Paddy Stapleton

Paddy Stapleton

Jonathan Glynn of Galway and Paddy Stapleton of Tipperary in action in the 2014 National Hurling League
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	0
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.

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]

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 two-time North Tipperary medalist with Borris-Ileigh.

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 and 2007. Stapleton, however, is still waiting to line out in a senior county championship decider.^[2]

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

• North Tipperary Senior Club Hurling Championship (2): 2005, 2007

Tipperary

• All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (2): 2010, 2016
• Munster Senior Hurling Championship (6): 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016
• National Hurling League (1): 2008
• Waterford Crystal Cup (2): 2007, 2014
• Munster Under-21 Hurling Championship (1): 2006
• Munster Minor Hurling Championship (1): 2003

Individual

• GAA GPA All Stars Awards Nomination (3): 2009, 2010, 2014

References