for a second successive Ftzgibbon Cup final. He scored four points, including three from frees, and claimed a second successive winners' medal after a 3-24 to 1-19 defeat of the Carlow Institute of Technology.[4]

Maher joined the Thurles Sarsfields club at a young age and played in all grades at juvenile and underage levels. He won four Tipperary Under-21 Championship medals with the club between 2012 and 2016. Maher was added to the Thurles Sarsfields senior team for the 2012 Tipperary Senior Championship.

On 14 October 2012, Maher was a non-playing substitute when Thurles Sarsfields faced Drom-Inch in the final. He remained on the bench for the entire game but ended with a winners' medal following a 1-21 to 2-15 victory.[5] On 25 November 2012, Maher won a Munster Championship medal when he came on as an injury-time substitute in the 1-21 to 1-16 defeat of De La Salle.[6]

After surrendering their titles in 2013, Maher lined out in a second final on 2 November 2014. He claimed a second winners' medal, his first on the field of play, when he lined out at right wing-back following Thurles Sarsfields 2-22 to 3-11 defeat of reigning champions Loughmore-Castleiney.[7]

On 25 October 2015, Maher was at left wing-back when Thurles Sarsfields faced Nenagh Éire Óg in the Tipperary Senior Championship final. He ended the game with a third winners' medal following the 1-18 to 3-11 victory.[8]

Maher lined out at left wing-back when Thurles Sarsfields faced Kiladangan in the Tipperary Senior Championship final. He ended the game as man of the match in the 0-27 to 1-15 victory.[9]

On 8 October 2017, Maher lined out at right wing-back in a fourth successive final. He scored a point from play and ended the game with a fifth winners' medal following the 1-24 to 0-11 defeat of Borris-Ileigh.[10]

Maher was just 16-years-old when he was selected for the Tipperary minor hurling team in advance of the 2012 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 2 May 2012 when he lined out at right wing-back in a 6-21 to 0-11 defeat of Kerry.[11] On 15 July 2012, Ronan won a Munster Championship medal when he lined out at left corner-back in a 1-16 to 1-12 defeat of Clare in the final.[12] He was switched to right corner-back when Tipperary drew 2-13 to 1-16 with Dublin in the All-Ireland final.[13] Maher was again at right corner-forward for the replay on 30 September 2012. He ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following the 2-18 to 1-11 victory.[14]

Maher was switched to centre-back for the 2013 Munster Championship. He played his last game on the grade on 26 June 2013 in a 1-17 to 0-17 defeat by Limerick on 26 June 2013.

Maher joined the Tipperary under-21 hurling panel in advance of the 2014 Munster Championship. He made his first appearance for the team on 16 July 2014 when he lined out at right wing-back in a 5-19 to 1-25 defeat by Clare.[15]

After a disappointing 2015 Munster Championship, Maher was selected for the under-21 team for a third successive season in 2016. On 27 July, he lined out at right wing-back in a 2-19 to 0-15 defeat by Waterford in the Munster final.[16]

On 12 January 2014, Maher made his competitive debut for the Tipperary senior team in a 3-20 to 0-05 defeat of the Limerick Institute of Technology in the Waterford Crystal Cup.[17] He claimed a winners' medal in that competition on 7 February 2014,as Tipperary defeated Clare by 4-22 to 3-11 in the decider.[18] Maher made his National League debut on 15 February 2014 when he came on as a 59th-minute substitute for James Woodlock in a 2-13 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford.[19] On 4 May 2014, he was an unused substitute when Tipperary suffered a 2-25 to 1-27 defeat by Kilkenny in the National League final.[20]

On 12 July 2015, Maher was selected at left wing-back when Tipperary faced Waterford in the Munster final. He ended the game with a winners' medal following the 0-21 to 0-16 victory.[21]

Maher claimed a second successive Munster Championship medal on 10 July 2016 after lining out at centre-back in a 5-19 to 0-13 defeat of Waterford in the final.[22] On 5 September 2016, he again lined out at centre-back for Tipperary's All-Ireland final meeting with Kilkenny. Maher ended the game with an All-Ireland medal following a 2-29 to 2-20 victory.[23] He ended the season by winning an All-Star award.[24]

On 23 April 2017, Maher lined out at centre-back in his first National League final. He ended the game on the losing side after scoring two points in the 3-21 to 0-14 defeat by Galway.[25]

Maher played in a second consecutive National League final on 8 April 2018. Lining out at centre-back, he ended the game on the losing side following a 2-23 to 2-17 defeat by Kilkenny.[26]

On 30 June 2019, Maher lined out at left wing-back and scored two points from play when Tipperary suffered a 2-26 to 2-14 defeat by Limerick in the Munster final.[27] On 18 August 2019, he was selected at full-back when Tipperary faced Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final. Maher ended the game with a second All-Ireland winners' medal following the 3-25 to 0-20 victory.[28] He ended the season by being named in the full-back position on the All-Star team.[29]