Christy O'Connor: Thurles Sarsfields grow and mature in Ronan Maher’s absence

Four months on from it looking like their season had gone up in smokes, Thurles Sarsfields are Tipp chamions

Ronan Maher returned to action for Thurles Sarsfields in Sunday's Tipperary SHC final victory over Moycarkey-Borris. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

When Thurles Sarsfields played De La Salle from Waterford in a challenge game in mid-June, the exercise couldn’t have turned out any worse than it did. Ronan Maher, Tipperary captain and Sars’ most decorated player suffered a horrendous leg injury that looked set to end his season.

Sars have had to deal with huge injury losses in recent years, from Pádraic Maher to Micky Cahill to Billy McCarthy. Losing Tipp’s 2025 All-Ireland winning captain was another huge setback but Pádraic Maher, Sars manager, was speaking from experience when he told the players in the dressing room after that De La Salle match that they had no other option but to move on.