Shane McGrath (hurler)

Shane McGrath (born 12 September 1984) is an Irish hurler who played as a midfielder for the Tipperary senior team.[1]

Shane McGrath
Shane McGrath in action for Tipperary against Galway in the 2014 National Hurling League
Personal information
Irish name Seán Mac Craith
Sport Hurling
Position Midfield
Born (1984-09-12) 12 September 1984
Ballinahinch, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Occupation Primary school teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
 Ballinahinch
Club titles
Tipperary titles 0
Colleges(s)
Years College
 Limerick IT
College titles
Fitzgibbon titles 2
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2006–2015
 Tipperary 45 (0-36)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 5
All-Irelands 1
NHL 1
All Stars 2
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 19:50, 31 October 2012.

McGrath made his first appearance for the team during the 2006 National League. During his career he has won one All-Ireland winners' medals, five Munster winners' medals, one National Hurling League winners' medal, two Fitzgibbon Cup medals, two Railway Cup medals, one Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship medal and two All-Star awards. He has ended up as an All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions.

Mcgrath is known for his aerial ability, horizontal hurling and his piercing runs through the heart of any defence, in 2014 Mcgrath scored eight points from play from midfield in the All-Ireland semi-final and final. At club level along with his three brothers McGrath plays with Ballinahinch gaa club. McGrath was appointed Tipperary Senior hurling captain for the 2013 season.[2][3][4] On 17 November 2015 he announced his retirement from inter county.

Playing career

Club

McGrath plays his club hurling with his local club in Ballinahinch gaa club. He has enjoyed some success but has yet to win a senior county club championship.

University

McGrath also enjoyed much success with the Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT) in the universities and colleges series of games. In 2005 he was on the LIT team that defeated near neighbours University of Limerick in the final.

In 2007 he won a second Fitzgibbon Cup medal as the National University of Ireland, Galway were defeated by 2–15 to 0–13 in the final.[5]

McGrath also won a Ryan Cup medal as a student of Mary Immaculate College, Limerick in 2009.

Inter-county

McGrath first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary intermediate team in 2003. He enjoyed little success during his three years in this grade.

In 2004 McGrath joined the Tipperary under-21 hurling panel. He found it difficult to break onto the starting fifteen and finished his time in this grade without any major successes on the field of play.

McGrath made his senior competitive debut for Tipperary in a National Hurling League game against Limerick in 2006. Later that season he made his championship debut against the same opposition, however, Tipperary went on to lose a second successive Munster final to Cork.[6]

In 2008 Tipp remained undefeated in the National League before meeting Galway in the final. In an exciting game Tipp emerged victorious by 3-18 to 3-16 and McGrath collected his first National League winners' medal.[7] Tipperary later reached the Munster final where they defeated a resurgent Clare team by 2-21 to 0-19.[8] It was McGrath 's first Munster winners' medal. Tipperary were subsequently defeated in a tense All-Ireland semi-final by Waterford on a scoreline of 1-20 to 1-18.[9] In spite of falling short in the championship, McGrath later collected his first All-Star award.

McGrath won his second Munster medal in 2009 as Tipp defeated Waterford by 4-14 to 2-16.[10] After a six-week lay-off and a facile semi-final win over Limerick, Tipp 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.[11]

After surrendering their Munster title to Cork at the first hurdle in 2010, Tipperray regrouped in the qualifiers and reached a second successive All-Ireland decider. Kilkenny, a team chasing a fifth successive championship, provided the opposition and a great game was expected. Tipperary got off to a great start which was bolstered by an early Lar Corbett goal. He subsequently completed a hat-trick of goals and Tipperary had a fourth by Noel McGrath to deny Kilkenny's drive-for-five and secure a remarkable and convincing 4-17 to 1-18 victory.[12] It was McGrath's first All-Ireland medal in any grade.

Tipperary returned as provincial kingpins once again in 2011. A 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing of Waterford in the southern decider gave McGrath a third Munster medal.[13] For the third successive year, Tipperary faced off against Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final, however, on this occasion Kilkenny were slight underdogs going up against the new champions. Kilkenny started quickly and never surrendered the lead in the 2-17 to 1-16 victory.[14]

In spite of an indifferent National League campaign, Tipperary were regarded as potential All-Ireland champions once again. A 2-17 to 0-16 defeat of Waterford in the provincial decider gave McGrath a fourth Munster medal in five seasons.[15] Tipperary later faced a humiliating 4-24 to 1-15 defeat by eventual champions Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final.[16]

In October 2014, McGrath won his second All Stars Award after a successful 2014 campaign where Tipperary reached the All-Ireland Final.[17]

In November 2015, McGrath announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[18][19]

Inter-provincial

McGrath has also been a regular on the Munster team during various inter-provincial campaigns. He won his first Railway Cup medal in 2007 following a 2-22 to 2-19 defeat of Connacht , then won his second medal when he captained the side to glory in the semi final of the 2013 tournament but was injured for the final that year.[20]

Honours

Team
Limerick Institute of Technology
Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
  • Ryan Cup (1): 2009
Tipperary
Munster

References
  1. "Senior Hurling Panel". Tipperary GAA website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  2. "Shane McGrath new Tipperary hurling captain". Nationalist. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  3. "McGrath named as new Tipperary captain". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 19 February 2013.
  4. "McGrath honoured by Premier captaincy". Hogan Stand. 19 February 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  5. "Canning canes NUIG". Hogan Stand website. 11 March 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  6. "Cork dig deep to retain Munster championship". Hogan Stand website. 25 June 2006. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  7. "Tipp win Division One crown". Hogan Stand website. 20 April 2008. Retrieved 22 December 2008.
  8. "Munster SHC final: Tipp end seven-year wait". Hogan Stand website. 13 July 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  9. "Waterford shock Tipp to book final spot". Hogan Stand website. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  10. "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-14 Waterford 2-16". RTÉ Sport. 12 July 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
  11. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-22 Tipperary 0-23". RTÉ Sport. 6 September 2009. Archived from the original on 9 September 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  12. "RTÉ Sport: Tipperary 4-17 Kilkenny 1-18". RTÉ Sport. 5 September 2010. Archived from the original on 6 September 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010.
  13. "Tipp show appetite for destruction". Irish Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  14. "RTÉ Sport: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 1-16". RTÉ Sport. 4 September 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  15. Clerkin, Malachy (16 July 2012). "Clinical Tipperary complete first task". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  16. Moran, Seán (30 August 2012). "Kilkenny trample over Tipp tradition". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  17. "Tipperary earn more hurling All Stars than the Cats as Richie Hogan and James O'Donoghue land top awards". Irish Independent. 24 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  18. "Tipp exodus continues as Shane McGrath latest to call time on Premier career". Irish Independent. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  19. "Shane McGrath ends time with Tipperary". RTE Sport. 17 November 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2015.
  20. "RTÉ Sport: Munster 2-22 Connacht 2-19". RTÉ Sport. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Paul Curran		 Tipperary Senior Hurling Captain
2013		 Succeeded by
Brendan Maher
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