Ronan Maher became Thurles Sars' backseat driver

There was surgery, a recovery timeline, and a rehab schedule, but absolutely no guarantees. Tick the boxes week-by-week and pray that the calendar and body eventually align.

Maher’s blue role would not be his usual commanding from No.6. His role would be to infiltrate the mindset of the younger personnel coming into a drastically changed Thurles teamsheet and convince them they were capable of stepping up.

Compare Thurles' starting team from their final group game of a short-lived 2025 championship campaign to the 15 that began their 2026 county championship opener and you'll find only seven survivors.

Euan Murray was an All-Ireland winning Tipp minor in 2024. Kieran Rossiter was a Tipp minor in 2025. Both were part of the Thurles CBS side that secured All-Ireland Colleges glory in the spring of last year. Both teenagers graduated into the Thurles Sars line-up this summer.

Keith Loughnane was a Tipp minor in '23. Used off the bench by Pádraic Maher last summer, the still-U20 defender was given the No.5 shirt for the current campaign.

Midfielder Daniel Rossiter, 21, and half-forward Aidan Stakelum, 22, are two more of the new crop to come through and be given their first-team opportunity.

“You have to drive the lads on,” Ronan said of his dressing-room use while not able to contribute inside the whitewash.

“Lots of young lads out there today for whom it is their first year on the team and the panel, so just to give them support and help them in any way possible at training.

“Even though you are not alongside them the whole time, it is important that you are in the dressing-room beside them driving them on, filling them with belief.” 

After a 2025 season where Thurles Sars failed to emerge from the group phase for the first time since 2019 and the blow of losing Maher on the eve of the ‘26 championship, newcomers were afforded little time to bed in. Immediate impact was required. Impact was indeed immediate.

“They pushed us all on and really improved the set-up,” Maher continued. “Keith Loughnane, Cian Stakelum made a massive jump and has been brilliant for us all year, Aidan [Stakelum] is there, Euan Murray and Kieran Rossiter are younger again, they are really good and have driven us on again. I am delighted for them to get their first county medal under their belt.” 

Back to Maher and his injury. His five-minute cameo at the end of the semi-final win over Nenagh on September 26 marked his return to action. There was another 15 minutes banked in Sunday’s county final victory.

The 31-year-old said his recovery still has boxes to tick, but he was delighted to participate in a fixture he thought might pass him by.

“I didn't know if I was going to cut it [for the final], but in fairness to this group of players they drove it on. I was lucky enough just to get onto the pitch for a few minutes and try and help them get over the line.

“After I broke my ankle, I got the operation and we pushed on from there. I tried to tick every box every week that was going by. That is all you can do, keep tipping away at the small boxes. I still have a few bits to do, but I was just thrilled to get onto the pitch for a few minutes.” 

Onto the pitch and onto the scoresheet. The 2025 All-Ireland winning captain was introduced at full-forward and provided their last score of a comprehensive 1-19 to 1-11 final win when slotting a 59th-minute free.

“A token gesture,” he quipped of the free. “The boys were all gone back the field, so I just put the ball over the bar.

“We know we have the quality, it was just about digging it out on the day. The boys were unreal. I was lucky to join them for a few minutes.” 

With five weeks to their Munster semi-final, against either Inagh-Kilnamona, Glen Rovers, or St Finbarr’s, the now proven younger brigade will be joined by Maher for a lot longer than a few minutes next time around.