Tipperary's Pádraic Maher tackles Kilkenny's Liam Blanchfield during the 2016 All-Ireland SHC Final.
By John Harrington
Pádraic Maher was such a force of nature on a hurling pitch even his own Tipperary team-mates were nervous about getting too close to him during training matches.
Jake Morris was still a minor minor when he first saw Maher in action at close quarters, and the Thurles Sarsfields made such an impression that when Morris joined the Tipp senior panel two years later he resolved to steer clear of the defensive colossus.
“We played the minor All-Ireland (semi-final) in 2016 and were sitting down in the Hogan Stand after,” says Morris.
“Padraic Maher nailed Joe Canning a shoulder across the line out in front of us. I’ll never forget the crunch of it, that shoulder that day.
“I was called into the Tipp team in 2018 and I remember thinking to myself as a light 18-year old that I’d better not go near Padraic Maher or he’ll throw me out over line. That was my fond memory of him. That shoulder, which was the turning point that day. There’s numerous memories, he was such a good hurler for Tipperary.”
Morris first became aware of Maher’s retirement on medical grounds when the three-time All-Ireland winner announced it in the Tipperary team’s WhatsApp group group and admits the news came as an unpleasant surprise.
“I woke up to a bit of a shock because I knew Paudie was mad to get back and so it must have been a big setback for him,” says Morris.
“Having to step away from hurling is a big whammy for him. I’m sure he would have liked to play another couple of years. I think everyone can agree he was so comfortable last year playing with Thurles and Tipperary that it was a big shock to the system but that’s life, isn’t it?”
Tipperary hurler, Jake Morris.
Maher was a hugely inspirational figure for his team-mates and Morris believes it’s now up to everyone else in the panel to live up to the very high standards the Sarsfields man set on a routine basis.
“If you look back at Paudie Maher he would probably have made any Tipperary team ever, he was such a monster at wing back or anywhere else he lined out,” says Morris.
“Honest to God, I can’t remember him having a bad day at the office, constant nine out of 10s for Tipperary over the years. He’s set standards for us inside, showing us how to train every night and how to look after your body, how to attack a match on match day in front of 40,000 people.
“Everyone has massive respect for him and we wish him all the best and we’re going to try our best to continue his legacy. I’m sure Ronan (his brother) will do his best anyway. He’s an unbelievable man and what a hurler he was for Tipperary and Thurles Sarsfields.
“He showed us the standard and it is up to us now to continue that on for him.
“We have competitive squad inside in Tipp and I think everyone just needs to raise the levels a small bit to fill Paudie’s void from now on because it’s going to be a big void but together if we get up the standard of the way he trains and played, we will be in a good spot.”
