Patrick 'Bonner' Maher eager to see Tipperary's next generation progress

A winner of three All-Irelands and two All-Stars, Patrick ‘Bonner’ Maher has seen and done it all in a Tipperary jersey.

The former Tipperary hurler was part of some incredible moments in the Premier County’s hurling history, and there could be more on the way for the next generation.

The U-20s won the All-Ireland title against Kilkenny last weekend, while Liam Cahill’s senior side has turned a corner this season.

After reaching the Division 1A final, a third-place finish in Munster, helped by wins over Clare and Waterford and a draw against Limerick, means their championship campaign continues.

Having played with some of the younger players who are now making their mark in the senior squad, Maher is excited by what’s to come.

"Last year, there were definitely green shoots. You could see it in and around the Tipp panel. We are beginning to see more and more of those shoots now.

"Look, there is a really good mix at the moment, a strong intertwining in Tipperary. It reminds me of my younger days when the older lads didn’t like marking me in training.

"Senior lads now like Noel McGrath, Mikey Breen, Ronan Maher, they can show the young guys the ropes. All credit is due to James Woodlock and Brendan Cummins for keeping the pipeline going and getting the boys up to their potential.

“They went after it early in the year. They put in a good block of work, kept their heads down, and kept tipping away. We all know how competitive Munster is. It just goes to show: Clare and Waterford are out of the All-Ireland series.

“Tipp put in the work, kept their heads down, and did what they needed to do to squeeze through. I'm sure they’re looking forward to the next couple of weeks and getting back involved in the Liam MacCarthy series.”

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