Sonny Maher Explained

Code:Hurling
Sport:Hurling
Martin Maher
Irish:Máirtín Ó Meachair
Feet:5
Inches:11
Nickname:Sonny
Occupation:Farmer
County:Tipperary
Province:Munster
Club:Boherlahan–Dualla
Clposition:Full forward
Clcounty:1
Counties:Tipperary
Icposition:Full-forward
Icyears:1943-1952
Icprovince:3
Icallireland:3
Nhl:3
Birth Date:10 November 1921
Birth Place:Nodstown,
County Tipperary, Ireland
Death Place:Dublin, Ireland

Martin Joseph Maher (10 November 1921 - 11 February 1999) was an Irish hurler. At club level he played with Boherlahan–Dualla and was also a member of the Tipperary senior hurling team.

Career

Maher's hurling career began as a schoolboy when, in 1934, he was a member of the Ballytarsna team that won the initial rural juvenile title.[1] He later joined the Boherlahan–Dualla club and won a Tipperary SHC title in 1941.[2] Maher continued to line out at club level until 1956, by which time he had also won two Mid Tipperary SHC titles.[3]

Maher never played in the minor or junior grades with Tipperary, but joined the senior team in 1943. After a period away from the team he was recalled and lined out at full-forward when Tipperary won three successive All-Ireland SHC titles from 1949 to 1951.[4] Maher also won three successive Munster SHC medals and three National League titles before his inter-county career ended in 1952.[5]

Personal life

Maher was born in Nodstown, County Tipperary in November 1921. His uncle, Mikey Maher, won five All-Ireland SHC medals with Tipperary and became the first player to captain a team to three All-Ireland victories. His father, Jack Maher, also won All-Ireland honours in 1898, while his cousin, Michael Maher, played with Holycross-Ballycahill and won five All-Ireland medals with Tipperary between 1958 and 1965.[6]

Maher died after a period of ill health at St. Vincent's Hospital in Dublin on 11 February 1999, aged 77.[7]

Honours

Boherlahan–Dualla

1941

1941, 1953

Tipperary

1949, 1950, 1951

1949, 1950, 1951

1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sonny Maher. Boherlahan-Dualla website. 9 December 2016. 23 August 2022.
  2. Web site: Boherlahan – 1941 Senior County Champions. Boherlahan-Dualla website. 3 April 2017. 23 August 2022.
  3. Web site: Club history. Boherlahan-Dualla GAA website. 23 August 2022.
  4. Web site: Tipperary profile. Hogan Stand. 23 August 2022.
  5. Web site: Senior hurling. Munster GAA website. 23 August 2022.
  6. Web site: Commanding Michael Maher was Tipp’s rock. Irish Examiner. 9 March 2017. 23 August 2022.
  7. Web site: Boherlahan mourns a Tipp hurling legend. The Nationalist. 20 February 1999. 23 August 2022.