Pádraic Maher 'leaves the game as a superhuman

Two-time All-Ireland winning defender Paddy Stapleton has paid tribute to his retiring former teammate Pádraic Maher, who he describes as "irreplaceable".

"He is irreplaceable," Stapleton told RTE Sport, "and the real heartbreak here is that he can’t go back and play with his club because of the neck injury."

Stapleton himself retired from the inter-county game after a decorated career with two celtic crosses and six Munster medals.

He soldiered alongside and behind Maher for several seasons in the Tipp defence and though he was older than the Thurles Sarsfields giant, Stapleton says he looked up to him from the start.

"When I went from the inter-county scene, I at least got to go back and give everything with my club and that’s the real pity for Paudie.

"But he leaves the game as a superhuman. His loss won’t be felt by just Tipp people – but hurling people in general. We talk about Brian Whelahan, Tommy Walsh and JJ (Delaney) as the great defenders, but Paudie is there too.

"I’m in shock here. The news is actually shocking for the game in general, not just us in Tipp. I think back to 2009 when he burst through and there are thousands of hurling supporters out there who don’t know hurling without Paudie Maher. And the game will be all the worse for not having him."

Stapleton still clearly remembers the first night he came across the Thurles Sars star.

"We were in Dr Morris Park training early in 2009 and he was there training with a cast on his wrist. I knew then he had something special. I think in an internal game he threw Lar Corbett out of his way and caught the ball. I remember thinking on the way into the dressing room that was one position in the backs one already. All of this was just after one training session! He was