Paddy Stapleton

Patrick "Paddy" Stapleton (born 3 August 1985) is an Irish hurler who played as a right corner-back for the Tipperary senior team from 2006 until 2016.[1]

Paddy Stapleton
Personal information
Irish name Pádraig Mac an Ghaill
Sport Hurling
Position Right corner-back
Born (1985-08-03) 3 August 1985
Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Ireland
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Nickname Saint
Occupation Teacher
Club(s)
Years Club
 Borris-Ileigh
Club titles
Tipperary titles 1
Munster titles 1
Inter-county(ies)*
Years County Apps (scores)
2006- 2016
 Tipperary 28 (0-01)
Inter-county titles
Munster titles 6
All-Irelands 2
NHL 1
All Stars 0
*Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 12:38, 30 October 2012.

Stapleton made his first appearance for the team during the 2007 Waterford Crystal Cup and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. During that time he has won two All-Ireland winners' medals and six Munster winners' medals.

At club level Stapleton is a three-time North Tipperary medalist with Borris-Ileigh. He had the honour of captaining the side to victory over Nenagh Éire Óg in the 2017 decider.

Playing career

Club

Stapleton plays his club hurling with the Borris-Ileigh club and has enjoyed some success. After enjoying little success at underage levels, he graduated onto the senior team where he won North Tipperary county titles in 2005, 2007 and 2017. On 24/09/2017, Stapleton guided his club to their first Tipperary Senior Hurling Championship decider since 1988 having defeated Drom-Inch in the semi final. His side were subsequently defeated in the decider by Thurles Sarsfields.

On 3 November 2019, Borris-Ileigh won their first Tipperary Championship since 1986 with a 1-15 to 1-12 win over Kiladangan in the final.[2]

Munster honours followed on 24 November 2019, when Stapleton and his Borris-Ileigh teammates, against the odds, defeated Ballygunner to claim the club' s second Munster Club title and first since 1986.

Minor & under-21

Stapleton first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Tipperary minor hurling team in 2003. He collected a Munster winners' medal that year following a 2-12 to 0-16 defeat of Cork.[3] Stapleton's side, however, were later defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Three years later in 2006 Stapleton was a key fixture on the Tipperary under-21 hurling team. He was in his final year on the team when he secured a Munster winners' medal in that grade following a 3-11 to 0-13 defeat of Cork. Tipp were later qualified for the All-Ireland final against Kilkenny. After a thrilling 2-14 apiece draw, both sides met for a replay which Kilkenny narrowly won by 1-11 to 0-11.[4]

Senior

Stapleton made his senior competitive debut for Tipperary against Waterford in the pre-season Waterford Crystal Cup in 2006. He made his National Hurling League debut against Limerick in 2008, coming on as a substitute. He remained a fringe player for the next few years, coming on as a blood substitute in the All-Ireland semi-final defeat by Waterford in 2008 to make his Championship debut.

In 2009 Stapleton was included on Tipperary's championship starting fifteen for the very first time against Cork. He won his first Munster medal that year as Tipp defeated Waterford by 4-14 to 2-16.[5] After a six-week lay-off and a facile semi-final win over Limerick, a game which saw Stapleton pick up the man of the match award, 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.[6] Following the completion of the championship Stapleton was nominated for the All Star Team and Opel Gaelic Players' Association Team of the Year.[7]

Stapleton remained as Tipperary's first-choice right corner-back once again in 2010. After surrendering their Munster title to Cork, 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.[8] It was Stapleton's first All-Ireland winners' medal.

Tipperary returned as provincial kingpins once again in 2011. A 7-19 to 0-19 trouncing of Waterford in the southern decider gave Stapleton a second Munster medal.[9] 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.[10] In 2012 Stapleton lost his place on Tipperary's starting fifteen.

On 22 November 2016, Stapleton announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[11] In a statement he said " Following ten wonderful years playing senior hurling for Tipperary since first being called up by Babs Keating in 2006, which had until then been a lifelong dream, I wish to announce my retirement from the inter-county scene, I wish to thank my family, especially my parents Patricia and John, for all the positivity and advice through the years and also to my partner Jozette and close friends for supporting me always, particularly when I had injury setbacks. I owe a huge gratitude of thanks to the Principal and my fellow staff members of Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed Secondary School, Thurles, who facilitated me in any way they could during my time with the county."[12][13][14]

Honours

Team
Borris-Ileigh
Tipperary
Individual
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References
  1. "Senior Hurling Panel". Tipperary GAA website. Archived from the original on 17 August 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  2. "Borris-Illeigh 1-15 Kiladangan 1-12". Irish Examiner. 3 November 2019. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
  3. "Munster Minor Hurling Final Winning Teams". Munster GAA. Archived from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  4. "Tipp shut out as Kilkenny power home". Irish Times. 17 September 2006. Retrieved 17 September 2008.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. "Hurling All Star nominations revealed". RTÉ Sport. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  8. "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.
  9. "Tipp show appetite for destruction". Irish Times. 10 July 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  10. "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.
  11. "Paddy Stapleton announces Tipperary retirement". Irish Examiner. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  12. "Tipperary star Paddy Stapleton has announced his retirement from inter-county hurling". Irish Independent. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  13. "Two-time Tipperary All-Ireland senior hurling medalist Stapleton has retired". The 42. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  14. "Paddy Stapleton Retirement Announcement". Tipperary GAA. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.


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