Maher determined to seize the day

AS Brendan Maher, 21 years old and with all the youthful confidence that comes with that age, was walking in to meet the assembled media last week in advance of Sunday’s All-Ireland senior hurling final, he had to wait a few minutes for Brendan Cummins to finish in the hot-chair, listened as the veteran of the Tipp team outlined his own disappointment at having just one All-Ireland medal to show for a career that stretches back through 61 championship matches in 16 championship seasons.

It gave the younger Brendan pause for thought; the older Brendan’s medal came in 2001, seven years after he had made his debut, in his second All-Ireland final appearance — nine barren seasons since then.

This is Maher’s second senior season, his second All-Ireland final appearance, but, hearing what Cummins had to say, he knows only too well – even in a traditionally strong hurling county like Tipperary — these chances don’t come every year.