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Patrick "Bonnar" Maher (born 12 October 1989) is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a centre-forward for the Tipperary senior team.

Maher joined the team straight out of the minor grade during the 2009 championship, however, he didn't become a regular member of the starting fifteen until the following year. Since then he has won one All-Ireland winners' medal and two Munster winners' medals. He has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasion.

At club level Maher is a one-time county intermediate championship medalist with Lorrha-Dorrha.

Playing career

Club

Maher has enjoyed some success with the Lorrha-Dorrha club.

In 2007 he won a county intermediate championship medal following a 3-9 to 1-13 defeat of Ballina.

Minor and under-21

Maher first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor team in 2007. He won a Munster medal in this grade that year following an 0-18 to 1-11 defeat of Cork. Tipp subsequently defeated Kilkenny to qualify for the All-Ireland final. Cork, the defeated Munster finalists, provided the opposition and a high-scoring game developed over the course of the hour. At the full-time whistle Tipp were the champions by 3-14 to 2-11 and Maher added an All-Ireland medal to his collection.

Maher subsequently graduated onto the Tipperary under-21 hurling team. In 2010 Tipp defeated Clare in the provincial decider by 1-22 to 1-17, giving Maher his first Munster under-21 winners' medal. Tipp subsequently qualified for an All-Ireland meeting with Galway, however, the game turned into an absolute rout as Tipperary powered to a 5-21 to 0-11 victory. It was Maher's first All-Ireland under-21 winners' medal.

Senior

Maher made his Senior inter-county debut for Tipperary against Waterford in the 2009 Waterford Crystal Cup, lining out at left half-forward, and scored a goal against Clare in the 2009 Waterford Crystal Cup Final. He made his debut in the National Hurling League in February 2009, lining out at centre-forward against Waterford and scoring a point in a 2–13 to 1–12 Tipperary victory. Maher went on to make his Championship debut at left half-forward on 3 July 2010 against Wexford in the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Qualifiers, scoring two points from play.

On 5 September 2010, Maher started at left half-forward as Tipperary won their 26th All Ireland title, beating reigning champions Killkenny by 4–17 to 1–18 in the final, preventing Kilkenny from achieving an historic 5-in-a-row, it was Maher's first All-Ireland winners medal. Six day's later on 11 September 2010, Tipperary clinched the All Ireland Under-21 title by defeating Galway by 5–22 to 0–12 at Semple Stadium, with Maher starting at centre half forward and scoring a goal in the second half. Patrick was nominated for an All-star award in 2010/2011 and 2012. GAA/GPA player of the month for June 2012. Munster senior hurling Player of the Year 2012.

Honours

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2010
  • Runner-up (2): 2009,2011
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (3): 2009,2011,2012
  • Runner-up (0):
• National Hurling League:
  • Winner (0):
  • Runner-up (1):2009
• All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2010
  • Runner-up (1): 2008
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (2): 2008, 2010
• All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2007
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship:
  • Winner (1): 2007

References

1. "Profile: Patrick Maher". Hurling Stats webiste. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
2. "Rebel goals rattle Tipp". Irish Examiner. 2007-07-09. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
3. "Dunne: Minor must get time to develop". Irish Examiner. 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2009-08-15.
4. "Tipperary settle after early Clare blitz and finish strongly". Irish Times. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-07-31.
5. "Tipperary claim Under-21 hurling crown". RTÉ Sport. 2010-09-11. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
6. "Tipperary hurlers too strong for Wexford". Irish Examiner. Thomas Crosbie Holdings. 2010-07-03. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
7. Breheny, Martin (2010-09-06). "Rampant Tipp deny Cats immortality". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2010-09-08.
8. Lawlor, Damian (2010-09-12). "Five-star Tipp cruise to title". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 2010-09-20.

Template:Persondata

• 1989 births
• Living people
• Lorrha-Dorrha hurlers
• Tipperary GAA hurlers
• Winners of one All-Ireland medal (hurling)
• Sportspeople from County Tipperary