Brendan Maher: Tipp can take nothing for granted, even after All-Ireland glory
Brendan Maher and Patrick Horgan both took part in Monday's Hurling for Cancer Research game in Carlow. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie
Former All-Ireland winning Tipperary captain Brendan Maher has warned that there are no guarantees his county will even advance beyond the Munster championship in 2026.
Maher captained Tipp to success in 2016 and was on the team that won again in 2019 but the county suffered a considerable dip immediately afterwards, failing to make it back to Croke Park until this summer.
Three-time All-Star Maher said Croke Park has always been a special place for Tipp teams, including his own, who felt they 'had a new lease of life' at the venue but getting there has been the hard part.
Speaking after participating in Monday evening's Hurling for Cancer Research charity game in Carlow alongside current Tipp stars including Darragh McCarthy and Noel McGrath, Maher said 2026 will see Tipp start at the foot of the ladder again.
"It's hard to see anything beyond trying to get a couple of wins in Munster and trying to get out of Munster," said Maher. "You saw what happened to Clare this year - it's going to be just as difficult for Tipp next year. You have a tough task playing Cork in the first round with the way the fixtures are. So I think the goal is just to get out of Munster whatever way you can and then hopefully have a crack at the All-Ireland again.
"But there are no guarantees. That's the beauty of the Munster championship. The All-Ireland win was this year, yes, but next year is going to be a case of starting all over again. Nothing is deserved or guaranteed and you have some great teams all around Munster."
Tipp took care of Kilkenny and Cork when they finally returned to Croke Park in this season's Championship.
"It probably was something that we would have referenced, that we felt that once we got up to Croke Park that we had a new lease of life and that it did give us a bit of fresh energy," said Maher, who called it quits after the 2021 season.
"You were getting up to the big stage and you felt like you were getting towards the business end of the Championship. Yeah, I think the experienced lads especially this year would have felt that, 'Once we get back up there, we'll be comfortable'. And I think the younger lads would have fed off that. Obviously it was six years waiting, that's a long time, but I do think that experience that the boys would have had helped a lot of the newer, younger lads."
Borris-Ileigh man Maher described McCarthy, who fired 1-13 in the All-Ireland decider, just his seventh Championship appearance, as a 'special talent' for Tipp.
"He's a great young lad and his attitude is what makes him so special," said Maher. "Hopefully he has a long period ahead of him in the blue and gold."
Maher confirmed that he will continue as a selector with Offaly for the 2026 season.
"I'll still be involved, that'll be my fourth year with them," he nodded. "They're a great bunch of players, some of them were playing in the Hurling for Cancer Research game as well. You would have seen Adam Screeney, Brian Duignan, Dan Bourke was on the line, he didn't come on because he's nursing a bit of an injury, and Liam Hoare went into goals. They're a great bunch and we've had a fair journey with them, trying to get up that ladder. We're in Division 1 of the League and the MacCarthy Cup again next year so hopefully they'll improve again."
As for Monday's charity game, which ended in a win for Jim Bolger's selection, against Davy Russell's team, Maher said it was a pleasure to take part.
"Everyone has family members that have been touched by it," said Maher of the fight against cancer. "I've lost a few unfortunately over the years. I hope the donations and support online was as generous as everyone that turned up for the game because it felt fantastic."
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